A federal judge has granted final approval to settle a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Office of Education for failing to ensure that eligible students receive special educational services behind bars, it was announced Friday.
Once jailed, he found that no special education services were available and no agency was willing to provide the services, according to the Disability Rights Legal Center, which brought the class-action suit in Los Angeles federal court.
The lawsuit claimed that the failure to provide services violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other federal and state laws.
U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Morrow granted final approval last Monday, ensuring that eligible students in the jails are provided with appropriate special education services, the legal rights group said.
The settlement includes procedures for identifying eligible students transferred from juvenile hall or camps to county jails, notifying the respective responsible districts of residence that are obligated to provide services to such students, and training of education personnel.
“This settlement is a significant step towards ensuring students with disabilities in a custodial setting receive the special education services they need to be successful in life and obtain gainful employment upon release,” said Anna Rivera, senior staff attorney at the DRLC. “It’s through education that we break the cycle of recidivism.”
— City News Service