Elgin college helps juveniles in detention earn college credit
Kane County is giving juveniles in detention a chance to earn dual high school and college credits this summer.
Detainees at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center can take dual-credit courses to help prepare for college and careers once they leave there. The St. Charles-based center is partnering with the Kane County Regional Office of Education and Elgin Community College on the summer pilot program launched last week.
Up to 12 of the center's roughly 40 residents will be taking ECC's College 101 and general student development course. Taught by an ECC instructor, College 101 helps students learn personal time management, prioritization, self-reflection and self-awareness, while general student development helps them explore career options. Both courses run for two weeks.
“No child should be left behind,” said Shirley LeClere, the regional office's director of professional development. “That also means the incarcerated kids.”
Along with the dual-credit courses, detainees also will be taking art, music and yoga classes for the first time this summer.
The regional office already supports a year-round school for students in juvenile detention. Students receive 300 minutes of instruction Monday through Friday from certified teachers in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health and computer science through an agreement with St. Charles Unit District 303.
With the dual-credit pilot — funded through a $35,000 Title I grant — officials are venturing into uncharted territory, LeClere said.
“We wanted to mirror what goes on in our regular high schools here at the Juvenile Justice Center,” she said. “They should be exposed to those courses and build on that success when they transition back to high school or the community. This program will give students ages 14 and up a chance to mature.”
The center temporarily houses youth offenders between 10 and 17 years old, providing a safe environment pending court proceedings or after adjudication on delinquent charges — juveniles can be sentenced for up to 30 days in the detention center, which serves youth offenders from Kane, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, McHenry and Stevenson counties.
“Our mission is to provide a smooth transfer back to the public schools,” Principal Ivars Spalis said. “We're more or less the model program in the area.”
Students selected to participate in the pilot program were identified by their work habits and reading comprehension scores.
“They were carefully chosen. We looked at their academic level and maturity level and attitude toward learning,” Spalis said.
Though detainees have limited internet access at the center, they will be able to utilize ECC's distance learning resources and its online library. They will be helped by ECC librarians during study time in the afternoon, said Elizabeth Roeger, ECC dean of developmental education and college transitions.
Officials hope those who complete the program not only receive college credit but also gain a more positive outlook for college after graduating from high school. Among the challenges, the kids struggle with socialization, emotional intelligence, anxiety and a lack of self-confidence, concentration and motivation.
“These two classes help build grit and positive mindset in these kids,” Roeger said. “We want to help the students become motivated to see a positive future and believe they can get there. The choices that you make determine what the outcome is going to be. We want our students to see that they need to be creators.”
Officials will assess the program at the end of summer to determine whether to continue it next year and add classes.
“We're going to ask the kids because that's who is going to generate how we need to refine and adapt our program,” LeClere said. “We are looking to see is this something we can add on a year-round basis. We're going to do everything we can because we'll have evidence to show it's been a success.”