Academic, Special, and Vocational Education

The Office of Program, Transition, and Post-release Services is responsible for providing educational programs to offenders and managing the department's offender programs in the areas of special education, substance abuse, library services, wellness education, betterment, chaplaincy, vocational education, academic education, and transition services.

General Educational (GED) Development - Provides a foundation of knowledge in writing skills, social studies, science, literature and mathematics. The objective is to instruct offenders in the five test areas necessary to pass the GED. Students will demonstrate the ability to pass the GED exam to receive a State of Florida Diploma or to gain a sufficient achievement of life skills to function properly in society.

Adult Basic Education - Provides an individualized, self-paced and traditional approach to study that encompasses reading, mathematics, and language skills. The objective is to develop reading skills, mathematics, English, social studies and science, as prescribed by the instructor. Another objective is to increase oral and written participation to a grade point level of 8.9 or higher and to improve mathematics skills to a minimum of 8.9 or higher.

Mandatory Literacy - The Florida Statutes mandate 150 hours of instruction for offenders who score below the ninth grade level. One intent is to foster interest and desire in scholastic self-improvement so that, if applicable, the students will volunteer to continue academic studies beyond their mandated 150 hours. Instruction is provided in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) or GED programs.

Educational Aides and Tutoring - Offenders are assigned to the Education Department to help instructors and serve as educational aides to other offenders under the general supervision of staff. The main purpose is to help teach offenders to read. The service is provided in formal classrooms and also in a separate "literacy room" that is made available for offenders who are not formally enrolled in educational programs.

Title I - This is a federal program that provides supplemental educational funding at 11 institutions in Florida. The majority of Title I funds are used for hiring teachers and aides to supplement educational services to inmates that meet the following criteria: are under 21 years of age, do not have a high school diploma or GED, and are enrolled in an instructional program for at least 15 hours per week.

Auto Technology - The purpose of this program is to teach students light maintenance and service of automobiles.

Autotronics - The purpose of this program is to prepare students initial employment as an autotronics technician, specializing in the computerized components of automobile maintenance and repair. This program includes selected competencies of the common core electronics program and other uniquely automotive in nature. This is a 1770-hour course offered at Dade Correctional Institution's Main Unit.

Carpentry - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment in the carpentry industry. This course is offered at Gadsden Correctional Institution.

Commercial Art Technology - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment in the commercial art industry as illustrators, commercial designers, or related workers. This course teaches basic art skills, lettering skills, preparation of layouts and illustrations, preparation of camera-ready paste-up, and development of specialized skills. This is a 1500-hour course taught at Broward Correctional Institution.

Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as restaurant cooks. The focus of this training is on food preparation and serving, as well as the identification, storage, selection and presentation of a wide variety of foods. This is a 1440-hour course offered at Dade Correctional Institution's Main Unit.

Cosmetology - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as a licensed hairdresser and cosmetologist. Instruction is designed to qualify students for employment upon successfully passing the Florida cosmetology license examination. This is a 1200-hour course offered at Lowell Correctional Institution - Women's Unit.

Data Entry - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as a data entry operator or a position that requires the skill of data entry. This is a 150-hour course offered at Gadsden Correctional Institution.

Diversified Career Technology - The purpose of this program is to provide students with a variety of occupational skills through laboratory-centered instruction and on-the-job work experiences. Generally students are in the classroom half a day and assigned to a related work squad the other half day. The focus of the classroom instruction is to provide employability skills, career planning, underlying principles of technology, communication skills, health/safety issues, and environmental issues. On-the-job assignments are designed to provide the opportunity to demonstrate and expand upon those skills learned in the classroom. This program is offered at Dade and Hernando Correctional Institutions.

Drafting - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment or advanced training in the drafting industry. Computer-Aided Design is taught as part of this program. In addition to the technical and production skills, the program focuses on the underlying principles of technology, labor issues, health/safety issues, environmental issues, and an understanding of the other aspects of the industry. This is a 1900-hour course offered at Lowell CI - Women's Unit.

Digital Publishing - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as Desktop Publishers, Computer Graphics Designer, and Multimedia Designer. This program focuses on broad, transferable skills and stresses understanding and demonstration of all the elements of the digital publishing industry, including finance, labor issues, environmental issues, and health/safety issues. This program is offered at Hernando Correctional Institution.

