PHOENIX — In less than a month, Maricopa County opened a college classroom in its juvenile detention center, giving detained youth an opportunity to continue their education.

The program is a partnership between the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department, the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, and Arizona State University with the goal of “transforming the lives of young people who have successfully earned their GED or are on track to graduate from high school.” are. In custody. ”

Education officials say the first group of eligible students are currently taking college-level online courses.

“This partnership is about more than academic achievement. It’s about showing young people that no matter where they are today, they can build a brighter tomorrow,” said Maricopa County Superintendent Steve Watson. “Education is the key to unlocking their full potential.”

“We’re not just giving them knowledge and skills, we’re giving them hope and the tools they need to build a better future,” said Adam Fine, a professor at Arizona State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. ”.

ABC15’s Jordan Bontke explains more about this new program in the video player above.