PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Arizona Department of Corrections Workforce Development recognizes the importance of education in helping reduce recidivism and provides a continuum of education and training opportunities that address the assessed needs of Arizona's offender population. These programs are arranged to allow offenders to gain skills that lead to productive and practical work experience while within the correctional setting and the transition back into the community upon release.

Educational services are provided in five basic program areas:

Functional Literacy Program
GED Preparation Program
Vocational Educational Program
Special Education Program
Life Skills/Transition Program
 

The Arizona Department of Corrections offers interesting and professional career opportunities that provide educational needs to the offender population. There are a total of 174 certified education positions providing services to offenders incarcerated in the ten ADC Prison Complex Facilities and the three private prisons contracting with ADC statewide. Of these, 148 positions are Correctional Education Program Teachers (CEPT), or academic classroom teachers who provide instruction in the Functional Literacy and GED Preparation Programs. The other 26 positions are Correctional Education Program Supervisors (CEPS), Correctional Education Program Managers (CEPM) or Education Coordinators who provide on-site supervision of the education programs. Twenty-two of the education positions are certified to provide Special Education services. In addition, there are 38 librarian positions.

In addition to a professional, modern environment, the Department can offer education staff a flexible work schedule, a comprehensive benefits package including paid vacations, holidays, sick leave, and long term disability pay. Educators applying for employment must possess a current certified teaching credential.

This program targets offenders with very limited functional skills and/or limited English language development. It is designed to develop reading, writing, problem solving, and others skills necessary to function in a working environment.

As mandated under A.R.S. 31-229 and A.R.S. 41-1604.07, all persons remanded to ADC's custody are tested upon arrival at the Reception Center using the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE). Any offender who does not receive a minimum 8^th grade score in reading, language or math on the TABE must attend Functional Literacy classes for 120 days. Offenders in the Functional Literacy Program are provided basic instruction in reading, language and math to bring their scores up to at least the 8^th grade level. A.R.S. 41.1604.07 mandates that a prisoner who fails to achieve functional literacy at the 8^th grade level will not be released to begin the prisoner's term of community supervision until either the prisoner achieves an 8^th grade functional literacy level or the prisoner serves the full term of imprisonment imposed by the court, whichever occurs first.

This program is a continuation of the functional literacy program and results in the receipt of a GED certificate.

The GED Preparation Program provides instruction for those offenders who do not have a high school diploma or GED to enable them to successfully pass the GED test. The GED test is the same test given to the general public per A.R.S. 31-201.01. Any offender who achieves the 8^th grade Functional Literacy standard, or an incoming offender who tests above the 8^th grade standard, but who does not have a high school diploma or GED, may enroll in the GED Preparation Program. Upon completion, offenders at this level can perform tasks that involves oral and written instruction, and comprehend most college textbooks and apprenticeship manuals.

The Vocational Education Programs are designed for training offenders for work within the prison, on inmate work crews, IGA' s (Intergovernmental Agreements), ACI (Arizona Correctional Industries), and to make them employable upon release.

Under A.R.S. 31-201.01, ADC contracts with seven Community Colleges around the state to provide Vocational Education instruction to offenders who have a high school diploma or GED, but who have no identifiable work or employment skills. Programs can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete. An offender may enroll in a Vocational Education Program if they do not have a high school diploma or GED if they concurrently enroll, and actively participate in the GED Preparation Program.

Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-1372 and Federal Statutes, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, section 504, ADC provides educational services to minors adjudicated as adults and sentenced to prison, as well as to offenders less than 22 years of age and offenders who have disabilities which may impede their progress in standard educational classrooms.

LIFE SKILLS/TRANSITION

Under A.R.S. 31-281 individual needs-based transition/pre-release programs are set in place to help inmates transition into the correctional setting and to transition back into the community on release.

OFFENDER LIBRARY SERVICES

The Arizona Department of Correction offers offenders’ primary access to information and reading materials is the ADC Offender Library. The Offender Libraries provide materials which support the various programs in the facilities such as education, substance abuse prevention, life skills (i.e., parenting, anger management, etc.) and religion.
 

INMATE EDUCATION ENROLLMENT

All enrollment figures are for FY 2006 (i.e., July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006).

• The average monthly enrollment in the Functional Literacy Program was 1,984.

• The average monthly enrollment in the GED Program was 2,246.

• The average monthly enrollment in Work Based Education Programs was 2,366. 

• The average monthly enrollment of offenders who were receiving Special Education services was 151.

• The average monthly enrollment of offenders who were receiving 504 accommodations for their disability was 44. 

• The average monthly enrollment of minors adjudicated as adults receiving educational services in the areas of Functional Literacy and GED was 72.

INMATE POPULATION EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS

All figures are for FY 2006 (i.e., July 1, 2005- June 30, 2006).

• 4,602 offenders met the 8^th grade Functional Literacy Standard.

• 3,091 offenders earned their GED Diploma.

• 3,201 offenders earned Work Based Education Certificates.

• All offenders under the age of 22 were screened for Special Education needs.

For Further Information Contact:
(602) 272-7600

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