The moment of release from prison or jail is a rare window of opportunity in the education of court-involved students. After weeks, months and sometimes years of regular attendance and academic improvement during the period of custody, the transfer to a new school is a change to ensure that process continues in the community. Yet this moment is regularly squandered because formidable academic and bureaucratic obstacles block most of these young people from retuning to school. Each year, in New York City, thousands of young people released from prison and jail never return to school. These students often have histories of truancy and suspension, have few to no credits, read significantly below grade level, and are disproportionately entitled to special education. As a group, they present enormous challenges and research shows that they need specialized learning environments to thrive - just the type that is of limited supply and high demand in New York City.

The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) is spearheading an effort to solve these problems. Hoping to broker solutions across agencies, in 2000, CASES organized the Committee on Court-Involved Students. Comprised of policymakers from the criminal and juvenile justice systems as well as the City Department of Education, the Committee has met regularly and has made significant progress towards resolving the obstacles facing court-involved youth's re-enrollment in the community. The Community Prep High School is the result of the Committee's vision and diligence.