Education and Job Training

Bureau of Applied Technology and Distance Education

Bill Woolley
Bureau Chief
(850) 410-4423
SUNCOM 210-4423

The Bureau of Applied Technology and Distance Education is responsible for providing applied technical/vocational training to inmates at 36 male and three female prisons, and one community correctional center. There are currently 40 different vocational programs being taught by 146 certified vocational teachers. These courses range from auto technician and water plant operations to business administration and software applications. Programs focus on occupations that show a strong labor market demand. Additional emphasis is placed on developing the inmate's ability to work as a team member and to think critically, along with skill development. The Bureau is also responsible for Distance Education and the CDLN Network; Wellness Education; Teacher Certification and Training; Placement and Transition; and Program and Instructional Development.

Accomplishments in 1996-97:

FY 1996-97 GED and Vocational Certificates
Types of Award Locations	GED Certificates Awarded	Vocational Certificates Awarded	Total Certificates Awarded
Correctional Institutions	1,878	2,600	4,478
Other DC Facilities	271	20	292
Non-DC Entities	163	1	163
Totals	2,312	2,621	4,933

• Brought 26 new applied technology/ vocational educational programs on-line at 13 institutions. Six institutions never had programs before. All occupations added were listed in the Department of Labors' top 100 demand occupations;

• Formed a partnership with the University of Central Florida and the Department of Education to provide necessary vocational teacher certification courses over the Internet via the Florida Information Resource Network;
  
  

• Brought the Turf Equipment Maintenance program on-line at Apalachee C.I., making it the second of its kind east of the Mississippi and the only one of its kind in a prison setting in the nation;

• FY 1996-97 Correctional Education Participation
  Enrollments*	Academic	Vocational	Total
  Number of Courses	29,277	9,562	38,839
  Number of Inmates	16,152	6,465	20,641***
  Completions**	Academic	Vocational	Total
  Number of Courses	3,896	1,826	5,722
  Number of Inmates	3,771	1,789	5,421***
  Other Exits**	Academic	Vocational	Total
  Number of Courses	19,607	5,244	24,851
  Number of Inmates	11,620	3,603	14,136***
  NOTES: * ENROLLMENTS include inmates enrolled as of 7/01/96 and new enrollments through 6/30/97. ** COMPLETIONS and OTHER EXITS are for the time period 7/01/96 through 6/30/97. *** An unduplicated count of # of inmates is given since inmates who participated in both academic and vocational courses get counted for participation in each program.

  Partnered with the Institute for Simulation Training at the University of Central Florida to conduct an extensive search of existing vocational training programs that would lend themselves to conversion to video delivery via the Correctional Distance Learning Network;

• Certified six Food Service Directors as vocational teachers. Tomoka had the first graduating class of 21 inmates to receive official Vocational Certificates of Completion in Quantity Foods/Culinary Arts;

• Worked with a team from the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida to create a Master Plan/Framework for instruction of Employability Skills to youthful offender population;

• Expanded the Diversified Cooperative Training program, including the High Tech Mini Lab/Career Awareness prototype to include youthful offender institutions Brevard C.I. and Hillsborough C.I., bringing the total to five sites, including Lancaster, Indian River and Jefferson CI's.