summary: QI Residential - FY25-26 - 4 findings

raw_content:
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
BUREAU OF MONITORING AND
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Annual Compliance Report
Tampa Bay Girls Academy-Moderate
Residential Education Services
Florida Virtual School
(Contract Provider)
5422 Carrier Drive #201
Orlando, Florida 32819
Tallahassee State College
(Contract Provider)
444 Appleyard Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Review Date(s): July 29-August 1, 2025
Promoting Continuous Improvement and Accountability
In Juvenile Justice Programs and Services
Rating Definitions
Ratings were assigned to each indicator by the review team using the following definitions:
No exceptions to the requirements of the indicator; or limited,
unintentional, and/or non-systemic exceptions which do not result
Satisfactory
in reduced or substandard service delivery; or systemic
Compliance
exceptions with corrective action already applied and
demonstrated.
Systemic exceptions to the requirements of the indicator;
Limited exceptions to the requirements of the indicator which result in the
Compliance interruption of service delivery; and/or typically require oversight
by management to address the issues systemically.
The absence of a component(s) essential to the requirements of
Failed
the indicator which typically requires immediate follow-up and
Compliance
response to remediate the issue and ensure service delivery.
Review Team
The Bureau of Monitoring and Quality Improvement wishes to thank the following review team
members for their participation in this review, and for promoting continuous improvement and
accountability in juvenile justice programs and services in Florida:
Cheryl Francis, Office of Accountability and Program Support, Lead Reviewer (Standard 1)
Belinda Alexander, Office of Education, Central Education Coordinator (Education Standard 1)
Jaime Franz, Deputy Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Education (Education Standard
1)
Heather Molinario, Office of Accountability and Program Support, Regional Monitor (Co-Lead)
Meloney Rhynis, Office of Education, Central Education Coordinator (Education Standard 1)
Program Name: Tampa Bay Girls Academy-Moderate
Provider Name: Florida Virtual School/Tallahassee Community College
Contract Number: 10979/10771
Location: Hillsborough County / Circuit 13 Number of Beds: 25
Review Date(s): July 29-August 1, 2025
This review was conducted in accordance with FDJJ-2000 (Contract Management and Program
Monitoring and Quality Improvement Policy and Procedures), and focused on the areas of (1)
Education Services which are included in the Residential Education Standards.
Overall Rating Summary
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 3 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
O v e r a ll R a tin g S u m m a r y
T h is p ro g ra m h a s re c e iv e d a n o v e ra ll p ro g ra m c o m p lia n c e ra tin g o f F a ile d , a fo llo w -u p re v ie w o f th e p ro g ra m s h a ll b e c o n d u c te d w ith in s ix (6 ) m o n th s o f
p u b lic a tio n o f th e p ro g ra m re p o rt.
Lim ited R atings F ailed R atings
1.02 E ducation Transition P lan (E ducation C ontract P rovider) 1.04 E ducation S taff Training (E ducation C ontract P rovider)
1.05 E xit P ortfolio (E ducation C ontract P ortfolio) 1.06 C areer E ducation (E ducation C ontract P rovider)
This m onitoring report reflects the D epartm ent’s assessm ent of program com pliance w ith applicable standards during the established review period. M onitoring reports represent a snapshot of program operations
and docum entation at the tim e the review w as conducted. W hen areas of lim ited or failed com pliance are identified, the D epartm ent w orks w ith the provider through established processes to address those issues
and ensure corrective actions are im plem ented as outlined in F D JJ 2000. F ollow -up m onitoring, verification activities, and corrective action processes are used to confirm identified deficiencies are addressed and
program s return to com pliance w ith applicable standards.
Standard 1: Education Services
Residential Rating Profile
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 4 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
1 .0 1
1 .0 2
1 .0 3
1 .0 4
1 .0 5
1 .0 6
1 .0 7
1 .0 8
* T h e D
p ro g ra m
in d ic a to
p ro b a tio
S ta n d a r d 1 - E d u c a tio n S e r v ic e s
* E d u c a tio n a l A c c e s s (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) S a tis fa c to ry
E d u c a tio n T ra n s itio n P la n (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) L im ite d
Q u a lifie d In s tru c tio n a l P e rs o n n e l (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) S a tis fa c to ry
E d u c a tio n S ta ff T ra in in g (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) F a ile d
E x it P o rtfo lio (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P o rtfo lio ) L im ite d
C a re e r E d u c a tio n (E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) F a ile d
F lo rid a Y o u th C o lle g e R e fe rra ls a n d O rie n ta tio n (P o s t-S e c o n d a ry E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) S a tis fa c to ry
