Reintegration Teams

When a juvenile is released from a correctional facility, the Department of Corrections must notify the superintendent of the school to which the juvenile is seeking admission of the availability of information related to the juvenile. Within ten days of receiving this notice, the superintendent must convene a reintegration team to carry out reintegration planning. The team must consist of the administrator of the school or the administrator’s designee and at least one of each the following: a teacher who will be teaching the student upon return; a parent, guardian or custodian; and a guidance counselor. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 1055(12); Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 15, § 3009.

According to the National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice, “The reintegration team is required to meet two times before the student enrolls in the school. During the first meeting, the team reviews the student’s records, develops a reintegration plan for the student which includes academic, extracurricular, and accessibility issues. The student’s placement in public school is determined according to the student’s academic abilities, progress on state standards, and achievement while confined. During the second meeting, the reintegration plan is reviewed with the student along with the consequences for non-compliance.”

The Maine Department of Education employs a consultant to provide ongoing technical assistance for and evaluation of reintegration planning. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 20-A, § 5151.