(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to insure an appropriate educational program for wards committed to the Department of the Youth Authority. The objective of the program shall be to improve the academic, vocational, and life survival skills of each ward so as to enable these wards to return to the community as productive citizens.
(b) The department shall assess the educational needs of each ward upon commitment and at least annually thereafter until released on parole. The initial assessment shall include a projection of the academic, vocational, and psychological needs of the ward and shall be used both in making a determination as to the appropriate educational program for the ward and as a measure of progress in subsequent assessments of the educational development of the ward.
The educational program of the department shall be responsive to the needs of all wards, including those who are educationally handicapped or limited-English-speaking wards.
(c) The statewide educational program of the department shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following courses of instruction:
(1) Academic preparation in the areas of verbal communication skills, reading, writing, and arithmetic.
(2) Vocational preparation including vocational counseling, training in marketable skills, and job placement assistance.
(3) Life survival skills, including preparation in the areas of consumer economics, family life, and personal and social adjustment.
All of the aforementioned courses of instruction shall be offered at each institution within the jurisdiction of the department except camps and those institutions whose primary function is the initial reception and classification of wards. At such camps and institutions the educational program shall take into consideration the purpose and function of the camp and institutional program.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 193, Sec. 209. Effective January 1, 2005.)