On August 9, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 426, which grants the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) and Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) the ability to transfer emerging adults who qualify for high school educational services from an IDOC facility to an IDJJ facility. IDJJ operates School District #428 within the Department’s secure facilities, providing high school education for youth who are in the custody of IDJJ. According to Illinois Compiled Statutes (105 ILCS 5/13-40), IDJJ is also responsible for the education of emerging adults ages 21 or under within the Department of Corrections who have not yet earned a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.  Senate Bill 426 amends the Unified Code of Corrections to allow IDJJ to establish emerging adult programs for individuals ages 18 to 21 who have been committed to IDOC. This legislation allows qualifying 18- to 21-year-olds to be considered for transfer to IDJJ in order to participate in developmentally appropriate educational services as well as holistic services such as individual or group therapy, case management, vocational training, and higher education opportunities. The pilot program of approximately 20 students is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2025 at IDJJ’s Harrisburg facility. The Department intends to expand the program to 50-60 students in the first year with plans for additional expansion beyond the first year. IDJJ will transition youth at IYC Harrisburg to other DJJ facilities in advance of the new program’s inception.