Woodlake Unified School District | AR 6173.3 Instruction
Education For Juvenile Court School Students
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with the County Superintendent of Schools and the county probation department to facilitate the transition of students from a juvenile court school into the regular schools of the district. Such collaboration may include, but not be limited to, the development of data-sharing systems, communication strategies, and other structures that aid in the enrollment, placement, and continuous educational progress of such students.
Enrollment
A former juvenile court school student transferring into a regular district school shall be immediately enrolled in the school. The Superintendent or designee shall not deny enrollment to a student solely on the basis of his/her arrest, adjudication by a juvenile court, formal or informal supervision by a probation officer, detention in a juvenile facility, enrollment in a juvenile court school, or other contact with the juvenile justice system. (Education Code 48645.5)
(cf. 5111 - Admission)
(cf. 5111.1 - District Residency)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 5125.2 - Withholding Grades, Diploma or Transcripts)
(cf. 5132 - Dress and Grooming)
(cf. 5141.26 - Tuberculosis Testing)
(cf. 5141.31 - Immunizations)
Transfer of Coursework and Credits
When a student transfers from a juvenile court school into a district school, the district shall accept and issue full credit for any coursework that the student has satisfactorily completed at that school and shall not require the student to retake the course. If the student did not complete the entire course, he/she shall be issued partial credit for the coursework completed and shall not be required to retake the portion of the course completed. (Education Code 48645.5, 51225.2)
However, a student may be required to retake the portion of the course completed if the Superintendent or designee, in consultation with the holder of educational rights for the student, finds that the student is reasonably able to complete the requirements in time to graduate from high school. Whenever partial credit is issued to a former juvenile court school student in any particular course, he/she shall be enrolled in the same or equivalent course, if applicable, so that he/she may continue and complete the entire course. (Education Code 51225.2)
Partial credits shall be awarded on the basis of 0.5 credits for every seven class periods attended per subject. If the school is on a block schedule, each block schedule class period attended shall be equal to two regular class periods per subject.
In no event shall the district prevent a former juvenile court school student from taking or retaking a course to meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the California State University or the University of California. (Education Code 51225.2)
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
Graduation
If a student completes district graduation requirements while being detained in a juvenile facility, the district shall issue the student a diploma from the school the student last attended, unless the County Superintendent issues the diploma. (Education Code 48645.5)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
A student who transfers to a district school from a juvenile court school shall generally be expected to complete all courses required by Education Code 51225.3 and to fulfill any additional graduation requirements prescribed by the Governing Board.
However, when a student who has completed his/her second year of high school transfers from a juvenile court school into a district school, he/she shall be exempted from all district-adopted coursework and other district-established graduation requirements, unless the district makes a finding that the student is reasonably able to complete the additional requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of his/her fourth year of high school. Within 30 calendar days of the student's transfer, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the student, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for him/her, and the student's social worker or probation officer of the availability of the exemption and whether the student qualifies for it. If the Superintendent or designee fails to provide this notification, the student shall be eligible for the exemption once notified, even if the notification occurs after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the student. (Education Code 51225.1)
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
To determine whether a student is in his/her third or fourth year of high school, the district shall use either the number of credits he/she has earned as of the date of the transfer or the length of his/her school enrollment, whichever qualifies him/her for the exemption. (Education Code 51225.1)
The Superintendent or designee shall notify any former juvenile court school student who is granted an exemption and the person holding the right to make educational decisions for him/her how any requirements that are waived will affect the student's ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges. (Education Code 51225.1)
The district shall not require or request a former juvenile court school student to transfer schools in order to qualify for an exemption, and no request for a transfer solely to qualify for an exemption shall be made by a student, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the student, or the student's social worker or probation officer. (Education Code 51225.1)
If a student is exempted from local graduation requirements, the exemption shall continue to apply after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the student or if he/she transfers to another school or school district. (Education Code 51225.1)
If the Superintendent or designee determines that a former juvenile court school student is reasonably able to complete district graduation requirements within his/her fifth year of high school, he/she shall: (Education Code 51225.1)
1. Inform the student and, if the student is under 18 years of age, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for him/her, of the option available to the student to remain in school for a fifth year to complete the district's graduation requirements and how that will affect his/her ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution
2. Provide information to the student about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges
3. Upon agreement with the student or with the person holding the right to make educational decisions for him/her if he/she is under 18 years of age, permit the student to stay in school for a fifth year to complete the district's graduation requirements
Notification and Complaints
Information regarding the educational rights of former juvenile court school students, as specified in Education Code 51225.1 and 51225.2, shall be included in the annual uniform complaint procedures notification distributed to students, parents/guardians, employees, and other interested parties pursuant to 5 CCR 4622. (Education Code 51225.1, 51225.2)
Any complaint that the district has not complied with requirements regarding the education of former juvenile court school students, as specified in Education Code 51225.1 or 51225.2, may be filed in accordance with the district's procedures in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
48645-48648 Juvenile court schools
48853.5 Immediate enrollment
51225.1 Exemption from district graduation requirements
51225.2 Former juvenile court school student defined; acceptance of coursework, credits, retaking of course
51225.3 High school graduation
60851.5 Suspension of high school exit examination
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
602 Minors violating law; ward of court
880-893 Wards and dependent children; juvenile homes, ranches and camps
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4600-4687 Uniform complaint procedures
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA CHILD WELFARE COUNCIL
Partial Credit Model Policy and Practice Recommendations
YOUTH LAW CENTER PUBLICATIONS
Educational Injustice: Barriers to Achievement and Higher Education for Youth in California Juvenile Court Schools, 2016
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Child Welfare Council: http://www.chhs.ca.gov/Pages/CAChildWelfareCouncil.aspx
California Department of Education, Juvenile Court Schools: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/jc
Youth Law Center: http://www.ylc.org
Regulation WOODLAKE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: March 8, 2017 Woodlake, California