F lo rid a Y o u th C o lle g e P o s t-R e le a s e (P o s t-S e c o n d a ry E d u c a tio n C o n tra c t P ro v id e r) N o n -A p p lic a b le
e p a rtm e n t h a s id e n tifie d c e rta in k e y c ritic a l in d ic a to rs . T h e s e in d ic a to rs re p re s e n t c ritic a l a re a s th a t re q u ire im m e d ia te a tte n tio n if a
o p e ra te s b e lo w D e p a rtm e n t s ta n d a rd s . A p ro g ra m m u s t th e re fo re a c h ie ve a t le a s t a S a tis fa c to ry C o m p lia n c e ra tin g in e a c h o f th e s e
rs . F a ilu re to d o s o w ill re s u lt in a p ro g ra m a le rt fo rm b e in g c o m p le te d a n d d is trib u te d to th e a p p ro p ria te p ro g ra m a re a (d e te n tio n , re s id e n tia l,
n ).
Program Overview
Tampa Bay Girls Academy Moderate Risk is a twenty-five bed program, for twelve to twenty-
one year old females, located in Tampa, Florida. Educational services are provided by Florida
Scholars Academy, Florida Youth College, and Career and Technical Education. It offers a
tailored education system which accommodates the unique needs of each youth by providing
multiple pathways to success. The educational services offer individualized support to help
students achieve their educational and career goals. This includes obtaining a high school or
equivalent diploma, earning valuable industry-recognized credentials, and/or enrolling in
postsecondary education at a Florida college, university, or technical college. The aim is to
equip youth with the necessary skills and qualifications for a successful career. The school
schedule is as follows: Period 1: 8:30 a.m.-9:20 a.m., Period 2: 9:20 a.m.-10:10 a.m., break:
10:10 a.m.-10:25 a.m., Period: 3 10:25 a.m.-11:15 a.m., Period 4: 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m., lunch:
12:05 p.m.-1:35 p.m., Period 5: 1:35 p.m.-2:25 p.m., Period 6: 2:25 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 5 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
Standard 1: Educational Services
1.01 Educational Access (Education Contract Provider) Satisfactory Compliance
The program shall integrate educational instruction (career and technical education, as well
as academic instruction) into the daily schedule in such a way ensuring the integrity of
required instructional time.
Education services are provided through a contract with Florida Virtual School (FLVS) which
ensures the integrity of the required minimum instruction time distributed over a twelve-month
period. The district-approved calendar and daily school schedule were reviewed, which
incorporated the required 250 days of instruction, with twenty days used for teacher planning,
and a minimum of twenty-five hours of instruction weekly, and was approved by the Board on
February 26, 2025. Youth are enrolled in academic courses through Florida Scholars Academy
and receive credit, as appropriate, when courses are completed. A sample of three videos and
three logbook reviews showed classes were facilitated appropriately. An informal interview with
the instructional leader indicated the educational schedule is adhered to.
1.02 Education Transition Plan (Education Contract Provider) Limited Compliance
Upon admission, education staff and youth develop an education transition plan which
includes provisions for continuation of education and/or employment.
According to the contract, the contracted educational provider is required to develop an
Education Transition Plan for each youth. Three closed youth records were reviewed, none of
the closed records contained an Education Transition Plan. Many youth entered the program
before December 12, 2024, when the new education provider, Florida Virtual School, started
their initiation of the transition plans, so they would not have had an education transition plan
developed by the provider. The youth, parent/guardian, instructional personnel in the program,
department personnel for youth in the program, personnel from the post-release school district,
and a certified school counselor were all involved with each youth through the education
transition activities. Youth services and interventions based on assessed educational needs and
post-release education plans were not on each youth’s Education Transition Plan, as none were
completed; however, Electronic Education Exit Plans (EEEP) were completed for each youth
and the required information was documented on the EEEP for each youth. The recommended
educational placement for post-release was documented on the EEEP for each youth and was
based on each youth’s individual needs and performance. Specific monitoring responsibilities by
individuals who were responsible for the reintegration and coordination of the provision of
support services for each youth was documented on the EEEP.
Five youth were interviewed, two youth indicated they participated in the development of their
transition plan, the remaining three youth indicated they did not. One youth stated they
developed their education transition plan with education, transition staff, and therapist.
The second youth stated they want to attend a state university. The lead educator interview
indicated they help the youth develop a transition plan, and it addresses continuation of
