[United Press International] Up to 20 percent of the estimated 100,000 youth in incarceration have serious mental disorders, 20 to 50 percent have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 12 percent are mentally retarded, and 30 percent or more have specific learning disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitles these youth, like all youth with disabilities, to receive an education in regular classrooms and to receive disability-related services. As Congress debates the renewal of IDEA, the goal of the juvenile justice systemto help youth make a successful transition into adulthoodshould be kept in mind.
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