Assessing Vocational Education Classrooms in Prison: A Key to Inmate Rehabilitation

• In Event: Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Teaching and Learning Environments and Factors

Abstract

This paper introduces an original classroom assessment rubric for adult vocational education classes in prison that can be a useful tool for the improvement of inmate-student learning and rehabilitation to reduce recidivism after parole. Developed by an interdisciplinary team of faculty from both Sociology and Education departments the tool was statistically validated using data collected from over 100 visits to 19 vocational classrooms in 8 prisons over a period of one and one half years throughout California. System managers, researchers and practitioners can apply the tool as a needs assessment to identify practical improvement goals at both system wide and institutional levels.

Authors

• Andrew Dick, California State University - Chico

• Bill Rich, California State University - Chico

• Tony Waters, California State University - Chico