education and employment.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 6 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
1.03 Qualified Instructional Personnel (Education Contract
Satisfactory Compliance
Provider)
The education superintendent is responsible for ensuring qualified instructional personnel are
provided to teach and provide exceptional education and related services to students in the
facility. Instructional leaders shall ensure instructional personnel working under their
supervision are teaching and providing services in the areas they are qualified in based on
their education, training, and experience.
The contracted educational provider has procedures in place to provide for qualified
instructional personnel. After a review of the five teachers, as well as nine flex teachers, it was
verified all hold active credentials as listed on the Department of Education website. In review of
the five teacher certifications, it showed four teachers taught out of field. A review of the three
youth schedules confirmed all teachers were accurately listed, and a course was being taught
out of field. After a review of three youth case management records for out-of-field
parent/guardian notification letters, it was noted no notifications were sent out before January
13, 2025, and none of the letters accurately reflect the classes or teaching assignments outside
of their field of expertise.
1.04 Education Staff Training (Education Contract Provider) Failed Compliance
The Educational Provider staff shall complete staff training as outlined within the contract.
According to the contract, the contracted educational provider is required to provide its assigned
staff with professional development/training as specified in their contract. Fourteen training
records for educational staff, five facility-based teachers and nine virtual/flex teachers, were
reviewed. Each of the facility-based teachers who had the required training with the exception of
two staff missing mental health and substance abuse training, and one staff missing
adolescence development training. None of the nine virtual/flex teachers had any of the required
training which includes behavioral management and de-escalation, child abuse, suicide
awareness and prevention, and professionalism, interpersonal communication, and ethics to
include standards of conduct. The virtual/flex teachers had additional trainings; however, none
were required. It was also noted not all trainings, for any of the fourteen teachers, were reflected
in the Department’s Learning Management System (Skill Pro).
1.05 Exit Portfolio (Education Contract Provider) Limited Compliance
The Educational Provider shall develop and upload an Exit portfolio at least three school days
prior to the youth’s exit from a residential commitment program.
According to the contract, the contracted educational provider is required to develop and upload
an exit portfolio for each youth. A review of three closed youth case management records found
none of the records contained the individual Education Transition Plan. Two of the three youth
records included results of district and statewide assessments, the remaining youth was non-
applicable for the assessments. Two of the three youth records did not have a Progress
Monitoring Plan, the remaining youth was non-applicable for the plan. None of the three youth
were applicable for the Section 504 plan, English Language Learner, Behavior Intervention, or
Individual Education plan. Two of the three youth had a cumulative transcript in their exit
portfolio, the remaining youth was non-applicable. One youth record included a list of courses in
progress with grades, the remaining two records did not. None of the youth earned industry
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 7 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
certifications and only one youth was applicable for their high school equivalency diploma. All
three youth had documents uploaded into the Department’s Juvenile Justice Information System
within three school days, prior to the youth’s release.
1.06 Career Education (Education Contract Provider) Failed Compliance
Education staff shall develop and implement a career education competency development
program.
Florida Scholars Academy (FSA), the education contract provider, is currently in the process of
developing the career education curriculum for the educational abilities and goals of youth in the
program and appropriate for the length of stay and classification of the youth in the program. At
the time of annual compliance review, no documentation of career education was available.
Currently, youth at all facilities are working with Career Power Workplace Skills workbooks. A
review of program activities confirmed no career exploration services are being provided beyond
soft skills instruction. There has been no lead response from Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
regarding additional career exploration or coursework options. According to the program
schedule, eligible youth participate in Career Power Workplace Skills activities during
designated instructional periods Monday through Friday. The instructional leader indicated