Electronics Technology - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as electrical and/or electronics technicians, or in related occupations in electronics. Electronics laboratory activities are an integral part of this program. The tools, test equipment, materials and processes used in this program are state-of-the-art and match industry standards. This is a 1400-hour course offered at Dade Correctional Institution's Main Unit.

Environmental Horticulture - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment in the horticulture and landscape industry. This program is offered at Gadsden Correctional Institution.

Fashion Design and Production (Design) - Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands on experiences with tools and materials of the trade. Activities provide instruction in the use of power sewing machines, including hemming, straight stitch, serger, buttonhole/tacker, grading machines and hand tools. The program is designed to prepare students for the initial employment in the garment and textile industry as seamstresses or machine operators. This class also makes children's clothes and dolls for distribution to needy children and to children in hospitals. Materials for these special projects are donated by various community organizations. This program is offered at Lowell Correctional Institution.

Fashion Design and Production (Garment) - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment in the garment and textile industry as seamstresses and/or machine operators; however, also stresses the principles and skills of entrepreneurship. This course stresses employability skills, leadership and organizational skills, workplace safety, as well as the technical skill training. This class also makes children's clothes and dolls for distribution to needy children and local hospitals. Materials for these special projects are donated by various community organizations. This course is offered at Broward Correctional Institution.

Nail Technology - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as Nail Technicians. This is a 240-hour course offered at Gadsden Correctional Institution.

PC Support Services - The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as Software Support Help Desk, and PC Support Specialists. This program offers a broad foundation of knowledge and skills to prepare students for a rapidly changing work environment. This training focuses on broad, transferable skills and stresses understanding and demonstration of all the elements of the PC support services industry. This program is offered at Broward and Lowell Correctional Institutions.

TESTED LITERACY SKILL LEVELS

Most Recent Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) Scores as of 6/30/01
LITERACY SKILL LEVEL	WHITE FEMALE	BLACK FEMALE	OTHER FEMALE	TOTAL	PERCENT
Basic Literacy (1.0-4.9)	237	741	55	1,033	25.3
Functional Literacy (5.0-8.9)	620	879	74	1,573	38.5
GED Prep (9.0-12.9)	1,029	381	73	1,483	36.3
Data Unavailable	49	66	40	155
TOTALS	1,935	2,067	242	4,244	100

TESTED EDUCATION GRADE LEVEL

Most Recent Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) as of 6/30/01
GRADE LEVEL	WHITE FEMALE	BLACK FEMALE	OTHER FEMALE	TOTAL	PERCENT
1	7	48	9	64	1.6
2	66	212	17	295	7.2
3	72	283	14	369	9.0
4	92	198	15	305	7.5
5	159	305	26	490	12.0
6	185	297	30	512	12.5
7	134	177	12	323	7.9
8	142	100	6	248	6.1
9	276	140	29	445	10.9
10	143	76	9	228	5.6
11	203	75	11	289	7.1
12	407	90	24	521	12.7
DATA UNAVAILABLE	49	66	40	155
TOTALS	1,935	2,067	242	4,244	100

 

EDUCATIONAL & VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR FEMALES

As of 6/30/01

PROGRAM	BROWARD	DADE		LOWELL WU	GADSDEN	HERNANDO
Mandatory Literacy	X		X	X LEVY FORESTRY	X	X
Adult Education (ABE/GED)	X		X	X LEVY FORESTRY	X
Special Education	X			X BOOT CAMP		X
Title I				X		X
Computer Assisted Instruction	X		X	X LEVY FORESTRY	X	X
Library Program	X		X	X	X	X
Law Library Program	MAJOR		MAJOR	MAJOR	MINOR	MINOR
Transition Program	X			X
Substance Abuse (Type)	Modality 3, Modality 1, Co-occurring Disorders		Modality 2	Modality 1, Alt. Modality 1, Boot Camp-Tier I		Modality 1, Modality 2
Wellness Education	X		X	X	X	X
Apparel Design	X
Apparel Production				X
Autotronics			X
Carpentry					X
Commercial Arts Technology	X
Commercial Foods & Culinary Arts			X
Electronics Technology			X
Cosmetology				X
Data Entry					X
DCT			X			X
Drafting				X
Digital Publishing						X
Env. Horticulture					X
Nail Technology					X
PC Support Services	X			X