At last count, there are about 400 youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention facilities. These numbers are both a cause for concern and celebration and redoubled commitment.

Concern because too many young people remain at risk of falling into the justice system. Celebration because the current numbers represent historic lows brought on by years of advocacy and concerted efforts by county and state officials to place the priority on providing care as opposed to punishment for incarcerated young people. All children in the United States are entitled to quality public education, including these students. But as a society, we have often not fulfilled this educational obligation to the young people in these circumstances even before their detainment.

When children enter juvenile justice facilities, they start school in a manner far different from the typical fall “back to school” rituals. These students have been traumatized by their arrest as well as by being taken from their homes and communities. In many cases, these young people also carry the trauma of a life plagued by poverty, racism, and family and educational problems that long predate their entry into the juvenile justice system.

High-quality educational services are a critical component of redirecting youth toward a path of productive academic and social outcomes. For the last decade, the Los Angeles County Office of Education has worked with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, Department of Mental Health and other agencies to develop a systemic multiagency approach to juvenile justice that prioritizes care over punishment.  The shared goal of this approach is to support young people in gaining critical skills to help them navigate and overcome the trauma they have experienced in order to achieve success and well-being. To meet the educational needs of these students, the LA County Office of Education has developed the Road to Success Academies, a model that uses project-based learning to more deeply engage students in academic work that is relevant to their lives.

Read the full article about education for kids in the juvenile system by Angela James and Debra Duardo at EdSource.