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Improving Individualized Education Programs in the Juvenile Justice Setting.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Improving Individualized Education Programs in the Juvenile Justice Setting.
Authors: Nielsen-Pheiffer, Christiana1
Source: Journal of Correctional Education. Jan2026, Vol. 77 Issue 1, p2-15. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Individualized education programs, *Legal compliance, *Academic support programs, *Interagency coordination, *Educational quality, *People with disabilities, Juvenile justice administration
Abstract: Youth with disabilities are overrepresented in the juvenile justice (JJ) system (Kincaid & Sullivan, 2019; Morgan, 2021). This article, drawing on a content analysis by Nielsen-Pheiffer (2023) and other research, addresses a gap in the literature by providing tips to improve the quality of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for this population. IEP analysis research suggests a failure to meet federal legal requirements, both substantive and procedural, due to inadequate documentation, poor goal quality, and interagency communication issues (Hott et al., 2021; 2022; Nielsen-Pheiffer, 2023). To improve compliance and ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE), five actionable tips are provided: prioritizing rapid, holistic assessment; implementing ABCD+T goal-writing; coordinating with facility staff; systematizing parent engagement; and creating reentry-focused IEPs. Ultimately, these tips aim to provide practitioners with a clear roadmap to create legally compliant and effective IEPs, promoting successful transitions for justice-involved youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Youth with disabilities are overrepresented in the juvenile justice (JJ) system (Kincaid & Sullivan, 2019; Morgan, 2021). This article, drawing on a content analysis by Nielsen-Pheiffer (2023) and other research, addresses a gap in the literature by providing tips to improve the quality of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for this population. IEP analysis research suggests a failure to meet federal legal requirements, both substantive and procedural, due to inadequate documentation, poor goal quality, and interagency communication issues (Hott et al., 2021; 2022; Nielsen-Pheiffer, 2023). To improve compliance and ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE), five actionable tips are provided: prioritizing rapid, holistic assessment; implementing ABCD+T goal-writing; coordinating with facility staff; systematizing parent engagement; and creating reentry-focused IEPs. Ultimately, these tips aim to provide practitioners with a clear roadmap to create legally compliant and effective IEPs, promoting successful transitions for justice-involved youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:07402708