By Jeremy Loudenback and Sara Tiano, Illustration: Christine Ongjoco, The Imprint, July 7, 2023
Amid historic reforms to California’s youth justice system, the state’s newly signed budget funnels investments into higher education for young people in lockups, while strengthening oversight of juvenile court schools, educational institutions inside of youth detention facilities.
Due to a budget shortfall, the investment is modest and the funding is among the few spending proposals focused on youth justice that passed in the budget trailer bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on June 30.
But with $80 million in approved spending on alternative schools and the continuation of $15 million for programs to connect incarcerated youth to higher education, the new state budget furthers the goal of improving the lives and futures of incarcerated youth. Key portions of the spending require county probation departments to offer options for secondary education inside juvenile detention facilities. And in an adjustment to California’s school funding formula, county offices of education will receive additional funds to operate alternative and juvenile court schools.
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