1. Effective Partnerships in Providing Education to Youth in Detention Centers Sheril R. Smith, Ph.D., Director Office of Dropout Prevention Mississippi Department of Education

2. Amendments through SB 2818 (2007) Amendments to §43-21-321 included: Amendments to §43-21-321 included: (5) Upon a student's detention in a juvenile detention center, the detention center staff shall notify school district officials where the detainee last attended school by the first school day following the student's placement in the facility. (5) Upon a student's detention in a juvenile detention center, the detention center staff shall notify school district officials where the detainee last attended school by the first school day following the student's placement in the facility. (6) (o) Designation of the sponsoring school district by the youth court judge for the county in which the detention center is located; teacher selection; legislative appropriation ($1.6 million for FY 2007) (6) (o) Designation of the sponsoring school district by the youth court judge for the county in which the detention center is located; teacher selection; legislative appropriation ($1.6 million for FY 2007)

3. Amendments through SB 2818 (2007) (cont’d) (6) (p) Provision of educational services required by the sponsoring school district. Within 48 hours, the detained student should receive: (6) (p) Provision of educational services required by the sponsoring school district. Within 48 hours, the detained student should receive: Diagnostic assessment of grade-level mastery Diagnostic assessment of grade-level mastery Individualized instruction and practice Individualized instruction and practice Character education Character education (6) (q) Transition teams should be in place within 10 days (6) (q) Transition teams should be in place within 10 days (6) (r) Provision of computer labs by the sponsoring district (6) (r) Provision of computer labs by the sponsoring district

4. Amendments through HB 348 (2008) Amendments to §43-21-321 include: Amendments to §43-21-321 include: (5) If a student's detention will cause him or her to miss one or more days of school the detention center staff shall notify school district officials where the detainee last attended school by the first school day following the student's placement in the facility. Detention center staff shall not disclose youth court records to the school district, except as provided by §43-21-261. (5) If a student's detention will cause him or her to miss one or more days of school the detention center staff shall notify school district officials where the detainee last attended school by the first school day following the student's placement in the facility. Detention center staff shall not disclose youth court records to the school district, except as provided by §43-21-261.

5. Juvenile Detention Centers within §37-13-80 – Dropout Prevention (4) (a) School attendance officers, working with school district officials, shall gather accurate data on youth in juvenile detention centers to properly track students. (4) (a) School attendance officers, working with school district officials, shall gather accurate data on youth in juvenile detention centers to properly track students. (b) The Office of Dropout Prevention in the Department of Education shall establish the procedure for the tracking of students who enter and leave detention centers on a statewide basis. (b) The Office of Dropout Prevention in the Department of Education shall establish the procedure for the tracking of students who enter and leave detention centers on a statewide basis. (5) Each school district's dropout prevention plan shall address how students will transition to the home school district (5) Each school district's dropout prevention plan shall address how students will transition to the home school district

6. Legislative Appropriations for Educational Services in Juvenile Detention Centers $1.6 million in FY 2007 $1.6 million in FY 2007 17 juvenile detention centers 17 juvenile detention centers To cover teacher contracts and computer labs To cover teacher contracts and computer labs $1,210,000 for FY 2008 $1,210,000 for FY 2008 17 juvenile detention centers 17 juvenile detention centers Teacher contracts will remain fully funded Teacher contracts will remain fully funded Computer lab funding will be reduced Computer lab funding will be reduced

7. Partnerships will be critical for continued success in 2008-2009 Detained Student School Attendance Officer Parent(s) Detention Center Staff School District Staff Youth Court

8. Roles & Responsibilities – YDC Personnel Development of policies and procedures for the YDC Development of policies and procedures for the YDC Provide orientation for new detainees Provide orientation for new detainees Ensure the safety and protection of juvenile detainees Ensure the safety and protection of juvenile detainees Provide food services for juvenile detainees Provide food services for juvenile detainees Provide educational assessment of detainees after 48 hours of detention Provide educational assessment of detainees after 48 hours of detention Allow for family visitation opportunities Allow for family visitation opportunities Develop transition plans for detainees to return to the education system Develop transition plans for detainees to return to the education system

9. Roles & Responsibilities – Sponsoring School District Provide a certified instructor for the YDC Provide a certified instructor for the YDC Provide education services to detainees no later than the 10 th day of detention Provide education services to detainees no later than the 10 th day of detention Ensure detained student attendance in home district Ensure detained student attendance in home district Participate in transition team meetings Participate in transition team meetings Provide a computer lab for the associated YDC Provide a computer lab for the associated YDC

