Department of Correction
24 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 General Information 860-692-7480 |
Education continues to be one of the Department's more valuable assets in providing opportunities that will support an offender's successful community reintegration. Education programming is available to inmates through the Unified School District (USD)#1, a legally vested school district within the Department of Correction (DOC). Academic knowledge, vocational competencies, and life skills integrated with technology are offered to students in a positive environment to foster life long learning, multicultural awareness and a successful re-entry to society. The mission of USD#1 is defined by the Latin phrase contained on the District's seal. The phrase, "Non Sum Qualis Eram" translates into English as, "I am not, what I once was." The hope is that through education, offenders will be provided with one of the core tools required to change their path in life. The District provides academic and vocational training to inmates through a variety of programs flexible enough to accommodate a variety of learning styles. Development of the learner's ability to reason and to know where to seek information through the use of technology and traditional means, is considered to be as essential as the mastery of facts. Unified School District #1 is one of the leaders in correctional education in the nation with over 341 employees in 18 facilities. All professional staff are highly qualified and state certified as applicable. On a yearly basis more than 30% of the inmate population attends some form of educational programming. Daily enrollment is nearly 3,000. The average age of the inmate student is 27 years old. More than 75% do not have a high school diploma upon admission. According to the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), the average student functions on a 6th grade level in reading, math and language arts. A comprehensive adult basic education (ABE) program serves as the foundation for all program offerings. This mandated program includes Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Education Diploma (GED) preparation, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and special education services. Alternative high school programs such as the External Diploma Program (EDP) and high school completion, vocational education, post-secondary education and enrichment classes, including transition and parenting skills are also offered to eligible students. A comprehensive reentry curriculum is provided in eight of our facilities to assist students with their transition back to the community. Annually, USD #1 awards in excess of 800 GED diplomas, more that any other educational system in the state of Connecticut. Through more than 50 vocational classes, students receive Connecticut vocational Certificates in such careers as Auto Body Technology, Building Maintenance, Carpentry, Computer Repair, Cosmetology, Dental Technology, Drafting CAD/CAM, Graphic and Culinary Arts. Their potential for employment upon release is further enhanced through work skill readiness programs and job fairs held at many of the Department's facilities. For more information please see our Unified School District #1 Annual Performance Report below or contact: Acting Superintendent of Schools Director of Special Education Director of Academic Programs and Transitional Services Director of Vocational/Techology Programs and Fiscal Services |
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