📘 Education is Protective
From Arkansas to Missouri to Texas, one principle rings true: education is the greatest stabilizer in a youth’s life. It is both an anchor and a launchpad. EDORA captures educational factors *at intake* to ensure nothing interrupts that momentum.
🧾 What to Capture at Intake
🎓 Current School Status
Enrolled, suspended, expelled, withdrawn, or unknown📚 Grade Level
Include current grade, GED, or alternative programs📖 IEP / 504 Plan
Identify any formal educational supports and accommodations📈 Credits Earned
Estimates help determine placement alignment if removed from current school⏰ Attendance & Truancy
Missed days, chronic lateness, prior suspensions or absences🧠 Learning Profile
Visual learner, ELL needs, attention challenges, reading/writing fluency📞 School Contact
Counselor, IEP coordinator, or principal name and email (if known)🎒 Special Programs
ESL, Gifted, Vocational, Work-Study, or Alternative Ed📅 Discipline History
Recent suspension or expulsion dates, if available🌍 Contact Region
Capture the school’s county/state in case of out-of-region placement planning📜 Legal & Procedural Frameworks
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) — ensures continuation of special education services across placements
- FERPA — mandates privacy and secure data transfer of academic records
- ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) — requires timely re-enrollment and protections for justice-involved youth
- McKinney-Vento Act — supports youth experiencing homelessness or unstable housing transitions
🛠️ Design Considerations
EDORA front-loads academic intake to avoid last-minute scrambles. Whether youth are routed to detention or diversion, their learning plan stays visible to every team member — intake workers, probation officers, educators, and case managers alike.
— Missouri Education Justice Audit, 2021