Orange County Grand Jury • 2000-2001

“readin’, ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic” in Lockup a Critical Look at Education in the Juvenile Justice System

Published: June 27, 2001 20 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114, F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126, F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150, F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162, F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174, F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, F181, F182, F183, F184, F185, F186, F187, F188, F189, F190, F191, F192, F193, F194, F195, F196, F197, F198, F199, F200, F201, F202, F203, F204, F205, F206, F207, F208, F209, F210, F211, F212, F213, F214, F215, F216, F217, F218, F219, F220, F221, F222, F223, F224, F225, F226, F227, F228, F229, F230, F231, F232, F233, F234, F235, F236, F237, F238, F239, F240, F241, F242, F243, F244, F245, F246, F247, F248, F249, F250, F251, F252, F253, F254, F255, F256, F257, F258, F259, F260, F261, F262, F263, F264, F265, F266, F267, F268, F269, F270, F271, F272, F273, F274, F275, F276, F277, F278, F279, F280, F281, F282, F283, F284, F285, F286, F287, F288, F289, F290, F291, F292, F293, F294, F295, F296, F297, F298, F299, F300, F301, F302, F303, F304, F305, F306, F307, F308, F309, F310, F311, F312, F313, F314, F315, F316, F317, F318, F319, F320, F321, F322, F323, F324, F325, F326, F327, F328, F329, F330, F331, F332, F333, F334, F335, F336, F337, F338, F339, F340, F341, F342, F343, F344, F345, F346, F347, F348, F349, F350, F351, F352, F353, F354, F355, F356, F357, F358, F359, F360, F361, F362, F363, F364, F365, F366, F367, F368, F369, F370, F371, F372, F373, F374, F375, F376, F377, F378, F379, F380, F381, F382, F383, F384, F385, F386, F387, F388, F389, F390, F391, F392, F393, F394, F395, F396, F397, F398, F399, F400, F401, F402, F403, F404, F405, F406, F407, F408, F409, F410, F411, F412, F413, F414, F415, F416, F417, F418, F419, F420, F421, F422, F423, F424, F425, F426, F427, F428, F429, F430, F431, F432, F433, F434, F435, F436, F437, F438, F439, F440, F441, F442, F443, F444, F445, F446, F447, F448, F449, F450, F451, F452, F453, F454, F455, F456, F457, F458, F459, F460, F461, F462, F463, F464, F465, F466, F467, F468, F469, F470, F471, F472, F473, F474, F475, F476, F477, F478, F479, F480, F481, F482, F483, F484, F485, F486, F487, F488, F489, F490, F491, F492, F493, F494, F495, F496, F497, F498, F499, F500, F501, F502, F503, F504, F505, F506, F507, F508, F509, F510, F511, F512, F513, F514, F515, F516, F517, F518, F519, F520, F521, F522, F523, F524, F525, F526, F527, F528, F529, F530, F531, F532, F533, F534, F535, F536, F537, F538, F539, F540, F541, F542, F543, F544, F545, F546, F547, F548, F549, F550, F551, F552, F553, F554, F555, F556, F557, F558, F559, F560, F561, F562, F563, F564, F565, F566, F567, F568, F569, F570, F571, F572, F573, F574, F575, F576, F577, F578, F579, F580, F581, F582, F583, F584, F585, F586, F587, F588, F589, F590, F591, F592, F593, F594, F595, F596, F597, F598, F599, F600, F601, F602, F603, F604, F605, F606, F607, F608, F609, F610, F611, F612, F613, F614, F615, F616, F617, F618, F619, F620, F621, F622, F623, F624, F625, F626, F627, F628, F629, F630, F631, F632, F633, F634, F635, F636, F637, F638, F639, F640, F641, F642, F643, F644, F645, F646, F647, F648, F649, F650, F651, F652, F653, F654, F655, F656, F657, F658, F659, F660, F661, F662, F663, F664, F665, F666, F667, F668, F669, F670, F671, F672, F673, F674, F675, F676, F677, F678, F679, F680, F681, F682, F683, F684, F685, F686, F687, F688, F689, F690, F691, F692, F693, F694, F695, F696, F697, F698, F699, F700, F701, F702, F703, F704, F705, F706, F707, F708, F709, F710, F711, F712, F713, F714, F715, F716, F717, F718, F719, F720, F721, F722, F723, F724, F725, F726, F727, F728, F729, F730, F731, F732, F733, F734, F735, F736, F737, F738, F739, F740, F741, F742, F743, F744, F745, F746, F747, F748, F749, F750, F751, F752, F753, F754, F755, F756, F757, F758, F759, F760, F761, F762, F763, F764, F765, F766, F767, F768, F769, F770, F771, F772, F773, F774, F775, F776, F777, F778, F779, F780, F781, F782, F783, F784, F785, F786, F787, F788, F789, F790, F791, F792, F793, F794, F795, F796, F797, F798, F799, F800, F801, F802, F803, F804, F805, F806, F807, F808, F809, F810, F811, F812, F813, F814, F815, F816, F817, F818, F819, F820, F821, F822, F823, F824, F825, F826, F827, F828, F829, F830, F831, F832, F833, F834, F835, F836, F837, F838, F839, F840, F841, F842, F843, F844, F845, F846, F847, F848, F849, F850, F851, F852, F853, F854, F855, F856, F857, F858, F859, F860, F861, F862, F863, F864, F865, F866, F867, F868, F869, F870, F871, F872, F873, F874, F875, F876, F877, F878, F879, F880, F881, F882, F883, F884, F885, F886, F887, F888, F889, F890, F891, F892, F893, F894, F895, F896, F897, F898, F899, F900, F901, F902, F903, F904, F905, F906, F907, F908, F909, F910, F911, F912, F913, F914, F915, F916, F917, F918, F919, F920, F921, F922, F923, F924, F925, F926, F927, F928, F929, F930, F931, F932, F933, F934, F935, F936, F937, F938, F939, F940, F941, F942, F943, F944, F945, F946, F947, F948, F949, F950, F951, F952, F953, F954, F955, F956, F957, F958, F959, F960, F961, F962, F963, F964, F965, F966, F967, F968, F969, F970, F971, F972, F973, F974, F975, F976, F977, F978, F979, F980, F981, F982, F983, F984, F985, F986, F987, F988, F989, F990, F991, F992, F993, F994, F995, F996, F997, F998, F999, F1000, F1001, F1002, F1003, F1004, F1005, F1006, F1007, F1008, F1009, F1010, F1011, F1012, F1013, F1014, F1015, F1016, F1017, F1018, F1019, F1020, F1021, F1022, F1023, F1024, F1025, F1026, F1027, F1028, F1029, F1030, F1031, F1032, F1033, F1034, F1035, F1036, F1037, F1038, F1039, F1040, F1041, F1042, F1043, F1044, F1045, F1046, F1047, F1048, F1049, F1050, F1051, F1052, F1053, F1054, F1055, F1056, F1057, F1058, F1059, F1060, F1061, F1062, F1063, F1064, F1065, F1066, F1067, F1068, F1069, F1070, F1071, F1072, F1073, F1074, F1075, F1076, F1077, F1078, F1079, F1080, F1081, F1082, F1083, F1084, F1085, F1086, F1087, F1088, F1089, F1090, F1091, F1092, F1093, F1094, F1095, F1096, F1097, F1098, F1099, F1100, F1101, F1102, F1103, F1104, F1105, F1106, F1107, F1108, F1109, F1110, F1111, F1112, F1113, F1114, F1115, F1116, F1117, F1118, F1119, F1120, F1121, F1122, F1123, F1124, F1125, F1126, F1127, F1128, F1129, F1130, F1131, F1132, F1133, F1134, F1135, F1136, F1137, F1138, F1139, F1140, F1141, F1142, F1143, F1144, F1145, F1146, F1147, F1148, F1149, F1150, F1151, F1152, F1153, F1154, F1155, F1156, F1157, F1158, F1159, F1160, F1161, F1162, F1163, F1164, F1165, F1166, F1167, F1168, F1169, F1170, F1171, F1172, F1173, F1174, F1175, F1176, F1177, F1178, F1179, F1180, F1181, F1182, F1183, F1184, F1185, F1186, F1187, F1188, F1189, F1190, F1191, F1192, F1193, F1194, F1195, F1196, F1197, F1198, F1199, F1200, F1201, F1202, F1203, F1204, F1205, F1206, F1207, F1208, F1209, F1210, F1211, F1212, F1213, F1214, F1215, F1216, F1217, F1218, F1219, F1220, F1221, F1222, F1223, F1224, F1225, F1226, F1227, F1228, F1229, F1230, F1231, F1232, F1233, F1234, F1235, F1236, F1237, F1238, F1239, F1240, F1241, F1242, F1243, F1244, F1245, F1246, F1247, F1248, F1249, F1250, F1251, F1252, F1253, F1254, F1255, F1256, F1257, F1258, F1259, F1260, F1261, F1262, F1263, F1264, F1265, F1266, F1267, F1268, F1269, F1270, F1271, F1272, F1273, F1274, F1275, F1276, F1277, F1278, F1279, F1280, F1281, F1282, F1283, F1284, F1285, F1286, F1287, F1288, F1289, F1290, F1291, F1292, F1293, F1294, F1295, F1296, F1297, F1298, F1299, F1300, F1301, F1302, F1303, F1304, F1305, F1306, F1307, F1308, F1309, F1310, F1311, F1312, F1313, F1314, F1315, F1316, F1317, F1318, F1319, F1320, F1321, F1322, F1323, F1324, F1325, F1326, F1327, F1328, F1329, F1330, F1331, F1332, F1333, F1334, F1335, F1336, F1337, F1338, F1339, F1340, F1341, F1342, F1343, F1344, F1345, F1346, F1347, F1348, F1349, F1350, F1351, F1352, F1353, F1354, F1355, F1356, F1357, F1358, F1359, F1360, F1361, F1362, F1363, F1364, F1365, F1366, F1367, F1368, F1369, F1370, F