10. Roles & Responsibilities – School Attendance Officers Receive notification of youth detainees from home school district. Receive notification of youth detainees from home school district. Work with the YDC to ensure information is provided to the home school district. Work with the YDC to ensure information is provided to the home school district. Keep a log of juveniles placed in detention centers from their schools. Keep a log of juveniles placed in detention centers from their schools. Document placement of juveniles upon return to their home school districts. Document placement of juveniles upon return to their home school districts. Be in attendance at transition team meetings for detainees. Be in attendance at transition team meetings for detainees. Ensure that every juvenile released from the detention center receives a statement of compliance, and that this statement is properly completed by all parties, and ensure that this form is kept on file. Ensure that every juvenile released from the detention center receives a statement of compliance, and that this statement is properly completed by all parties, and ensure that this form is kept on file.

11. FAQ’s – Transition Teams Who should be on the transition team? Who should be on the transition team? Transition teams should be comprised of the following individuals: Transition teams should be comprised of the following individuals: Detention center teacher Detention center teacher Home school district representative Home school district representative School Attendance Officer assigned to the local home school district School Attendance Officer assigned to the local home school district Youth court counselor or representative Youth court counselor or representative Appropriate youth court judge Appropriate youth court judge Parent of the detainee Parent of the detainee Who is responsible for coordinating meetings? Who is responsible for coordinating meetings? The youth court counselor / representative should coordinate these meetings. The youth court counselor / representative should coordinate these meetings.

12. FAQ’s – Transition Teams (Cont’d.) How often should teams meet? How often should teams meet? Transition teams should meeting on the student’s 10 th day of detention. (Note: transition teams are for students in detention for 10 or more days.) Transition teams should meeting on the student’s 10 th day of detention. (Note: transition teams are for students in detention for 10 or more days.) Where are the meetings to be conducted? Where are the meetings to be conducted? The meeting location will be at the discretion of the detention center; meetings may also be conducted via telephone, if necessary The meeting location will be at the discretion of the detention center; meetings may also be conducted via telephone, if necessary Record Keeping and notes of meeting Record Keeping and notes of meeting Records should be compiled and maintained by detention center officials. Records should be compiled and maintained by detention center officials.

13. FAQ’s – Data / Information Sharing What data should be maintained? What data should be maintained? Data should be maintained by both the youth detention center and the appropriate school attendance officer. Data should be maintained by both the youth detention center and the appropriate school attendance officer. When should data be collected? When should data be collected? Intake data should be collected within 48 hours of detention. This information should be available to the school attendance officer. Intake data should be collected within 48 hours of detention. This information should be available to the school attendance officer. What format should be used for data submission? What format should be used for data submission? If the detention center has a data submission process already in place, that process may be continued. If no data submission process is in place, please see the attached forms. If the detention center has a data submission process already in place, that process may be continued. If no data submission process is in place, please see the attached forms.

14. FAQ’s – Notifying School Districts Who to contact about detainees? Who to contact about detainees? Youth detention center personnel should contact the appropriate (home) school district representative. Youth detention center personnel should contact the appropriate (home) school district representative. How should the Compliance Letters be utilized? How should the Compliance Letters be utilized? Each juvenile that is released from the detention center is expected to receive a statement of compliance from the school attendance officer. The juvenile’s principal in their local school district should sign the statement of compliance on the first day following their release or discharge from the detention center. This information should be kept on file by the school attendance officer. Each juvenile that is released from the detention center is expected to receive a statement of compliance from the school attendance officer. The juvenile’s principal in their local school district should sign the statement of compliance on the first day following their release or discharge from the detention center. This information should be kept on file by the school attendance officer. How should the schools count attendance? How should the schools count attendance? Students must be marked ‘present’ while in detention. Students must be marked ‘present’ while in detention.

15. Closing Thought The most impressive juvenile justice programs exist when education and juvenile justice professionals work together in a collective spirit to meet the needs of youth. The most impressive juvenile justice programs exist when education and juvenile justice professionals work together in a collective spirit to meet the needs of youth.

16. Additional Handouts Educational Needs Form (Intake Form) Educational Needs Form (Intake Form) Educational Needs Form (Intake Form) Educational Needs Form (Intake Form) Detention Center Call Log Detention Center Call Log Detention Center Call Log Detention Center Call Log Statement of Compliance Statement of Compliance Statement of Compliance Statement of Compliance