Education

Classroom with a table, chairs, whiteboard, and bookshelf

Classes

The Morris County Juvenile Detention Center runs a full year education program, comprised of five marking periods totaling over 230 days of instruction per year. Regardless of their educational status, all residents receive four hours of direct instruction every day including:  

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Science
  • Health/Physical Education

Recipients receive supplementary classes each week, including Basic Skills & Family Life Skills through our partnership with New Hope Integrated Behavioral Health Care.

In addition to these classes, residents interact with different organizations through presentations and visits. These additional services augment the resident’s education as well as foster citizenship and social skills.

Class Schedule

Whiteboard and projection screen

Our Center operates two different schedules of classes during the year to meet the required four hour school day.

  • September through June: 9:30am – 12:30pm; 3:50pm – 7:00pm
  • July and August: 8:40am – 12:40pm

Educational Requirements

Classes in the facility meet New Jersey Student Learning Standards for instruction. Students must participate in all state standardized tests – NJ Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA), NJ Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), Biology, and Algebra I – as determined by reviewing their education records. All residents take a basic skills test to assist with their placement in the Center.

We do not offer the GED, but we can provide information concerning preparation and testing sites.

Communication

Following admission, the education secretary will contact the resident’s home school district and request information pertinent to the individual. We make every effort to acquire the information needed as required by law. The Education department reviews all information and uses it to develop an uninterrupted program plan of instruction.

If Child Study Team services are required, these services will be coordinated with the resident’s home district or the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) and our staff.

Upon discharge from the Center, the Education department will promptly return all records to the home district. If remanded to a Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) facility, we will send the records to the appropriate person in that facility. Parents and guardians also receive discharge paperwork indicating where the records have been sent.

Report Cards

Each resident of the Center receives a report card indicating their attendance while in the Center. If a resident has 10 class days in the Center, he or she will also receive grades for participation in the program. School districts will accept both attendance and grades earned by students who have been in a Detention Center.

Classrooms & Equipment

The Center has the following areas and equipment available for instruction:

  • Three classrooms with a variety of educational resources, maps, assorted audio/visual aids including TV with VCR/DVD player
  • Three classrooms with “SmartBoard” interactive whiteboards
  • Library with fiction/non-fiction books, videos, games and a TV with VCR/DVD player
  • Laptops used for science classes and internet access for research and recreation
  • Outdoor recreation area for physical education classes and Olympic Week Events
    • We maintain a full range of appropriate physical education equipment for use in class and for general recreation.

Additional Services

  • Continuing Education opportunities for staff
  • Alternative Education programs
  • Cooking classes
  • Olympic Week competitions
  • Guest speaker/presenters
    • Kula for Karma - Yoga
    • Art classes 
    • Music For All Seasons
    • Eyes of the Wild
    • Snakes and Scales
    • Life Skills