1371, F1372, F1373, F1374, F1375, F1376, F1377, F1378, F1379, F1380, F1381, F1382, F1383, F1384, F1385, F1386, F1387, F1388, F1389, F1390, F1391, F1392, F1393, F1394, F1395, F1396, F1397, F1398, F1399, F1400, F1401, F1402, F1403, F1404, F1405, F1406, F1407, F1408, F1409, F1410, F1411, F1412, F1413, F1414, F1415, F1416, F1417, F1418, F1419, F1420, F1421, F1422, F1423, F1424, F1425, F1426, F1427, F1428, F1429, F1430, F1431, F1432, F1433, F1434, F1435, F1436, F1437, F1438, F1439, F1440, F1441, F1442, F1443, F1444, F1445, F1446, F1447, F1448, F1449, F1450, F1451, F1452, F1453, F1454, F1455, F1456, F1457, F1458, F1459, F1460, F1461, F1462, F1463, F1464, F1465, F1466, F1467, F1468, F1469, F1470, F1471, F1472, F1473, F1474, F1475, F1476, F1477, F1478, F1479, F1480, F1481, F1482, F1483, F1484, F1485, F1486, F1487, F1488, F1489, F1490, F1491, F1492, F1493, F1494, F1495, F1496, F1497, F1498, F1499, F1500, F1501, F1502, F1503, F1504, F1505, F1506, F1507, F1508, F1509, F1510, F1511, F1512, F1513, F1514, F1515, F1516, F1517, F1518, F1519, F1520, F1521, F1522, F1523, F1524, F1525, F1526, F1527, F1528, F1529, F1530, F1531, F1532, F1533, F1534, F1535, F1536, F1537, F1538, F1539, F1540, F1541, F1542, F1543, F1544, F1545, F1546, F1547, F1548, F1549, F1550, F1551, F1552, F1553, F1554, F1555, F1556, F1557, F1558, F1559, F1560, F1561, F1562, F1563, F1564, F1565, F1566, F1567, F1568, F1569, F1570, F1571, F1572, F1573, F1574, F1575, F1576, F1577, F1578, F1579, F1580, F1581, F1582, F1583, F1584, F1585, F1586, F1587, F1588, F1589, F1590, F1591, F1592, F1593, F1594, F1595, F1596, F1597, F1598, F1599, F1600, F1601, F1602, F1603, F1604, F1605, F1606, F1607, F1608, F1609, F1610, F1611, F1612, F1613, F1614, F1615, F1616, F1617, F1618, F1619, F1620, F1621, F1622, F1623, F1624, F1625, F1626, F1627, F1628, F1629, F1630, F1631, F1632, F1633, F1634, F1635, F1636, F1637, F1638, F1639, F1640, F1641, F1642, F1643, F1644, F1645, F1646, F1647, F1648, F1649, F1650, F1651, F1652, F1653, F1654, F1655, F1656, F1657, F1658, F1659, F1660, F1661, F1662, F1663, F1664, F1665, F1666, F1667, F1668, F1669, F1670, F1671, F1672, F1673, F1674, F1675, F1676, F1677, F1678, F1679, F1680, F1681, F1682, F1683, F1684, F1685, F1686, F1687, F1688, F1689, F1690, F1691, F1692, F1693, F1694, F1695, F1696, F1697, F1698, F1699, F1700, F1701, F1702, F1703, F1704, F1705, F1706, F1707, F1708, F1709, F1710, F1711, F1712, F1713, F1714, F1715, F1716, F1717, F1718, F1719, F1720, F1721, F1722, F1723, F1724, F1725, F1726, F1727, F1728, F1729, F1730, F1731, F1732, F1733, F1734, F1735, F1736, F1737, F1738, F1739, F1740, F1741, F1742, F1743, F1744, F1745, F1746, F1747, F1748, F1749, F1750, F1751, F1752, F1753, F1754, F1755, F1756, F1757, F1758, F1759, F1760, F1761, F1762, F1763, F1764, F1765, F1766, F1767, F1768, F1769, F1770, F1771, F1772, F1773, F1774, F1775, F1776, F1777, F1778, F1779, F1780, F1781, F1782, F1783, F1784, F1785, F1786, F1787, F1788, F1789, F1790, F1791, F1792, F1793, F1794, F1795, F1796, F1797, F1798, F1799, F1800, F1801, F1802, F1803, F1804, F1805, F1806, F1807, F1808, F1809, F1810, F1811, F1812, F1813, F1814, F1815, F1816, F1817, F1818, F1819, F1820, F1821, F1822, F1823, F1824, F1825, F1826, F1827, F1828, F1829, F1830, F1831, F1832, F1833, F1834, F1835, F1836, F1837, F1838, F1839, F1840, F1841, F1842, F1843, F1844, F1845, F1846, F1847, F1848, F1849, F1850, F1851, F1852, F1853, F1854, F1855, F1856, F1857, F1858, F1859, F1860, F1861, F1862, F1863, F1864, F1865, F1866, F1867, F1868, F1869, F1870, F1871, F1872, F1873, F1874, F1875, F1876, F1877, F1878, F1879, F1880, F1881, F1882, F1883, F1884, F1885, F1886, F1887, F1888, F1889, F1890, F1891, F1892, F1893, F1894, F1895, F1896, F1897, F1898, F1899, F1900, F1901, F1902, F1903, F1904, F1905, F1906, F1907, F1908, F1909, F1910, F1911, F1912, F1913, F1914, F1915, F1916, F1917, F1918, F1919, F1920, F1921, F1922, F1923, F1924, F1925, F1926, F1927, F1928, F1929, F1930, F1931, F1932, F1933, F1934, F1935, F1936, F1937, F1938, F1939, F1940, F1941, F1942, F1943, F1944, F1945, F1946, F1947, F1948, F1949, F1950, F1951, F1952, F1953, F1954, F1955, F1956, F1957, F1958, F1959, F1960, F1961, F1962, F1963, F1964, F1965, F1966, F1967, F1968, F1969, F1970, F1971, F1972, F1973, F1974, F1975, F1976, F1977, F1978, F1979, F1980, F1981, F1982, F1983, F1984, F1985, F1986, F1987, F1988, F1989, F1990, F1991, F1992, F1993, F1994, F1995, F1996, F1997, F1998, F1999

