This study aims to understand the impact of California’s recent juvenile justice realignment on educational services being provided to detained youth, identify best practices to enhance literacy, assess policies for identifying learning disabilities and behavioral health problems in court schools, and understand more about the coordination of care for this population.
Data will be gathered through a survey of all 57 court schools in California. The survey is being designed by a multidisciplinary team including researchers across the three CA Institute campuses and the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR). The primary purpose of this study is to identify California court schools’ current protocols and practices addressing students’ educational (e.g., literacy) and behavioral health needs (e.g., mental health treatment). The secondary purpose is to identify school personnel’s strengths and needs in supporting student success.
Study results will have implications for schools, districts, counties, and agencies seeking strategies to better serve youth in detention. These findings could also inform local, regional, and statewide efforts to improve educational and behavioral health outcomes for thousands of current and/or formerly detained youth in California.
