NCJ Number
118289
Date Published
1988
Length
253 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings and recommendations from an assessment of the operations of those agencies responsible for inmate education in Florida.
Abstract
In 1986 the Florida legislature established the Correctional Education School Authority (CESA), which assumed responsibility for correctional education from the Department of Corrections. CESA is supervised by the nine-member, Governor-appointed Board of Correctional Education (BCE). The assessment -- conducted by the staff of the Florida House of Representatives Committee on Corrections, Probation, and Parole -- involved the completing of questionnaires sent to BCE members, institutional education program managers (EPM), correctional education instructors, and a sample of inmate education students. The evaluation covered BCE's and CESA's first 6 months of operation (July 1 - December 31, 1987). Among the problems identified were salary disparities, low salaries for instructors, low staff morale, declining inmate enrollment, a decline in educational certificates issued, and deficiencies in CESA's fulfillment of its statutory responsibilities. The report recommends that the relevant Florida statute be amended to clarify the authority of BCE and the Department of Corrections, expand certain requirements for inmate educational programs, and provide funding for instructor salary increases. 15 tables, 13 figures, appended questionnaires.