Study of Local Agency Activities under the Title I, Part D, Program. Program Profiles 2000.

Part D of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act authorizes two programs specifically for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at risk of dropping out of school. Subpart 1 provides financial assistance to programs for youth in state-operated institutions, and Subpart 2 provides financial assistance to support local education agency (LEA) programs involving collaboration with locally operated correctional facilities. In October 1996, a study was undertaken to provide descriptive information on LEA activities under the program through site visits to nine programs. This report summarizes the methodology used to study these programs and identifies some of the key issues and findings that emerged from the investigation of local programs. The nine programs varied widely with respect to purpose, grant amount, number of students served, and number of participating facilities or schools. All but one of the programs did provide some academic instruction in the detention environment. Local programs were much less likely to use program funds for the other two basic goals of the Part D program: dropout prevention in the regular schools; and formal transition services for youth returning from a detention facility. Formal transition or aftercare programs remained scarce. Individual site reports profile each of the programs studied. (SLD)