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ERIC Number: EJ1185237
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-May
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-0740-2708
EISSN: N/A
Can a Workplace Credentialing Program Improve Inmate Literacy?
Brown, Martha A.; Rios, Steve J.
Journal of Correctional Education, v65 n2 p59-83 May 2014
Correctional educators, recognizing that the majority of inmates lack the math, reading, and language skills required to be successful in today's workplace, strive to equip offenders with the skills and abilities needed to find and maintain work on their release. However, most adult literacy programs in prisons fail to raise the gradelevel equivalency scores of low-performing students high enough to qualify inmates for General Education Development preparation courses, and many do not equip inmates with the basic computer skills needed to apply for most jobs. This pre-/posttest, single-group study on Florida Ready to Work (FLRTW), a computer-based workplace credentialing program, is the first of its kind in a correctional environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of FLRTW on learning gains in reading, language, and math as measured by the Test of Adult Basic Education. Fifty-three male inmates residing in a private, therapeutic work-release center who were required to complete FLRTW voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Findings indicate much larger than average grade-level increases ranging from 3.1 to 3.5, with no moderating impact by the independent variables of race, age, sentence length, and prior incarcerations. The study fills a knowledge gap related to the effectiveness of workplace credentialing programs in correctional institutions, and provides recommendations related to policy, practice, and research in this challenging environment.
Correctional Education Association. 8182 Lark Brown Road Suite 202, Elkridge, MD 21075. Tel: 443-459-3080; Fax: 443-459-3088; e-mail: ceaoffice@aol.com; Web site: http://www.ceanational.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Basic Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Test of Adult Basic Education; General Educational Development Tests
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A