Incarcerated students claim they're not receiving education, which may be prolonging their detention in juvenile facilities.
In the Florida juvenile justice system, over 1,000 students are now learning through Florida Virtual School (FLVS) following the replacement of in-person teachers. However, recent reports suggest that this virtual education option is struggling to meet the diverse needs of these students, particularly those in residential commitment centers.
One such student is 15-year-old Xavier Nicoll, whose March report card showed low grades across various subjects, with a 34% in Civics and Career Planning, 12% in Pre-Algebra, 13% in Comprehensive Science, and 58% in Language Arts. Xavier's struggles with the new online learning program have led to frustration, resulting in him breaking laptops on three occasions. Each incident has resulted in a "level freeze," effectively extending his time at the residential commitment center.
Xavier's grandmother, Xavier Nicoll, has also expressed concern over her grandson's lack of special education services, with multiple meetings to discuss his education plan being canceled due to Xavier's repeated arrests and time in "dead time."
Similar complaints have been made by other Florida detainees, who express frustration with the lack of support from online teachers and the difficulty in understanding the online schoolwork. The instructor assigned to help Xavier and more than a dozen other students was often overwhelmed by the students' needs, with three different people holding that job during the nine months Xavier attended virtual school inside Orlando Youth Academy.
The challenges faced by these students are not limited to academic struggles. The systemic issues within the education system in prisons continue to face critiques and calls for reforms to better address the specialized needs of this population. Research points to gaps in mental health screening and support, which intersect with educational difficulties and affect successful transition and rehabilitation outcomes.
Incarcerated youth in Florida face significant challenges when transitioning to online learning in residential commitment centers. These challenges exacerbate academic struggles and behavioral problems among incarcerated youth, undermining rehabilitation goals.
Beyond educational delivery, the juvenile justice system's written protocol calls for taking away points students earn toward getting out if they don't participate in virtual school. This policy, coupled with the difficulties students face in accessing and engaging with virtual coursework, has been linked to increased frustration, behavioral issues, and extended confinement periods due to outbursts triggered by the challenges of virtual learning.
Upon release, youth receive limited transition support for continuing education, often being required to attend charter schools under probation without adequate assistance from FLVS or families. This lack of support further complicates the already challenging transition from incarceration to reentry into society.
As the education system in prisons continues to face critiques and calls for reforms, it is crucial to address the unique challenges faced by incarcerated youth to ensure their successful transition and rehabilitation.
[1] Source: News Article 1 [2] Source: Research Paper 1 [3] Source: News Article 2
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