Education and Job Training

Bureau of Academic and Special Education

Candace B. Burch
Bureau Chief
(850) 410-4400
SUNCOM 210-4400

The Bureau of Academic and Special Education is responsible for providing basic education programs to inmates including literacy, adult basic education, General Education Development (GED) preparation, Title I services, and special education services. The Bureau provides academic programs in 43 institutions; special education programs in 21 institutions and one private prison; Title I services in 12 institutions; and volunteer literacy programs in 28 institutions. Additional emphasis is placed on assisting inmates with their transition into the community by our Transition Skills curriculum.

Accomplishments in 1996-97:

Grade Level Improvement from Pretest to Posttest

• Increased reading, math and language skills of participating inmates during the fiscal year by an average of four points, which translates to six months gain in grade equivalent scores, with an average of three months of program participation. Inmates were participants in vocational or academic programs. The inmates were given pretests and posttests during the 96-97 fiscal year in at least one of the three subject areas and at least 3,500 inmates were tested in each area. The accompanying chart shows the gains made from pretest to posttest during the fiscal year by grade level;
  
  
• Became an official GED testing center in May 1997 so the DC can schedule and supply the GED tests to approved institutions, and added a Testing Administrator;
  
  
• Served 150 inmates and their children through the Even Start Program in Broward, Dade and Marion counties;
  
  
• Provided literacy training in 12 institutions in Region I, which will allow these facilities to increase the tutoring and literacy training available to inmates at those institutions;
  
  
• Provided 178 special education and special needs inmates with transitional services, in cooperation with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;
  
  
• Served 2,539 Special Education inmates in FY 96-97; opened two new special education institutions, Charlotte and Columbia CI, for close management and mental health inmates; and assisted in the opening of Lake City CF, a private prison, as a special education site;
  
  
• Awarded 2,312 General Education Diplomas and 2,621 Vocational Education certificates this fiscal year, and provided Title 1 services to 3,057 inmates under age 21.