Meeting the Educational Needs of Students With Disabilities in

Short-term Detention Facilities

Mary Dale Bolson, Ph.D.

Mary Magee Quinn, Ph.D.

C. Michael Nelson, Ed.D.

Contents• Special education law and education

programming

• Identifying students with special education needs

• Formal evaluation and development of individualized education programs

• Special education programming

• Transition

Transition Out of the Short-term Detention Facility Education

Program

• Standards and benchmarks met

• Academic credit

• Special education status

• IEP

• Description of transition support needs

• Graduation plan, if appropriate

Transition As Part of the IEP

• Initiated while student is in detention facility

• Developed with key stakeholders

• Account for full range of education, vocational, and other service needs

• Include support services

Phases of Transition

• Referral phase

• Program placement phase

• Follow-up phase

Transition Challenges

• Interagency awareness of programs and services• Differences in eligibility criteria• Exchanging information about students prior to

transition• Program planning before transition• Post-Transition Information for Program

Evaluation• Formal, Written Transition Procedures• Return to the Short-term Facility