top of page

School Justice Project Removes Barriers for Students Who Are Incarcerated


ree

The DC Bar Foundation is proud to fund legal services organizations in DC that help residents during times of crisis. School Justice Project (SJP)—a DC Bar Foundation grantee partner—uses special education law to ensure that older, court-involved students with disabilities can access a quality education.


In this story, we highlight the work SJP does to remove barriers for students with disabilities who are incarcerated so they can complete their education and have greater opportunities for success.


Sophie Thackray, staff attorney at School Justice Project, first met Lionel in March of 2022. Lionel had been incarcerated at the DC Jail since July 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. For much of that time, students at the jail did not receive any live lessons or teacher instruction. Although this stalled his academic progress, Lionel remained committed to earning his high school diploma.


Unfortunately, Lionel faced additional barriers to graduation. He was 22 years old, in the 10th grade, and his anticipated graduation date was not until 2024. With this timeline, he would age out of eligibility for special education services in February 2023, when he turned 23. 

After collecting Lionel's records from the five high schools he attended, Sophie discovered that three core courses Lionel already completed were not on his transcript. She also noticed that there were three other courses that he was eligible to complete through credit recovery instead of retaking completely. Sophie provided these records to the high school at the jail, and the school moved up Lionel's anticipated graduation date to June 2023.


Throughout the next year and a half, Sophie continued her work with Lionel and participated in his final IEP meeting to help prepare him to transition from high school to post-secondary education. Lionel graduated from high school on June 15, 2023. A high school diploma significantly increases Lionel's likelihood of success upon re-entry. He is pursuing college courses and hopes to earn a college degree before his release date.

Related Posts

See All
October 2025 News of Note

Nominations for the DC Access to Justice Commission Due Oct. 31 The DC Access to Justice Commission was established in 2005 by the DC Court of Appeals with the responsibility of "assuring high-quality

 
 
 

16 Comments


sontogel login situs toto 4D terlengkap sekaligus bocoran prediksi akurat

sontogel login juga menawarkan permainan toto slot gacor dengan rtp kemenangan di atas 95%

Like

MEP System Coordination involves the integrated planning and management of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing systems within a construction project to ensure seamless functionality and efficiency. It focuses on identifying and resolving potential conflicts between these systems during the design and construction phases. By using tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM), clash detection, and 3D modelling, MEP coordination ensures that all components fit within the architectural and structural framework without interference. This process reduces costly rework, minimizes delays, and improves overall project quality. Effective MEP coordination enhances performance, safety, and sustainability, leading to a well-organized, efficient building infrastructure.


Like

At sorceryspellsandpotions, our clients’ satisfaction is our top priority. https://sorceryspellsandpotions.com

Like

Shop the full BJJ Suits collection now and level up your Jiu Jitsu game with Novakik. bjj uniform

Like

Hire a Microsoft Excel Expert for efficient data management. Our skilled professionals specialize in Excel, offering expertise in data analysis, reporting, and spreadsheet optimization. Elevate your data handling capabilities and enhance decision-making with the proficiency of our dedicated Microsoft Excel Expert. Ergo, our excel experts will securely run your reports, prepare charts, organize and analyze data and present it to the decision-makers. hire excel expert will drastically help you in reducing the time and effort it takes for you to assemble your data every day

Like
bottom of page