Financial Aid for Juvenile Justice System-Involved Youth

This resource is meant to help youth who are about to graduate from higher school and/or who are under the age of 26 with juvenile justice system involvement maximize the amount of financial aid they receive to attend college. The guide covers what financial aid is and how to get it, offers tips for troubleshooting […]

AB 2306 – Request for Signature

Letter requesting Governor Brown’s signature on SB 2306, a bill to give students transferring from juvenile court schools the same options to meet the state high school graduation requirements providing in existing law for foster youth.

Request for Depublication

Request for Depublication in In re Ivan N., an opinion issued by the California Court of Appeal holding that foster youth educational rights to not apply to probation supervised foster youth.

YLC Fellowship Annoucement

Notice that YLC is seeking applications from third-year law students and judicial clerks who are interested in working on juvenile justice and child welfare advocacy issues and in applying for fellowships offered by the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works Foundation, or other sponsored fellowships for fellowship to begin in September 2017.

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.

Implementation Fact Sheet – AB 2276

This is a fact sheet explaining how advocates can ensure that AB 2276 is actually implemented. This bill addresses the re-enrollment rights of juvenile justice youth when they transfer from a juvenile court school back into a regular school district.

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.

Education Web Resources

This handout lists various links to resources on the internet related to the educational rights of foster youth in California.

“Breaking Developments in CA School Discipline & Juvenile Justice”

This power point was presented at the LAAC Traveling Training on November 2, 2012 in Ontario, California. The panel was described as follows: “This presentation will summarize new developments in discipline laws that have come under fire in California because of their demonstrated disparate impact on students of color, and other discipline related initiatives that […]

Letter “Sign AB 420 to Support Civil Rights” (August 15, 2013)

This is a letter submitted to Governor Brown urging him to sign AB 420, a bill that would reduce the use of EC Section 48900(k) (willful defiance) as a grounds for suspension and expulsion in California schools. The letter was signed by YLC’s Director, Jennifer Rodriguez, and 21 other Civil Rights and legal directors, including […]

What Sacramento is Saying About School Discipline

This power point was presented to school district personnel attending the California Endowment’s “Central Valley Educational Leadership Institute” on October 10, 2012 in Fresno California. The power point provides a summary of the new discipline reform bills that were signed into law during the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Exclusion and Push-Out Power Point

This is a power point that addresses issues related to the disproportionate impact of discipline policies, involuntary placements in alternative schools, and the impact policies governing truancy and SARB referrals. The power point was prepared for the LAAC traveling training held on November 9, 2011 in Fresno.

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 […]

SB 1296

SB 1296 was signed into law on June 27, 2014 by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill bans incarceration as a contempt sanction for youth adjudicated as truants. It was co-sponsored by Youth Law Center

Letter Opposing Eliminating Foster Youth Services

This is the letter we faxed to the Senate Budget Committee in February 2013. The Governor’s current budget proposal would basically block grant Foster Youth Services, thereby essentially eliminating it.

Alejo v. O’Connell Petition

The Youth Law Center and the California Rural Legal Assistance filed a lawsuit, Alejo v. O’Connell, challenging the cancellation of monitoring reviews of Homeless, Neglected or Delinquent, Migrant and English Learner programs by Superintendent O’Connell.

Nick O. v. Terhune Stipulation and Order

Nick O. v. Terhune was a federal class action challenging the failure of the defendants to provide appropriate special education and related services to youth confined at the California Youth Authority. Judgment was entered on May 7, 1990, in which the defendants agreed to ensure that all class members would be provided with a free […]

Tommy P.v. Board of County Commissioners Memorandum and Judgment

Tommy P. v. Board of County Commissioners was a state court action to insure that children in detention facilities would have a right to adequate education services during long terms of confinement. After trial, the Superior Court held that children have both federal and state constitutional rights to education during confinement, and ordered Spokane County […]

