In juvenile detention, these students say they're not learning — and it's keeping them incarcerated
Associated Press
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Cayden Gillespie sits on a bench at a local park Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. Gillespie spent months in juvenile detention after pleading guilty to two felony charges. While in custody the state of Florida provided online learning instead of in person classes which students, parents and staff say has been disastrous. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Illustration of an excerpt from incarcerated students' letters, written to Florida lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Illustration)Illustration of an excerpt from incarcerated students' letters, written to Florida lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Illustration)Illustration of an excerpt from incarcerated students' letters, written to Florida lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Illustration)Illustration of an excerpt from incarcerated students' letters, written to Florida lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Illustration)Cayden and his mother Robyn Gillespie walk in a county park Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Julie Nicoll shows shows an undated photo with her grandson Xavier Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Naples, Fla. Julie and her husband have spent more than $20,000 in legal fees trying to get him released from a youth detention center. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Julie Nicoll sits in her grandson Xavier's bedroom Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Naples, Fla., after Xavier's juvenile detention sentence was lengthened for breaking multiple laptops out of frustration with online learning. . (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)The Miami Youth Academy, a residential facility for male juveniles, is seen in this photo Friday, June 6, 2025, in Kendall, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)A photo and letter from Xavier Nicoll is posted on the kitchen of his grandparents Bill and Julie's home Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Naples, Fla. Xavier has been incarcerated longer than his original sentence due behavioral issues during virtual school. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)John Terry holds a photograph of his son Jalen Wilkinson, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Haines City, Fla. Jalen's academic experience changed when the detention center he was in switched to virtual learning. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Robyn Gillespie listens to her son Cayden as he recalls his educational experience while in juvenile detention, April 26, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)Illustration of an excerpt from incarcerated students' letters, written to Florida lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Illustration)
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Cayden Gillespie sits on a bench at a local park Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. Gillespie spent months in juvenile detention after pleading guilty to two felony charges. While in custody the state of Florida provided online learning instead of in person classes which students, parents and staff say has been disastrous. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
