Are youth in the juvenile justice system entitled to special education services?
Youth with disabilities are entitled to the same special education services in the correctional system as in their home schools. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), juvenile justice facilities are required to provide free and appropriate education services, both general and special, to all students. Youth with disabilities who are incarcerated are entitled to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and the school in the correctional facility is responsible for inviting parent participation in the IEP process. Parents also have the right to request that the correctional facilities arrange for their child to be evaluated for special education services. Young people are entitled to have representatives from their home school districts involved in all IEP or transition and discharge meetings, to help coordinate the correctional facility’s IEP with that of the home school. Finally, all transition-aged youth with disabilities are entitled to transition plans that ar