Tommy P. v. Board of Commissioners First Amended Complaint

Tommy P. v. Board of County Commissioners was a state court action to insure that children in detention facilities would have a right to adequate education services during long terms of confinement. After trial, the Superior Court held that children have both federal and state constitutional rights to education during confinement, and ordered Spokane County […]

Ramon v. Soto Stipulation and Settlement Agreement

Ramon v. Soto was a federal civil rights action that challenged several unlawful disciplinary procedures utilized at the Phoenix Indian High School. Specifically, the suit challenged removal of special education students without conducting hearings to determine the nature of their handicap and the best educational plan for them. Additionally, the suit challenged practices of handcuffing […]

Ramon v. Soto Complaint

Ramon v. Soto was a federal civil rights action that challenged several unlawful disciplinary procedures utilized at the Phoenix Indian High School. Specifically, the suit challenged removal of special education students without conducting hearings to determine the nature of their handicap and the best educational plan for them. Additionally, the suit challenged practices of handcuffing […]

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education Alternatie Writ of Mandate

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education was a lawsuit filed by immigrant children, parents, teachers, and nonprofit educational organizations against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) for excluding alternative bilingual education programs from participation in California’s $133 million Reading First Federal Grant Program. ‘Reading First’ is funded through […]

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education Settlement Agreement

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education was a lawsuit filed by immigrant children, parents, teachers, and nonprofit educational organizations against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) for excluding alternative bilingual education programs from participation in California’s $133 million Reading First Federal Grant Program. ‘Reading First’ is funded through […]

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education Petition and Complaint

Pazmiño v. California Board of Education was a lawsuit filed by immigrant children, parents, teachers, and nonprofit educational organizations against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) for excluding alternative bilingual education programs from participation in California’s $133 million Reading First Federal Grant Program. ‘Reading First’ is funded through […]

Nick O. v. Terhune Complaint

Nick O. v. Terhune was a federal class action challenging the failure of the defendants to provide appropriate special education and related services to youth confined at the California Youth Authority. Judgment was entered on May 7, 1990, in which the defendants agreed to ensure that all class members would be provided with a free […]

Melvin C. v. Schilling Maryland Correctional Special Education Action Plan

The Youth Law Center in collaboration with the Public Justice Center, Inc. and two private attorneys, filed Melvin C. v. Schilling against the Maryland Department of Education and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Melvin C. was the first case in the country to challenge the failure of an adult prison system to […]

Melvin C. v. Schilling Complaint

The Youth Law Center in collaboration with the Public Justice Center, Inc. and two private attorneys, filed Melvin C. v. Schilling against the Maryland Department of Education and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Melvin C. was the first case in the country to challenge the failure of an adult prison system to […]

Banuelos v. Tracy Settlement Agreement

YLC co-counseled with California Rural Legal Assistance on this federal civil rights action, Banuelos v. Tracy, on behalf of a Latino high school student who had been improperly detained, searched, and identified as a potential gang member at school. Through mediation the student obtained an agreement that law enforcement authorities would remove his name from […]

Banuelos v. Tracy Notice of Settlement

YLC co-counseled with California Rural Legal Assistance on this federal civil rights action, Banuelos v. Tracy, on behalf of a Latino high school student who had been improperly detained, searched, and identified as a potential gang member at school. Through mediation the student obtained an agreement that law enforcement authorities would remove his name from […]

Banuelos v. Tracy Complaint

YLC co-counseled with California Rural Legal Assistance on this federal civil rights action, Banuelos v. Tracy, on behalf of a Latino high school student who had been improperly detained, searched, and identified as a potential gang member at school. Through mediation the student obtained an agreement that law enforcement authorities would remove his name from […]

Safford v. Redding Amicus

The Youth Law Center participated in this case as amicus curiae in a brief on behalf of Savana filed by the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, law professors and juvenile advocacy groups around the country. This was the first juvenile school search case considered by the High Court in 24 years. The United State Supreme Court […]

Foster Care Education Fact Sheets (California Foster Youth Education Task Force)

These are mostly one page fact sheets that were developed by the California Foster Youth Education Taskforce on the following topics: AB490Education RightsSpecial EducationNonpublic SchoolsAB 3632Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP)School DisciplineSpecial Education Discipline These were updated in October 2008.

