Corrections Education

In addition to greatly reducing the likelihood that an incarcerated adult will return to prison after release (i.e. recidivate), Corrections Education is a valuable and cost-effective tool to help disrupt generational cycles of low literacy, poverty, poor health, reliance on government assistance, and incarceration. In a system known to have a disproportionate effect on people of color, Corrections Education is also a critical tool to promote racial equity and justice.

The inclusion of Section 225 in federal WIOA legislation and the launch/expansion of Second Chance Pell both reflect increasing bipartisan support for Corrections Education, based in part on a growing body of evidence related to efficacy and on shifting public opinion/policy related to America's mass incarceration crisis.

See the Prison Policy Initiative for a profile of New Mexico.

Please note: Local adult education programs that are only funded under AEFLA Section 231 and not under AEFLA Section 225 (Corrections and Institutionalized Individuals) should not offer adult education services to incarcerated/institutionalized individuals.

Associations and Organizations

The Correctional Education Association (CEA) is a worldwide association of that provides training, research and resources, and networking opportunities. CEA’s focus is to "deliver quality education and help incarcerated students achieve successful release and reintegration into the community."

The Petey Green Program provides tutoring and college readiness programs across the nation. The program "supports the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring programs."

The Vera Institute aims to end mass incarceration. Their "Unlocking Potential" initiative is focused on expanding high-quality postsecondary education in prison.

The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison works to increase education access to those in prison. Their mission is to "Support the expansion of quality higher education in prison, empower students while in prison and after release, and shape public discussion about education and incarceration."

Federal Information and Resources

See AEFLA's page on correctional education for information, initiatives, and resources.
Department of Labor Reentry Resources
Reentry Education Toolkit (LINCS log in required)
Integrated Education and Training Design Tookit: Part of the longitudinal "Integrated Education and Training in Corrections" (IETC) Project that OCTAE is sponsoring in collaboration with many partners, including AIR, RTI, JFF, and World Education.
Integrated Education and Training (IET) in Corrections: A Companion Guide to the IET Design Toolkit: Published in January 2023, this guide supports the toolkit listed below. This guide focuses on different considerations and strategies that states and correctional programs may want to apply in developing IET programs for correctional settings, based on the experiences of the six states that engaged in an IET in Corrections pilot over the last year.
Educational Technology in Corrections, which focuses on strategies for technology use in correctional education.
Take Charge of Your Future Guide, which helps program leaders & students to plan for continuing their education and training after incarceration.

Other Resources

COABE's page on Correctional Education includes presentations on key topics in correctional education, including motivating learners, best practices in digital curricula, using communities of practice (CoPs), peer tutoring, and instructional methods.

College in Jail Toolkit: How to Build a Successful Partnership Between a Sheriff’s Department and a Community College,

Equity and Excellence in Practice: A Guide for Higher Education in Prison, The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison

Select Articles and Research

Journal of Prison Education and Reentry, Virginia Commonwelath University

How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go from Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation, Lois M. Davis, Jennifer L. Steele, Robert Bozick, Malcolm V. Williams, Susan Turner, Jeremy N. V. Miles, Jessica Saunders, Paul S. Steinberg

Brief: Higher Education Beyond Bars: Spotlight on New England, New England Board of Higher Education

Basic Correctional Education and Recidivism: Findings from PIAAC and NRS, Margaret Becker Patterson, Research Allies for Lifelong Learning

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