NCJ Number
81101
Date Published
Unknown
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This summary presents the findings of the 1976 evaluation of the educational programs of the Youth Services Program Office of Florida's Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.
Abstract
The current curriculum emphasis is basic skills education. Every youth placed in a training school operated by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services is enrolled in the institution's exceptional child education program. According to California Achievement Tests given by each institution, the average achievement rates for all schools are (1) reading, 1.6 months gained per month in the program; (2) math, 1.8 months gained per month in the program; and (3) language, 1.9 months gained per month in the program. These rates are higher than for the 1975 evaluation period. There are six Youth Services START centers throughout the State. They are operated for the community-based treatment of young offenders. Each program has its own inhouse educational program which is basically remedial. The average achievement rates for all START facilities are (1) reading, 2.9 months gained per month in the program; (2) math, 3.2 months gained per month in the program; and (3) language, 3.3 months gained per month in the program. These rates are an improvement over those achieved last year. More than half of the youth furloughed from training schools in 1975 received vocational training. This is a 16 percent increase over the percentage trained the previous year. Not as many youths are obtaining employment when furloughed from training schools. This is probably due primarily to the economic decline, particularly in employment for the age group involved. It is recommended that a career development program be introduced to supplement vocational training and that the Youth Services Program Office work closely with public school districts to assist in the transition of youth from an institution to the community. Tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)