The Testing Industrial Complex (TIC) is a system (and at the same time a cycle) in which high-stakes standardized testing fuels neoliberal education reforms and vice versa. These "reforms" and cycles have monetized for profit the public education system in which curriculum, students, and teachers have been packaged and sold for corporate…

In this article, the authors provide a selective review of both research and policy represented in part by two concepts that have been discussed in educational research--the "right to learn" and the notion of "literacy as a civil right" and how these issues of access and equity are undermined by the school-to-prison pipeline.…

"Ghosts of No Child Left Behind" politically situates curriculum within a historically and critically informed context, to understand the structural forces that have contributed to the creation of a population of adolescents who read below a third grade level. The book then proposes a reconceptualization of literacy curriculum within a…

The aim of this issue is to provide readers with a better understanding of the inexplicable connection between school, community, and incarceration, and how better prepared professionals can make a difference in the lives of youth in the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). This issue provides readers with an awareness of the current status of the…

While considerable research has been conducted on educational practices and programming for incarcerated youth, significantly less attention has been given to short-term detained youth. The high transience of pre-adjudicated youth, legal protections pending trial, and varying levels of collaboration with correctional personnel have made it…

This report summarizes 2008-2009 data for facilities serving neglected or delinquent youth within Austin Independent School Disrict's attendance zones that used federal Title I funds.

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Among those incarcerated are juveniles. However, the higher the education obtained, the less likely it is that those previously incarcerated will reoffend. Legislation such as No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act set the structure…

In response to the current federal initiative to evaluate the impact of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Personnel Preparation program, the authors summarize prior efforts to evaluate the program and identify common themes and gaps in that work. Also, the authors pose issues and questions for those who seek to understand the impact…

This report summarizes results reported by facilities for neglected youth or delinquent youth in Austin ISD's attendance zone who received services funded by federal Title I dollars during the 2006-2007 school year.

The demographic and educational characteristics of incarcerated youth place them at extreme risk for school failure that begins well before their confinement in correctional facilities and is itself a significant risk factor for delinquent behavior. Because of their lack of literacy skills and evidence that educational attainment is a significant…

Rigorous research provides information that will allow other schools and districts to select interventions that have a scientifically based track record of effectiveness. All Striving Reader grants include the mandate to evaluate literacy intervention(s) targeted to adolescents who are reading significantly below grade level. Although all studies…

This report summarizes 2007-2008 school year activities and services in Austin Independent School District funded through the federal NCLB Title I Part A and Part D grants to serve eligible students and staff at facilities for neglected youth or delinquent youth located in the AISD attendance zone.

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 promotes high-quality educational services for all children and youths, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, income, or background. Despite the law's laudable goals, one group continues to be left behind: youths who are incarcerated in juvenile correctional facilities. These…

In this era of No Child Left Behind, educators are urged to reach children with special needs. Learning to recognize these children and develop strategies for teaching them is a fundamental hurdle for new educators. Abuse, poverty, or malnutrition, for example, are among the circumstances of some children--circumstances which taken alone, may…

This report summarizes 2005-2006 school year activities at facilities for neglected youth and facilities for delinquent youth in the Austin Independent School District (AISD) attendance zones that were supported through federal Title I funds.