Findings and Recommendations 30 findings

F1
The Juvenile Court Schools, more specifically the Institutional/YFRC Schools, are scattered across the entire ACCESS program which consists of more than 80 sites.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Institutional/YFRC Schools should be organized and administered as a separate unit in the ACCESS program with a mission statement, strategic plan and goals and objectives unique and specific to its purpose. (Findings 1 and 2)
F2
There is no specific mission statement, strategic plan, or goals and objectives for the Institutional/YFRC Schools. 14
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Principal Administrative Regions (PARs) are too large and too diverse to provide adequate supervision for the Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Principal Administrative Regions (PARs) should be reorganized to maximize effectiveness of the Institutional/YFRC Schools. (Finding 3, 4 and 19)
F4
There is a lack of stability of PAR principals and administrators to establish consistent leadership and direction for the Institutional/YFRC Schools.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Budget and the budget process for textbooks and supplies for the Institutional/YFRC Schools lack consistency and priority.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The budget for books and supplies for the Institutional/YFRC Schools should be given high priority, with consistent dollar amounts from year to year to enable effective planning. Procedures for acquisition of books and supplies should be uncomplicated. (Findings 5 and 6)
F6
The vast majority of the teachers and staff is dedicated and committed as evidenced by the expenditure of hundreds of dollars of personal funds for classroom supplies and equipment.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Curriculum varies greatly from site to site in the Institutional/YFRC Schools because they operate with a great deal of autonomy. An inadequate supply of textbooks adds to the problem.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should develop a standard curriculum and list of appropriate textbooks and educational materials that will maximize the learning experience while minimizing the disruption as students transition between Institutional/YFRC Schools. (Finding 7)
F8
Two computer-assisted programs are used at several sites. The Bridges program diagnoses learning disabilities. It is used at Joplin and Los Piños Schools. The New Century program, an integrated learning system, is used at Juvenile Hall and the Youth Guidance Center.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The New Century and Bridges programs should be evaluated for educational effectiveness and, if appropriate, the Orange County Superintendent of Schools should expand and provide permanent funding. (Finding 8)
F9
The lack of sufficient vocational education programs in the Institutional/YFRC Schools impedes the acquisition of practical job skills for youth released from Institutions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should expand vocational education programs in the Institutional/YFRC Schools that can provide job skills. (Finding 9)
F10
There are no certificated academic counselors available for students in the Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The addition of certificated academic counselors for students in the Institutional/YFRC Schools should be a priority of the Orange County Superintendent of Schools. (Finding 10)
F11
