JLDBG - Reintegration of Students

REINTEGRATION OF STUDENTS FROM JUVENILE

CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Maine law requires the establishment of a reintegration team to assist a student

entering a public school from a juvenile correctional facility. The School Committee

recognizes the need for advance planning and appropriate confidentiality in these 

circumstances.

The Superintendent/Principal  shall be responsible for determining whether a student will be accepted or denied access to school based on compliance with the juvenile’s rehabilitation plan as it affects reintegration.  Access may be denied until the

Superintendent/Principal is satisfied that conditions have been met.

The Acton School Department will comply with reintegration standards established by the Maine Department of Education.  The Superintendent/Principal will be responsible for overseeing the transition of students from juvenile correctional facilities based on the following guidelines.

 A. Within ten days of receiving information from the Department of corrections

     concerning the release of the juvenile offender, the Superintendent/Principal 

     shall establish and convene a meeting of a reintegration team to review

     Information received from the Department of Corrections, evaluate the student’s

     Individual educational needs, and determine what additional information may be

     relevant.

B. The reintegration team shall include at a minimum the            

     Superintendent/Principal/designee of the school to which student 

                will be admitted, the Special Education Director, at least one classroom

                teacher to which the student will be assigned or who is involved in the 

                school’s student assistance team, the student’s parent/guardian/custodian,

                and the guidance counselor.  The student’s juvenile correctional officer or other          

                representative from the Department of Corrections may be invited

                to attend.

 C.  The reintegration team will determine, on the basis of need, which school

       employees should be given (OR receive information OR have access to)

       information that would otherwise be considered confidential.  The nature and         extent of information provided should be limited to that needed to implement         the student’s reintegration plan and ensure the health and safety of the

        student, the safety of the school’s students and staff, and the integrity of 

       school property.

D.  The Superintendent/Principal/designee will be responsible for ensuring that

       confidentiality training, including a review of the school unit’s policy and

       administrative procedures pertinent to records from the juvenile criminal justice

       system, including the juvenile correctional facility, and to all student educational

       records under the Family Education Records and Privacy Act (FERPA), is

       provided to all school employees who have access to this information.

 E.   Before the student enters school, at least one additional meeting of the

       reintegration team should be held to develop an individualized plan for the

       student’s reintegration based on the student’s educational needs and the 

 options available within the school system.  This meeting should include the student as well as the members of the reintegration team.  The reintegration plan will address the student’s educational program, participation in activities (including co-curricular and extracurricular activities), and access to school facilities, including transportation.

 F.  Placement in grade, class, and/or school programs will be based on the

      student’s abilities and academic achievement demonstrated in prior educational

      settings, including the student’s stay at the juvenile correctional facility. The principal will be responsible for evaluating the student’s transcript and portfolio from the juvenile correctional facility to assess progress toward meeting the 

  content standards of the Learning Results.  The principal may require the 

  student to participate in additional tests or other demonstrations of skill or

  knowledge, consistent with the local assessment system, for the purpose of 

  determining appropriate placement.

 G. The Superintendent/Principal/designee will be responsible for developing and

  implementing a process for monitoring and reporting a student’s progress and

  compliance with the reintegration plan and for modifying the plan as needed.

 H. A student who violates School Committee policy or school rules will be subject

  to the disciplinary consequences described in policy, administrative procedures,

  and /or the student handbook/student code of conduct.

 I. The Superintendent/designee shall make any reports that may be required

  by the Department of Education concerning numbers of students entering 

  the Acton School Department from juvenile correctional facilities.

Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A. § 254(12), 1055(12), 2902(10), 4502(5) (0),

    6001-1B (1), 6001-B (2), 6001-B (3-A)

    15 M.R.S.A §3009

Adopted:   June 9, 2009

Revised:   March 14, 2024