Executive Summary: Educational Injustice: Barriers to Achievement and Higher Education for Youth in California Juvenile Court Schools

Summary of Report detailing a study of the education system for youth confined to detention facilities within California’s juvenile justice system. In the report, entitled Educational Injustice: Barriers to Achievement and Higher Education for Youth in California Juvenile Court Schools, Youth Law Center examines areas of challenge for the system and fundamental ways in which […]

Demand Letter to Ventura County Office of Education

This is a demand letter to the Ventura County Office of Education challenging its failure to comply with the provisions of the California Education Code concerning Independent Study. Their practices resulted in juvenile justice youth being involuntarily placed on Independent Study when they attempted to enroll in the county community school.

Final Template for School Board Hearing Request – SB 1111

This is template for a letter that advocates and community stakeholders can send to local school district boards asking for a hearing on the implementation of SB 1111 and inquiring about the need to update policies to comply with the new law.

Sample Public Records Request – SB 1111

This is a sample Public Records Act request that advocates can send to County Offices of Education to determine to what extent they are implementing the provisions of SB 1111 which governs transfers to county community schools.

SB 1111 Chaptered Text

The text of SB 1111 addressing transfer rights of students referred to county community schools.

YLC Letter in Support of SB 1111

Letter by YLC Staff Attorney Deborah Escobedo requesting the Governor’s signature on SB 1111. This bill addresses the transfer rights of students referred to county community schools, makes the statute consistent with state and federal laws governing the educational placement rights of foster care and homeless youth, and closes an existing loophole in the discipline […]

Alternative Education Outline

This outline provides a brief summary of California Education Code provisions governing alternative education placements.

Getting Out of the Red Zone – Youth from the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems Speak Out about the Obstacles to Completing their Education, and What Could Help

This publication describes the process the Youth Law Center underwent to conduct a series of focus groups of youth who were or had been in the juvenile justice or foster care systems, parents of such youth and foster parents. It also contains comments from the participants on such topics as school disruptions, suspensions and expulsions, […]