EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The mission of the BCSO Education Department is to prepare individuals for successful reentry into the community by providing academic and vocational programs to strengthen knowledge and skills necessary to be competitive in today’s job market and into productive members of society.
Adult Basic Education
Course curricula include areas of Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies according to the Massachusetts standards for Adult Basic Education. Students are enrolled in one of three levels of courses based on academic history, and will be assessed for appropriateness using the MAPT (Massachusetts Adult Proficiency Test) and TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education). These courses are offered to all populations (pretrial and sentenced men and women as well as special populations). Classes run through the full calendar year and have rolling enrollment. Staff offer individualized counseling and differentiated instruction, continually evaluating students to measure progress and monitor individual needs.
ABE
This level is designed for individuals who have a reading level of 0 to grade 2. This individual has either little or limited competence in Reading, Writing, and Computation and has not been sufficiently competent to meet the requirements of adult life in the U.S. This program will allow an inmate to successfully master the basic educational skills that will enable him to function effectively in society.
Pre-ASE
This level is designed for individuals reading at a level below grade 6. The course curriculum will include areas of Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies according to the Massachusetts standards for Adult Basic Education. Successful inmates will transition into the ASE course.
ASE
This instruction is designed for an adult who has some competence in Reading, Writing, and Computation, but who lacks a High School Diploma or Equivalency. Course curriculum includes areas of Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies according to the Massachusetts standards for Adult Basic Education.
Civics
Civics is offered to individuals who have a high school diploma or have earned a high school equivalency credential. Designed as an eight-week course that provides a framework for understanding the basics of American democracy, practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution, basic concepts of American politics and citizenship and concepts in macro and micro economics and personal finance. The essential standards of this course are organized under three strands – Civics and Government, Personal Financial Literacy, and Economics.
College and Career Readiness I and II
This course focuses on soft skills and career pathways in accordance with WIOA (Workforce Investment Opportunity Act). Designed to cover the basic principles of how to get a job, and keep a job, the course also helps the participants identify their skills, develop a solid resume, and practice interviewing. A digital literacy component allows individuals to practice the necessary computer skills that will aid them in their search for meaningful employment. The course also teaches students how to handle emotionally charged situations in the workplace.
MATH for High School Equivalency Testing and the Real World
A MA Certified Teacher utilizing the CALM (Curriculum for Adults Learning Math) will be available to all ABE students who are referred by their teachers, who are preparing to take the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or who are interested in honing their skills. The Math teacher has worked with the ABE Coordinator to align the Math Curriculum with The College and Career Readiness Standards and contextualize curriculum to align with vocational programming such as the Welding and CDL.
Title I Academic Support
Supplemental support services for neglected/disadvantaged youth who have some competence in reading, writing, and computation, but are not sufficiently competent to meet the requirements of adult life in the U.S. Course curriculum will include areas of reading, writing, math, science and social studies according to the Massachusetts standards for Adult Basic Education, and will prepare individuals for high school equivalency exams or high school diploma options.
Title I Academy
This program was implemented in November of 2023. This program is a tutoring program intended to supplement core academic classes. It is based on building a learning team for title 1 students so that they can attain their HSE and/or GED by providing the extra support and attention to the at risk youth at the BCSO. The academy has a mentoring component. The mentors are selected by staff based on their involvement in education, tutoring ability, and ability to work with Title 1 enrollees outside of the academy sessions. This class will integrate life skills into lessons as part of reinforcing materials covered. Each student will likely have different needs and there will be rolling enrollment, so the academic targets will shift constantly. We use core class curricula as a foundation, but the academy will not operate with a fixed plan. The title 1 coordinator and core teachers will communicate to design support lessons. The program is incentive based and will award extra incentives to attend the program Students must keep good attendance in their core academics and the academy. The ultimate goal is to increase interest amongst our Title 1 population and offer more support for them while developing a positive learning environment. Education has been demonstrated to be a significant tool in reducing recidivism; this is the ultimate goal.
Special Education in Institutional Settings (SEIS)
Special Education services are available to eligible students who are under age 22. School districts are responsible for developing students' IEPs and conducting special education evaluations and annual reviews, and they collaborate with SEIS and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office on how to provide services to students in these settings. SEIS personnel also participate in all IEP team meetings convened by districts for students residing in sites where SEIS operates.
Essential Topics (Multiple Offerings)
These eight-week courses are supplemental “electives” that delve into such topics as The Fundamentals of Investing, Cultural Exploration, History through Film, Understanding Shakespeare and others. Multiple sections of this course focusing on a variety of topics are offered throughout the year.
Inside Out Prison Exchange Program
The Inside-Out program brings college students together with incarcerated men and women to study as peers in a seminar behind prison walls. The core of the Inside-Out Program is a semester-long academic course, meeting once a week, through which 15 to 18 “outside” (i.e.: undergraduate) students and the same number of “inside” (i.e.: incarcerated) students attend class together inside prison. All participants read a variety of texts and write several papers; during class sessions, students discuss issues in small and large groups. In the final month of the class, students work together on a class project.
This program increases opportunities for men and women inside and outside of prison, to have transformative learning experiences that emphasize collaboration and dialogue, inviting participants to take leadership in addressing crime, justice, and other issues of social concern.
The program will also include a weekly session for incarcerated students to utilize the computer room to work on class assignments in a group and to type their assignments under the supervision of Education department staff.
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