This chapter examines how a school inside a juvenile justice facility can be transformed in meaningful ways by sharing the story of the Maya Angelou Academy in Washington, D.C. In November 2006, Vincent Shiraldi, the head of Washington's juvenile justice agency, asked the authors to create a program that will educate incarcerated youth, facilitate their positive reintegration into the community,
... [Show full abstract] and support their personal success. This chapter describes the philosophy and program components at the Maya Angelou Academy, including the core academic curriculum, career training, positive behavioral intervention model, and individualized transition planning. It also discusses credit accumulation, reading and math gains, and documented changes in the way students perceive school as a place they can succeed, along with the challenges inherent in creating high-quality educational options in a juvenile correctional setting.