career education activities are limited to the use of the workbooks, with no additional curriculum
or industry-recognized credential instruction currently available. Interviews with youth confirmed
the absence of career exploration opportunities beyond the soft skills content provided. To fully
meet contractual requirements and promote workforce readiness, the program is encouraged to
finalize and implement the career education curriculum and secure additional career exploration
resources, including collaboration with FLVS. An interview with the lead instructor indicated FSA
is currently developing the career education curriculum and current youth are working with
Career Power Workplace skills workbooks.
1.07 Florida Youth College Referral and Orientation (Post-
Satisfactory Compliance
Secondary Education Contract Provider)
The post-secondary provider, upon receiving the referral for services, shall assign a Florida
Youth College Career Navigator to each youth. Each youth shall attend an orientation session
to develop a career pathway plan. The career pathway plan shall include postsecondary
education options at a state or technical college, Registered Pre-apprenticeship/Registered
Apprenticeship program opportunities, or other career and technical education program
options. For youth referred to the post-secondary provider follow up shall be completed in
thirty, sixty, ninety, 120, and 180 days after their referral.
The contracted educational provider has established a policy and procedures to assign a Florida
Youth College (FYC) Career Navigator to each youth upon receiving a referral for services.
Four reviewed youth case management records confirmed two records contained the required
documentation for the orientation, while the remaining two records did not. One youth record
contained the orientation documentation and the youth’s record included a career plan based on
the youth’s interests and aptitude and a copy of the youth’s admission and registration to a
postsecondary program. The youth was not applicable for any follow-up, as the youth was
removed from the FYC program due to numerous incidents during the youth’s transition. The
remaining youth record with a completed orientation included a career plan based on the
youth’s interests and aptitude and a copy of the youth’s admission and registration to a
postsecondary program. The youth was applicable for a thirty-day follow-up which was
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 8 of 9 (Revised August 2025)
completed in the required time frame. None of the other three youth had a thirty-day follow-up.
The remaining two youth who had no documentation of an orientation taking place. The
remaining youth had a referral with no orientation completed. The career navigator was notified
thirty days after the youth’s release and reached out to the family to provide three dates for
orientation; however, there is no documentation of the outcome from the family’s three possible
dates of orientation. At the time of the annual compliance review, none of the youth were
applicable for a sixty, ninety, 120, and 180 day follow-up.
1.08 Florida Youth College Post-Release (Post-Secondary
Non-Applicable
Education Contract Provider)
The post-secondary providers shall continue to assist youth post-release, defined as PCP or
conditional release, by providing additional assistance with post-secondary education
opportunities, pre-apprenticeships, or registered apprenticeships, and assist with connecting
to CareerSource Florida local workforce development boards, probation officers, and other
education and workforce resources. Post release, the career navigator will contact each
youth within five days of release and then for every thirty days up until 180 days, or when the
youth declines services.
The contracted post-secondary provider has established a policy and procedures to provide
ongoing support to youth following their release, including additional assistance. A review of
three youth closed case management records revealed none of the reviewed youth were
applicable for having the career navigator attend the residential transition meeting prior to the
youth’s release or for post-release follow-up. One youth was never referred to Florida Youth
College (FYC). One youth was referred to FYC; however, was assigned a new career navigator
after being released due to a change in staffing. The youth had been released from the
residential program prior to the new career navigator being assigned and the family did not
respond when they reached out to schedule an orientation. The remaining youth did not receive
post-release follow-up due to being removed from FYC before release. FYC indicated the
career navigators were not being invited to any of the residential transition meetings.
Documentation was provided from FYC indicating on July 31, 2025, the program requested
inclusion in transition meetings moving forward.
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Residential Education Annual Compliance Report
Office of Accountability and Program Support Page 9 of 9 (Revised August 2025)

report_type: QI Residential

program_status_note: Education

rule: Indicator 1.02

rating: Limited Compliance

rule: Indicator 1.04

rule: Indicator 1.05