The perception of a lack of partnership between probation and school personnel exists in the Institutional Schools, and to a lesser extent, the YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools and Probation Department should develop training and team building to enhance partnership and collaboration. (Finding 11 and 15)
F12
Some Institutional School facilities provided by the Probation Department have inadequate space and have experienced substandard or deferred maintenance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Probation Department should continue to renovate and replace schoolrooms and offices in their juvenile facilities. (Finding 12)
F13
Office space for teaching staff at Santa Ana Jail is inadequate.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Probation Department should request additional office space for teaching staff at Santa Ana Jail. (Finding 13)
F14
The ACCESS program is in the process of seeking accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A Program Quality Review has been prepared.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should give highest priority to full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for the ACCESS program. (Finding 14) 17
F15
Many Institutional/YFRC teachers believe that probation and education do not work well together. Teachers often feel like outsiders.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The interface between OCDE and Probation Department is poor in the area of collaboration. There is also a lack of stability of principals, vice principals and teachers in the Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Probation, teachers and the Orange County Superintendent of Schools administrators should have regular meetings to discuss educational goals and responsibilities. (Finding 16 and 17)
F17
Communication in the ACCESS program is from top down with little participation from the bottom up. 15
No recommendations for this finding
F18
A program for personnel training, National Training Curriculum for Educators of Youth in Confinement, is being implemented in a plan to bring the program to both education and probation personnel.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should conduct training sessions based on the National Training Curriculum for Educators of Youth in Confinement Program. (Finding 18)
F19
The assignment of PAR principals to multiple sites results in inadequate communication and guidance.
No recommendations for this finding
F20
An updated Memorandum of Understanding for the Operation of Probation Facility Schools between the Orange County Probation Department and Orange County Superintendent of Schools has been drafted but not approved.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
The draft of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Operation of Probation Facility Schools between the Orange County Probation Department and Orange County Superintendent of Schools should be completed and implemented. (Finding 20)
F21
New and substitute teachers do not receive specialized classroom training prior to teaching in Institutional/YFRC School settings.
Related Recommendations (1)
R15
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should institute instructional methods training for new and substitute teachers assigned to Institutional/YFRC Schools. (Finding 21)
F22
Staff development workshops and conferences are not always relevant to actual classroom instruction in the Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R16
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should offer additional teacher workshops and seminars aimed at correctional school programs. (Finding 22)
F23
There is no central site offering safety and security training for teachers assigned to Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R17
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools and Probation Department should conduct a standard Safety and Security Program for new Institutional/YFRC School faculty to be held at a central site. (Finding 23)
F24
The only established Institutional/YFRC School library facility is located at Juvenile Hall.
