Across juvenile justice systems, dedicated educators and facility leaders work every day to meet mandated K–12 education requirements under complex and demanding conditions. They balance staffing limitations, security needs, and custody operations while striving to expand meaningful educational opportunities for youth in their care.

Many of these educators recognize that meeting requirements alone is not enough. Young people need learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, and connected to real opportunities beyond custody. Delivering that level of impact can be difficult without the right partners, tools, and technology to support continuity, personalization, and alignment with workforce needs.

North Carolina offers a clear example of how these challenges can be addressed when education and workforce readiness are treated as core functions of the system and supported accordingly.

These themes were at the center of a recent webinar hosted by the National Partnership for Juvenile Services and moderated by Orijin. Leaders from the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention shared how the state’s juvenile education system is evolving and what the results reveal about what is possible inside correctional settings.

A Juvenile Education System Built for Continuity and Equity

North Carolina’s approach begins with structure and purpose. The Department of Juvenile Justice operates as its own Local Education Agency, serving youth across 14 state-run facilities. Teachers and administrators are licensed, coursework follows a standard course of study aligned with state requirements, and students take state assessments while in custody. Transcripts reflect school-based names rather than facility labels, reinforcing continuity with students’ home schools.

For Casey Corey, Director of Education Services, this design is foundational.

“Our number one goal is to make sure students receive a comparable education to what they would have in their local community,” Corey shared during the webinar. “When students transition back, there should be no learning loss.”

This philosophy reframes education inside juvenile facilities. Rather than focusing on short-term compliance, the system prioritizes long-term continuity, equity, and academic progress. Students remain part of a broader educational pathway that expects growth and forward momentum.

Expanding Access Through Blended and Digital Learning

The webinar also explored how North Carolina is expanding instructional access through blended learning and secure digital tools, particularly in response to staffing challenges. Before implementing tablet-based learning through Orijin, access to technology existed but was limited. Today, learning extends beyond traditional classroom blocks and into other parts of the day.

“Students have more opportunities to work at their own pace,” said James Futrell, Director of Accountability for Education Services. “They can revisit content, explore career skills, and continue learning outside of the school day.”

In environments where idle time can undermine engagement and behavior, expanded access to learning helps education become part of the facility culture rather than a standalone activity.

Connecting Education to Workforce Readiness and Reentry

A central theme of the webinar was the intentional connection between education and life beyond custody. North Carolina’s model integrates career exploration, credentialing, and reentry planning directly into the learning experience.

Through Orijin’s managed learning platform, youth can explore job pathways, build resumes, and earn industry-recognized credentials aligned with workforce needs, including manufacturing-focused certifications such as OSHA safety training and CDL preparation.

Futrell shared a story that illustrated the impact of this approach. After discovering the CDL preparation course on his tablet, one student committed to completing it.

“I challenged him to be the first in the state to finish the course,” Futrell said. “A few weeks later, he had completed it. What stood out was how that motivation spread once other students saw it was possible.”

In one facility alone, more than 70 credentials were earned in just 45 days, a surge leaders directly linked to increased engagement, clear goals, and staff support around student progress.

Technology That Works Because People Make It Work

Throughout the webinar, speakers emphasized that technology alone does not create outcomes. Introducing secure tablets required trust, collaboration, and training across education, facility operations, and IT teams.

Initial hesitation was addressed through transparency, clear security protocols, and hands-on training that allowed staff to see the tools in action.

For Cathy Littleton, Blended Learning Coach, the focus is on increasing educator capacity rather than adding complexity.

“My role is about increasing capacity,” Littleton explained. “We want to save time on tasks that do not directly impact students so teachers can focus on meaningful instruction and interaction.”

This human-centered approach ensures technology strengthens education rather than competes with it.

Student Voices Reflect Real Impact

Student reflections underscored the impact of North Carolina’s approach. Youth shared how blended learning supported different learning styles, improved grades through step-by-step instruction, and helped them stay focused.

One student described how access to structured learning provided clarity and purpose.

“On the outside, I wasn’t able to go to school how I wanted to,” he shared. “When I got locked up, it gave me time to myself to complete school.”

Another tied his education directly to his future as a parent.

“Everything I do is for my daughter,” he said. “If I can do this under these circumstances, she can do it, too.”

What North Carolina Highlights for the Field

North Carolina does not offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Juvenile systems differ across states and jurisdictions. What it does offer is a compelling example of what becomes possible when equitable education and workforce development are treated as essentials.

When learning is continuous, workforce readiness is embedded, and reentry planning is intentional, education does more than fill time. It creates pathways forward.

Interested in exploring how Orijin fits into your juvenile education vision? Contact us.