Every child deserves a quality education. A range of studies has shown:
- Children who have been abused or neglected lag far behind other students in academic performance and educational achievement;
- Students who do poorly in school are at greater risk of becoming involved in the youth and adult justice systems;
- Young people involved in the youth justice system are less likely to graduate from high school, attend college, or obtain sustainable employment; and
- Incarcerated adults are less likely to have a high school diploma or post-secondary degree.
Data and research show that some populations are overrepresented at different points in the justice system, which impacts the ability of all youth to succeed academically.
Evident Change’s work in education includes:
- Research projects to answer questions related to the education of students in child welfare and/or justice systems;
- Monitoring student progress in a school or educational program;
- Site-specific implementation of best practices and measurable academic outcomes in non-traditional school settings (e.g., supportive programming from youth justice facilities to community-based schools); and
- Analysis of factors and characteristics that correlate with student success.
Evident Change promotes policies and practices to ensure:
- All schools, whether in urban or rural communities or within youth or adult correctional institutions, are accountable for the academic progress of all students;
- Child welfare and youth justice systems utilize valid, reliable educational and academic data to increase the likelihood that youth graduate from high school; and
- Educational outcomes are improved to decrease the likelihood of child welfare, youth justice, or adult justice system involvement.
For more information, contact Dr. Erin Espinosa, Director of Research.