Obama officials outline juvenile justice education plan
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder unveiled guidelines Monday for juvenile justice officials to better educate youths in their facilities.
The plans include requiring all teachers to be “highly qualified,” which means the teacher has at least a bachelor’s degree, is certified by the state to teach and is proficient with subject materials. The students are also eligible for Pell grants to help pay for college.
The guidelines are an extension of President Barack Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to help young minorities.
Georgia’s Juvenile Justice Department serves about 52,000 youths a year. Department officials declined comment Monday on the federal guidelines, saying they need more time to examine the proposals.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
