Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Educational Program

• Educational program prior to the DJJ/DOJ Memorandum of Agreement

• Process of Educational Improvement

• Current status of DJJ Educational Program

Educational Program Prior to Memorandum of Agreement

• “Consistently inconsistent” approach to education

• No standardized curriculum - academic or vocational

• Outdated textbooks and equipment

• Overcrowded classrooms

• Inadequate special education services

• Inadequate staffing and teacher training

Process of Educational Improvement

• Memorandum of Agreement signed with U.S. Dept. of Justice

• Georgia General Assembly appropriated funding

• Inter-agency Education Task Force appointed

• Office of Education established and Director appointed

• Operational plan developed

Operational Plan

• Educational Management System

• Policy development• Curriculum development- academic /vocational

• Textbook adoption

• Special Education procedures

• Staffing allocation plan

• Staff development

• Program Monitoring and Evaluation

Long Term YDC

AdmissionScreening & Orientation

DJJ CurriculumTechnical/Career Ed.

GED

Educational OutcomesReturn to school(Carnegie units)

Diplomas:High School

Special EducationTechnical/Career Ed.

GED Certificate

Local school

Community Programs

Short- term YDC Program

Long- term YDC Program

RYDC

Admission

Screening &Orientation

Records Request

Local School

(24 hrs)

Special Education

Identification

(24 hrs)

TABE Survey

(72 hrs)

Academic Modules

(10 days)

TABE CompleteBattery

(10-12 days)

DJJ Curriculum

Release:

Withdrawal Form

(student records )

ASSESSMENT&

ORIENTATIONUnit

Assessments:•Mental Health•Medical Health

•Educational•Career

Placement in YDC

Short Term YDC

AdmissionScreening & Orientation

Records Review(24 hrs)

Special EducationIdentification

(24 hrs)

DJJ Curriculum

GED Preparation

Release:Withdrawal Form(student records)

In- home

ElectronicMonitoring

IntensiveSupervision

FamilyServices

Tracking

Day Treatment

Shelters

Group Homes

RYDCRelease Options

Alternative Placements

Current Status of DJJ Education Program

• Meeting held with all state school Superintendents• Curriculum fully implemented at all sites with

related textbooks• Vocational equipment purchased for use at all

YDC sites• Memorandum of Understanding signed with

Technical Colleges• Increased identification of special education

students

Current Status of Education Program

• Employed Regional Principals at the RYDC sites• Alternative Educational Behavior Management

program implemented • Evaluation instruments developed for site and

program evaluation• Extensive program monitoring underway (DJJ,

State Dept of Education, Federal,QA monitoring)