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DJJ secretary says Florida Scholars Academy has rapid startup, reports early gains in completions and graduations
Summary
Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Walsh told the subcommittee the Florida Scholars Academy was formed quickly and reported course completions, graduations and 100% ESE compliance in the Department of Education's monitoring for the first year; Walsh described the instructional model, technology controls and transitional services for graduates.
Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Secretary Walsh briefed the Justice Budget Subcommittee on the Florida Scholars Academy, the unified education system DJJ operates for youth in detention and residential facilities.
Walsh described an accelerated startup: the board of trustees was appointed Oct. 20, 2023; the agency partnered with Florida Virtual School on Oct. 20, 2023; a pilot began April 1, 2024 at the St. Augustine Youth Academy; the first day of school for the district was July 1, 2024 and the first academic year concluded June 30, 2025. "To build a school district in a year, across the state, never been done before in the country," Walsh told the subcommittee.
Walsh outlined the instruction model and supports: core academic subjects are prioritized in the morning with electives, career and technical education (CTE) and therapy offered in the afternoons; CTE options cited included digital information technology, entrepreneurship, welding, construction and culinary programs. He said instructors are certified through the Department of Education and that the district uses endpoint device lockdowns, web filters, real‑time monitoring and segregated network architecture to secure learning systems and restrict student communication to approved educational channels.
On outcomes, Walsh reported course completions and graduation figures from the district's first operational period. He said total course completions were 10,138 in the first year and that standard diploma and GED counts in that initial period included 80 standard‑diploma graduates and 146 GED graduates; he also said total graduates from launch through the most recent reporting period were 427. Walsh said Department of Education desktop and on‑site monitoring for ESE (special education) compliance showed 100% compliance with no corrective actions during the reported monitoring.
When Representative Smith asked whether the district tracks graduates over time, Walsh said staff plan transitional services to follow students after release, helping them enroll in college or technical schools through the Florida Youth College partnership and other supports.
Chair Mayne thanked Walsh for the briefing; the subcommittee did not take formal action on the report.
