Opening Doors: Strategies to Improve Educational Access for Adjudicated Youth

Students who are adjudicated receive their education in juvenile justice (JJ) facilities. Different personnel work in these facilities, each with specific responsibilities: educators to provide instruction, mental health professionals to provide support, and security personnel to address safety concerns. When they work together, they create a predictive, safe environment conducive to learning. Challenges such as school disruptions, frequent lockdowns, and low expectations create significant obstacles for students in the JJ education system. Due to these structural and institutional barriers, educational outcomes can be negatively affected. This article highlights strategies that teachers in JJ facilities can use to improve access to educational services and support for their students. Students experience success when educators expand access to educational opportunities through flexible learning options. The article concludes by emphasizing that educators and security personnel must collaborate to provide students in these settings with better learning opportunities.