NCJ Number
59130
Editor(s)
D A MONTI,
J PESCOSOLIDO,
A MATTIELO,
J POETON,
R ZANOTELLI
Date Published
1978
Length
80 pages
Annotation
THE LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, INC. (LVA) PROGRAM CONDUCTED AT MAINE AND CONNECTICUT STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS DESCRIBED; STUDENT DATA, TEST RESULTS, AND PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
IN 1976 THE LVA RECEIVED A GRANT FROM LEAA TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTEER ADULT BASIC READING TUTORIAL PROGRAM IN MAINE AND CONNECTICUT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR 2 YEARS. INDEPENDENT EVALUATORS SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME WITH THE LVA PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND VISITED EACH OF THE PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH THE WARDENS, DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION, PROGRAM COORDINATORS, TUTORS, AND STUDENTS. A THOROUGH REVIEW WAS MADE OF ALL PROJECT RECORDS AND REPORTS. ALL PARTICIPATING INMATES WERE MALE; 43 PERCENT WERE AGE 21 THROUGH 30; 43 PERCENT WERE BLACK, 31 PERCENT WHITE, 6 PERCENT NATIVE AMERICANS, AND 20 PERCENT WERE SPANISH SPEAKING. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE INMATES HAD LESS THAN AN 8TH GRADE EDUCATION. MOST INMATES INCREASED GRADE LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT IN WORD RECOGNITION, READING COMPREHENSION, AND LISTENING COMPREHENSION BY .47 THROUGH 1.06 GRADES, DEPENDING UPON THE AREA TESTED. STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES INDICATED THAT 35 PERCENT FELT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO READ MUCH BETTER AFTER BEING TUTORED AND 33 PERCENT FELT THEY WERE HELPED TO A LESSER DEGREE. FIFTY-SIX PERCENT INDICATED THAT THEY WERE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE OUTSIDE WORLD AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION. THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS A DEFINITE NEED FOR BASIC READING AND TUTORIAL PROGRAMS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH COULD BE FULFILLED BY LVA. DISSEMINATION AND EXPANSION OF THE LVA PROGRAM AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS WAS RECOMMENDED. FOOTNOTES, CHARTS, AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED IN THE EVALUATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM).