Mission

The mission of the DYS education system is to provide, in a manner consistent with public education in the state of Arkansas as well as the nation, a system of high-quality education programs to address the needs of youth in the juvenile justice system. To accomplish this mission, DYS will:

• Identify and serve each youth with a disability in DYS care.
• Improve the individual academic achievement of each youth in DYS care.
• Provide an opportunity for progress toward state and local graduation requirements for each high school-age youth in DYS care.
• Provide an opportunity for post-secondary education preparation for each youth who enters with or achieves graduate status while in DYS care. 

Coordination

The DYS education system is designed to establish continuity among each of it school sites. The development of curriculum and consistency of textbooks, instructional technology and materials brings uniformity to education programs at each site. The primary purpose is to ensure that our students do not experience an adverse effect on their schooling due to movement within the system necessary to address treatment needs.
 
Teacher Recruitment and Retention
 
DYS requires that all teachers have a “highly-qualified” status so our youth get the best possible educational experience while they are with us. In hopes of recruiting and retaining these teachers, DYS has adjusted its school schedule so that it replicates the schedule of a regular school system.
 
Focus

The goal of DYS education is to “mesh” not “match” with the public-school system in Arkansas. By offering courses in the core subject areas that meet state standards and graduation requirements we offer a consistent opportunity for all students to make adequate progress toward graduation. This is critical due to the short length of stay for most students. Guidance services are in place to properly identify students for grade placement and to advise each student concerning progress toward graduation.