School districts are responsible for providing education to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities. These youth typically have substantial educational deficits when they enter juvenile justice programs, including below grade-level reading and math skills.
Research shows that smaller juvenile justice programs provide the greatest opportunity to rehabilitate delinquent youth and reduce their recidivism. However, teachers in smaller programs are more likely to lack certification for some of the subjects and grade levels they teach.
The Department of Education and school districts have not met their obligation to collect data needed to assess learning gains of students in juvenile justice facilities. While available data indicates that students made learning gains while in juvenile justice programs, this data is highly incomplete and may not represent the actual academic status of all juvenile justice students.

Juvenile Justice Students Face Barriers to High School Graduation and Job Training
Report 10-55 October 2010
Legislature Clarified Responsibility for Educating Exceptional Students in Residential Facilities
Report 10-51 August 2010
Responsibility for the Education of Exceptional Students in Residential Treatment Facilities Needs Clarification
Report 08-27 April 2008

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.