Florida Department of Corrections
Michael D. Crews, Secretary

Education

Inmates Taking Correctional Education Classes
Show Gains in FY 1999-00

Purpose: As per Section 944.801, (3), (f), F.S., the following summarizes the average change in literacy levels of Correctional Education (CE) students during FY 1999-2000 (July 1999 – June 2000).

Methodology: Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) administered to students during FY 1999-2000 were scored using TestMate and the Advanced Module of the TestMate System (test scoring and reporting system). Inmate names and DC numbers were used to track those who had both pretest and posttest scores during this period. This summary includes all inmate students who during this period had at least one matched set of scores (pretest and posttest scores) in at least one subject area. A total of 4,715 students had matched scores for all three of the subject areas (Total Battery) of Reading, Total Mathematics, and Language. The total sets of matched scores for each subject area were: (a) 4,975 for Reading, (b) 5,226 for Total Mathematics, and (c) 4,952 for Language.

Results: The three charts below show the average gains made in each subject in terms of grade equivalents (GE), scale scores, and of normal curve equivalents (NCE), respectively. To be included, students had to have both a pretest and posttest. Gains were made in all three subject areas and for the total battery. For an average of three months of instruction, the overall (total battery) gain was five months in grade equivalent scores. This translates into an average 12-point increase in scale scores and a gain of three points for the normal curve equivalent scores.

Chart 1 - Gains Expressed in Grade Equivalents (GE's) Chart 2 - Gains Expressed in Scale Scores Chart 3 - Expressed in Normal Curve Equivalents (NCE's)

Over 1,500 Inmates Earned GED's in FY 1999-000

• 1,563 inmates earned GED certificates while in the Florida prison system in FY 1999-00. An additional 120 had their GED's verified while in Florida prisons, meaning they earned their GED's elsewhere such as contract drug facilities, county jails or from other states.
• The number who enrolled in GED courses during the fiscal year was 2,331, and the completion rate for the year was 67%.
• 28,518 inmates participated in 30,081 courses during the fiscal year. "Number of courses" and "number of inmates" are different for adult education and vocational counts, since it is possible for a given inmate to be involved in more than one course in either program during the year.
• Note that none of the counts in these charts include program participation or certificates earned at private facilities.

FY 1999-00 GED and Vocational Certificates Awarded

Types of Award Locations	GED Certificates Awarded	Vocational Certificates Awarded	Total Certificates Awarded
Correctional Institutions	1,429	2,616	4,045
Other DC Facilities*	134	5	139
Non-DC Entities**	120	1	121
Total	1,683	2,622	4,305

*Other DC includes work release centers, work/forestry camps, road prisons and boot camps.
** Non-DC includes contract drug facilities, counties, and other states.

Participation in Correctional Education Classes
in FY 1999-00

Enrollments*	Mandatory Literacy	Adult Education*	Vocational	Total
Number of Courses	6,588	15,254	8,239	30,081
Number of Inmates	6,588	14,284	7,646	28,518	***
Completions**
Number of Courses	3,301	1,563	2,621	7,485
Number of Inmates	3,301	1,563	2,291	7,155	***
Other Exits**
Number of Courses	3,308	11,229	4,767	19,304
Number of Inmates	3,308	10,765	4,457	18,530	***
*"Enrollments" includes inmates enrolled as of 7/1/99 and new enrollments through 6/30/00. ** "Completions" and "Other Exits" are from 7/1/99 through 6/30/00. *** Inmates who participated in Mandatory Literacy, Adult Education and Vocational courses get counted for participation in all three programs.

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