In response to the second question:
We, in Gloucester County, VA work in the local jail.  The educational program is carried out by the Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester.  The programs offered are ABE and preparation for the GED.
On some rare occasions, a counselor comes in from the nearest community college and gives placement test for those who are "short-timers" and who wish to pursue their education upon release.  One one visit, an inmate actually began her course of study prior to release and went into the community college classes for which she was enrolled.
In the past, we had to wait for extended periods for GED testing to take place.  We are now a test center, so are more successful with GED certificates being earned.
Even when an inmate lacked only one test for completion, we have had little success with that person continuing his or her studies "on the street".
We have had more success with those individuals who were enrolled in Basic Education classes - particularly those whose primary desire was to assist young school age children with reading and math.  They will continue until their level is about equivalent to grade 5 thru 8.  
On 2 occasions, in the 3 years that I have done this program, inmates have been very anxious to obtain the GED so that upon transferring to one of the State penitentiaries, college level classes could be pursed without delay.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Rosen 
  To: specialtopics at nifl.gov 
  Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 6:52 AM
  Subject: [SpecialTopics 223] Community education for inmates who are released


  Hello Colleagues,

  I would like our guests -- and others -- to explore some other  
  challenging questions:

  1. One of the characteristics of a successful prison education  
  program (Gerber and Fritsch,  and Luiden and Perry) is follow-up with  
  inmates after release.  Can you describe some models that do this  
  well, and that lead to released prisoners continuing their education  
  in the community?

  2.  Do you know of examples of prisons or jails that invite community  
  education programs to provide basic education inside so that when  
  inmates are released there is continuity with the community education  
  program outside? Can you tell us about how the model(s) works?

  3. Is there any way that a web-based learning system could be offered  
  to prisoners for self study inside that they could continue to use  
  outside in a library, community technology center or at a community  
  education program? I know that prisons and jails cannot offer  
  Internet access, but are there any examples of a version of a web  
  site being run on an internal server, in the prison, offering  
  (nearly) the same experience as the user would have with internet  
  access to the web site?

  I hope others will continue to post their questions and comments.   
  Steve Steurer plans to join us tomorrow or Monday, and the discussion  
  continues through Tuesday.

  Those who have just joined us, and others, the postings in this  
  discussion are archived at

  http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2006/date.html

  If you would like to know more about other National Institute for  
  Literacy-sponsored discussion lists, you will find information at

  http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/specialtopics/2006/date.html


  David J. Rosen
  Special Topics discussion Moderator
  djrosen at comcast.net





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