Youth in Correctional Facilities

Special Education Services for Eligible Youth with Disabilities Detained in County Jails

Eligible youth with disabilities detained in county jails are entitled to special education and related services to meet their needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. 34 C.F.R. § 300.1 Administrative Units (AU) share the responsibility for ensuring educational services for detained youth with local juvenile and adult detention centers, including county jails. 34 C.F.R. § 300.2(b). 

• Register AU Special Education Contact in County Jail (Smartsheet Form)
• Special Education Services in County Jails - Fact Sheet (PDF)
• County Jail Contact Information by Administrative Unit, Administrative Unit Contact List, and Child Find Contact

AU Responsibilities for FAPE in County Jails

• Students 18-21 in Pre-Trial Confinement: AU Obligations under IDEA (PPT)

Office of Special Education Tool Kit

The Office of Special Education has developed a tool kit for improving outcomes for youth with disabilities in juvenile corrections, which includes evidence- and research-based practices, tools, and resources that educators, families, facilities, and community agencies can use to better support and improve the long-term outcomes for youth with disabilities in juvenile facilities.