Step 6 – Children in the Child Welfare System – Tools for Promoting Educational Success and Reducing Delinquency

According to the National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice, the Tools for Success, is a “compendium of best practices for promoting the educational stability of youth with disabilities and those at risk of developing disabilities. Designed for teachers and administrators, Tools for Success includes research-based effective practices for meeting the needs of children […]

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE – WEB RESOURCES

This lists links to various websites dealing with student discipline issues and was distributed at the LAAC Traveling Training for the Introduction to School Discipline Panel on December 8, 2010.

Alternative Education Outline

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

Policy Brief – Early Childhood Education Programs

Early childhood education programs can provide critical education and other services for children in foster care, but not all eligible foster children are enrolled in an appropriate program.  This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief on early childhood education programs provides a list of early childhood education policy issues and proposed courses of […]

Policy Brief – Completion of Postsecondary Education and Training Programs

Former foster youth are most able to succeed in higher education and trianing programs when they receive supports tailored to the unique challenges they face.  This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief on completion of postsecondary education and training programs discusses the laws and public, private and partmership programs that support former foster […]

Policy Brief – Transition to Postsecondary Education and Training Programs

California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief on transition to postsecondary education and training programs describes laws that support increased access to information about post secondary options and possible courses of action to help former foster youth transition to postsecondary education and training.

Policy Brief – Data Collection & Sharing: Foster Youth State-Wide Education Data

Although statewide educational data is collected for several subgroups of students enrolled in California, there is no systemic statewide educational data collected, disaggregated, and submitted to the California Department of Education.  This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief on data coloection discusses possible statewide courses of action to get this done.

Policy Brief – Educational Decision-Making & Parental Notice

Parental notice is a key element of the statutory framework of California’s Education Code.  This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief on educational decision-making and parental notice list the rights of parents and guardians and includes possilbe courses of action to ensure those rights.

Policy Brief – Academic Supports

This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s policy brief descibes the various special academic supports for foster youth:  Students “at risk for retention”, access to quality services to meet academic needs, special education, English Learner or Limited English Proficient students, migrant students, No Child Left Behind, etc. and possible courses of action to ensure that foster youth […]

Policy Brief – AB 490 Implementation: Partial Credits

This California Foster Youth  Education Task Force’s policy brief on AB 490 Implementation explains how school districts must accept partial credits for entering foster youth and suggests ways that state-level guidance and intervention on issuance of partial credits could greatly benefit foster youth in California.

Policy Brief – AB 490 Implementation: School Transportation

Transportation, or the lack thereof, is a major obstable to ensuring appropriate educational placement for foster youth.  This California Foster Youth Education Task Force Policy Brief on AB 490 Implementation provides things to consider when figuring out school transportation for foster youth.

Policy Brief – AB 490 Implementation: Immediate Enrollment

This California Foster Youth Education Task Force’s Policy Brief  addresses how AB 490 Implementation addresses the lengthy delays that foster youth faced awaiting enrollment in a new school or district by entitling foster youth to immediate enrollment and efficient tranfer of records.

2007 California Foster Youth Education Summit – Backgrounder

Three page summary of the 2007 California Foster Youth Education Summit, the first statewide convening of foster youth, former foster youth and leaders and professionals from education, child welfare, probation and the courts to address critical issues in foster youth education.

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, […]

Gang Attire Demand Letter

This is a demand letter challenging a school district’s “gang attire” policy that was used to target Latino youth for suspensions and expulsions.

Special Education and the Juvenile Justice System

“This monograph is intended to inform judges, attorneys, advocates, probation officers, institutional staff, and other youth-serving professionals about the impact of special education issues on juvenile justice matters. It summarizes the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and analyzes their relevance to the juvenile justice process.” http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/2000_6_5/contents.html