Related Recommendations (1)
R18
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should give high priority to development of school libraries serving all Institutional/YFRC Schools and provide adequate budget for library staff. (Finding 24 and 25)
F25
Book purchases for Institutional/YFRC Schools under the California Public School Library Act have been minimal due to lack of library staff and space at the various sites. This has resulted in significant (>40%) carryover of state funds to next fiscal year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R19
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should assume sole responsibility for providing library books and materials for the Institutional/YFRC Schools. (Finding 25 and 26)
F26
A modest recreational reading program has been established at Joplin Youth Center, Juvenile Hall and Juvenile Hall Annex with purchases from the Ward Welfare Fund and donations from teachers and the general public.
No recommendations for this finding
F27
There is a problem in the accuracy, timely recordation and transfer of academic credits for youth entering, within, and exiting Institutional/YFRC Schools.
Related Recommendations (1)
R20
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should develop and implement a plan to replace SASI with a new program that will maintain accurate and timely records accessible by authorized education personnel. (Finding 27)
F28
Most youth do not meet with a Field Probation Officer prior to release from either Joplin Youth Center or Los Piños Conservation Camp.
Related Recommendations (1)
R21
All Wards should meet with their Field Probation Officer prior to release from Institutional/YFRC Schools. (Finding 28)
F29
The OCDE Transition Specialist serves about one third of those minors soon to be released. A response to Finding 12 is required from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Responses to Findings 1-11 and 14-27 and 29 are required from the Orange County Superintendent of Schools. Responses to Findings 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26 and 28 are requested from the Orange County Probation Department. 16
Related Recommendations (1)
R22
The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should develop and implement a plan to provide transition specialist services to all juveniles preparing for release. (Finding 29) 18 A response is required to Recommendation 8 from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Responses are required to Recommendations 1-7, 10-20 and 22 from the Orange County Superintendent of Schools. Responses are requested to Recommendations 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21 from the Orange County Probation Department.
F2000
There are dedicated administrative and teaching staff who are providing quality education in a difficult environment. If society is really serious about the rehabilitation and preparation of youth for assimilation into the mainstream of our communities, these recommendations should be given highest priority. The future of our youth and our society is at stake. PURPOSE/INTRODUCTION Quality education is a top priority for our nation, state, and local communities. Education is a key ingredient for success of all juveniles including those within the Orange County Juvenile Court School system. Often these juveniles have met with educational failure prior to their designation as Wards of the Court. They lack educational skills, motivation, self-discipline and self-esteem. These youths will eventually be mainstreamed into our society. Success of this rehabilitation process depends heavily on the quality of the educational component. The staff at these facilities face an immense challenge. The purpose of this Grand Jury study was to evaluate the Orange County Department of Education’s role in providing quality education to minors at Juvenile Court Schools and, more specifically, the Institutional/YFRC schools. The study focused on five key areas: • Organization and Administration • Internal Communication • Staff Development • Institutional/YFRC School Libraries • Transition Process HISTORY/BACKGROUND The Orange County Department of Education administers the Alternative, Charter, and Correctional Education Schools and Services (ACCESS) program in the County for those students who are not attending classes within the regular public school districts. Juvenile Court Schools are part of the ACCESS Program. As shown in the table below, the Grand Jury focused on the seven juvenile institutional school sites where minors are detained and the five Youth and Family Resource Centers (YFRC) where minors are on probation. The Grand Jury visited each of the Institutional/YFRC sites and met with administrators, teachers and probation personnel. Following the initial meetings, questionnaires were prepared on observed issues. Based on questionnaire responses, follow- up interviews were conducted. Orange County Juvenile Institutional/YFRC Sites Site Description School Students Primary center for intake and detention Juvenile Hall of juvenile offenders Otto Fisher 470 Juvenile Hall Annex Houses high security risk males Otto Fisher 40 Santa Ana Jail (Juvenile Section) Houses high security risk males Summit 64 Central Men’s Jail (Juvenile Section) Houses male minors tried as adults Summit 17 Youth Guidance Center Boys and girls detention center Rio Contiguo 125 Los Piños Older boys vocational and forestry Conservation Camp program Los Piños 125 Joplin Youth Center Younger boys rehabilitation program Joplin 64 Collaborative 8% Solution and Youth & Family Resource Challenge Programs for boys & girls Centers(5) on probation Pathways 150 The 8% Solution Program is an early intervention program that focuses on minors age 15 or younger when entering