NCJ Number
186725
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2000 Pages: 286-292
Editor(s)
Carolyn Eggleston Dr.
Date Published
2000
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Read to Succeed literacy program developed in 1986 and funded with the proceeds from a National Library Grant that serves inmates in the Washington State Reformatory.
Abstract
The program is administered by Edmonds Community College, a contracted educational agency for Washington's Department of Corrections at the Monroe Correctional Complex. The goal of the program is to teach inmates to read, with literacy defined as functioning in English above a 5th grade level. The program uses inmates to supplement the contract educational system. To qualify as a tutor, an inmate must have earned a high school diploma or have a GED certificate and must have successfully passed a college-level course on tutoring principles and practices. Tutor-inmate progress is monitored by weekly lesson planning conferences, periodic security checks, testing of the inmate every 3 months, workshops, written lesson plans, and time sheets. The overhead cost of maintaining the program is minimal since literacy materials are not expensive and the staff time required basically involves the time for a coordinator to hold conferences and do the paperwork. Benefits of the program can be measured in four areas: (1) inmate tutors want to feel their lives in prison have value; (2) bonds develop between tutors and inmates; (3) tutors can advise inmates on the need for more schooling; and (4) inmates learn to read at a minimal cost. 10 figures