Long-term data show that the number of active students enrolled in Corrections Education tends to be consistent over time. Our increased rigor and adherence to specific curriculum has had a slight negative impact on student enrollment. Enrollment and course registration are based on educational needs, assessment information and personalized learning plans.

Courses are offered in three curricula areas:

• Living & Basic Skills (K-8 grade level): This curricular area is reserved for students who need to build their skills to be prepared to work at the high school level and build their skills in living to better prepare incarcerated individuals to live in the community.
• Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT; high school level): This curricular area is reserved for students who are prepared to enter high school level work. Some students are still working to build their skills but show that they are willing to put in the work to develop as an adult learner.
• Workforce Readiness (post-secondary level): This curricular area is based on Vermont’s workforce needs and the ability of the students to work at a post-secondary level.

In FY22, there were 1287 enrollments involving 460 unique students. More specifically, in FY22 there were the following number of students:

• Living & Basic Skills: 143
• CHSVT:  202
• Work Readiness: 175
• Total: 460 individuals (individuals may be enrolled in more than one curriculum)

Education Services partners with the following:

Living & Basic Skills: AOE Special Education, VocRehab Vermont

CHSVT: McGraw Hill, Vermont high schools and independent school, New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Workforce Readiness: Community College of Vermont (CCV), University of Vermont (UVM), Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), the Department of Labor (DOL), VocRehab Vermont, Center for Technology Essex

Living & Basic Skills: Corrections Education had developed a Student Special Services (S3) team that works state-wide to consult with educators and other RIS staff to assist in developing interventions that meet the needs of struggling adult learners.

CHSVT: CHSVT has adopted curriculum from McGraw Hill. All curriculum materials are aligned with the common core standards. Using a consistent curriculum across Corrections Education assists students who are moved between facilities to continue their personal learning plans.

Workforce Readiness: Offering post-secondary education is challenging because most of our students are working at the 7-8 grade level. Offering this coursework to those who are ready not only supports the individual working at this level but also motivates those work at the lower levels to know that they can achieve post-secondary certifications.

Living & Basic Skills: Continue to develop our S3 model and have all of RIS use the Focus Student Information System to collect data and communicate within our multi-disciplinary teams.

CHSVT: Corrections Education is working with ADS to develop an education network that will connect all correctional facilities and allow for more distance learning opportunities and allow students to access their education work at all facilities and in the community upon release.

Workforce Readiness: Corrections Education is developing multiple partnerships across the state to ensure that our workforce readiness curricula are aligned with industry standards and the needs of Vermont employers.