How does the San Saba school turn this otherwise-discouraging picture into success for its students? McCoy explains that to begin with, the school program focuses on four areas: work, discipline, education, and re-socialization. For example, students are required to talk respectfully to staff and to each other at all times, such as "Yes, Ma’am," "No, Sir," "Thank you," and "Excuse me."

Also, all San Saba correctional facility employees - including administrators, case workers, corrections officers, staff, and teachers - work together as a team to ensure that the students experience being part of a positive oriented community that supports them in setting and achieving meaningful goals. McCoy explains this approach with the San Saba school motto: "There is no "I" in team!"

The teaching staff is especially influential in affecting student success. McCoy says, "Teachers are important role models for good behavior." They also help students stay on track to achieve educationally, beginning with acquiring a GED, then, if there is time, a high school diploma, some even moving on to take college courses via correspondence with Texas Tech University. McCoy says of his students, "As long as he is with us, he is working on the next step up."

Access to curriculum that is both state-certified and at the same time appropriate for incarcerated students is one of the biggest challenges at San Saba. According to McCoy, "Our youth use state approved textbooks, but some modifications must be made." Materials have to be censored, especially materials which show any hint of nudity, negative behavior or racism.

To help meet these special needs, Texas joined together with Florida and New York to form the Justice Distance Learning Consortium, which operates SAFETY-NET (Systems Applications for Educating Troubled Youth Network.) A primary objective of SAFETY-NET is to stimulate learning so that students can move from the correctional facilities back into school without missing out on needed curriculum.

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