the Juvenile Justice System if they have three or more profile factors placing them at great risk of becoming chronic offenders. These factors are: significant family problems, significant problems at school, a pattern of drug and/or alcohol use and delinquent peers or criminal patterns. The Program not only focuses on high-risk youth, but extends to the minor’s family. Minors who are on probation are picked up each morning by Probation counselors and returned home after a full day of education and rehabilitative services. Non-compliance or lack of cooperation can result in a probation violation, subsequent court action and possible detention at Juvenile Hall. This much-expanded multidisciplinary team approach is more costly than other rehabilitation programs because public and private service providers are included in the Program. The Youth and Family Resource Center (YFRC) is the collaborative, multidisciplinary response to the 8% Solution Program managed by the Orange County Probation Department. All-inclusive services consist of probation, mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, education, transition programming, employment and family counseling at each YFRC site. There are currently five, soon to be six, sites in the County. While evaluation continues through 2001, preliminary results of the 8% Solution Program are promising. According to the Orange County Probation Department, the Program youth are committing fewer and less serious crimes than their non- program counterparts. Rates of alcohol and drug abuse one year after entering the Program dropped by more than half. Petition filings for probation violations 3 and new crimes after one year were reduced by 31%, and days spent in custody were reduced by 26% on average when compared to the control group. The 8% Challenge Program is a partially state-funded program for older youth which is directed toward vocational guidance, work experience and skill development to help them live on their own. Evaluation of this more recent Program is in progress. Organization and Administration The Orange County Department of Education is the legislatively mandated provider of juvenile court school education. Juvenile Court Schools, and specifically the Institutional/YFRC schools, are scattered throughout the entire Alternative, Charter, and Correctional Education Schools and Services (ACCESS) program, which includes more than 80 sites Countywide. ACCESS is divided into ten instructionally related Principal Administrative Regions (PAR) for administrative purposes. The rationale for this PAR organization is both geographical and functional. In some cases, the principal of the PAR supervises both. Juvenile Court Schools and Community Day schools. The schools within each PAR operate with a great deal of autonomy. The Grand Jury believes that Institutional/YFRC schools are unique enough to benefit significantly from being organized functionally, with dedicated management and administration, customized mission statement, goals, objectives and strategic plan, and their own PARs. This reorganization should accomplish the following: • Recognize the critical role of education in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. • Recognize the unique challenge to effectively teach groups of different ages with a wide range of academic proficiencies and learning styles during relatively short detention periods. • Recognize the need for educators to collaborate closely with probation staff in a team approach to ensure security and safety, correct behavioral problems, advance educational skills and develop vocational skills. One of the major complaints revealed by questionnaire responses and personal interviews was the unavailability of the PAR principals because their area of responsibility and span of control was too extensive. Some principals have overseen as many as nine schools and could not be present at an institutional school on a regular basis. In addition, principals are required to participate in countless administrative meetings. It was also noted that principals were changed or moved too often. For example, at Juvenile Hall there have been three 4 principals in the past two years. This causes a change in focus or direction that is disruptive to continuity and management stability. The Grand Jury recommends that Institutional/YFRC schools should have their own dedicated PAR structure. This would strengthen the stability of PAR principals and administrators, allowing development of more consistent leadership, communication and direction. Another area of concern, highlighted by questionnaires and interviews, was the budget and budget process for classroom textbooks and supplies for Institutional/YFRC schools. Comments about the budget process included that it lacked consistency and priority and was confusing to the teachers. Many teachers were frustrated and resorted to spending money out of their own pockets for supplies. Some solicited bookstores and other providers; at times the copy machine became the solution. The process of dealing with an inadequate source of textbooks, coupled with a high degree of autonomy at each school site, creates a problem. Curriculum and textbooks vary greatly from site to site. Student abilities are incredibly diverse, and often students are described as having "scattered skills”. Students frequently move from institution to institution and find themselves using different textbooks, a different version, or no textbook at all. Academic credit can be lost. This is frustrating for the student and potentially damaging to already bruised self- esteem.
No recommendations for this finding

Commendations 11

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Orange County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office