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| Safety-Net: Meeting the Unique Needs of Correctional Educators |
| By Gail C. Arnall |
| Published: 07/15/2002 |
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Editor's Note: Safety- Net is one of likely many programs that will enable correctional institutions to bring technology to inmate education. Corrections agencies are looking for ways to utilize new technologies in a variety of ways and in education, high tech has helped make the business of preparing offenders for their release a little easier and comprehensive. SAFETY-NET is a distance learning network established by the Justice Distance Learning Consortium. Through a supplemental grant from the U.S. Department of Education the satellite educational technology is available to corrections departments nationwide. Annual subscriptions to SAFETY-NET include access to all of the video programs on the satellite (six-hour block of programming, fed four times during the day, seven days-a-week) and programming can be watched live, or taped for future use in the classroom. The programming is appropriate for inmates to watch in class or in cellblocks, although it is also used in other classroom settings. Many of these programs have ancillary print materials, some of which are available on the website. In addition to the video programs, teachers and administrators in a facility are assigned email addresses and passwords to access extensive resources on the website, organized by curriculum subject. The Florida Department of Corrections, New York State Office of Children and Family Services and Texas Youth Commission began using SAFETY-NET four years ago, with a five-year grant from the US Department of Education. Over the past four years, the Justice Distance Learning Consortium, which is composed of these three state agencies, has tested a variety of video, software and Internet-based resources in 63 pilot sites within the three states. Users say the success has been amazing. Economics/Social Studies teacher Carolyn Weyerts at San Saba State School, Texas Youth Commission, reports a 75% increase in her students' passing rates in social studies after using one of SAFETY-NET's video series, On Common Ground. Ken McCoy, a science teacher at San Saba said, 'I'm still excited about my work, even near retirement. I come to school every day 'pumped up' about my work. I can really make a difference here.' What is SAFETY-NET bringing to correctional educators that has not been there before? Several correctional users give their thoughts below: "Community," says Tom Thorpe, Distance Learning Coordinator at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and currently SAFETY-NET Board member. 'Teachers and administrators in correctional facilities of every kind are isolated - even more so than the traditional classroom teacher.' The program gives every teacher and administrator at every site their own email address and password into the 'members only' section. English teachers get to communicate with other English teachers across the country - sharing ideas and burdens. 'We even have a 'Teachers' Lounge' on the website where we can leave funny stories, jokes and classroom starter activities. This really is our very own e-community for corrections, Thorpe says.' "Video resources for students," says Sandy Young, Social Studies teacher at Victory Field in Texas. 'I get the SAFETY-NET Program Guide at the beginning of the year and plan which programs will fit individual educational plans for my students. There is an abundance of quality programming that can be used with students at various grade levels. And, with the 24-hour broadcast schedule, learning can take place even on Saturdays and Sundays,' she says. "Professional development," says Tim Lisante, Deputy Superintendent of Education for the New York City Prison System. 'When I first heard about SAFETY-NET I knew we wanted to explore it simply because it offered so many professional development programs. SAFETY-NET provides us with additional resources for our teachers and administrators, right at the facility. SAFETY-NET solves a big problem for us,' Lisante explained. "Financial savings," says Bernard Cohen, Deputy Director for the Office of Program, Transition and Post-Release Services, Florida Department of Corrections. 'We are facing legal mandates to provide innovative and effective educational programming for all inmates, including those in maximum security. We plan to use SAFETY-NET as a cost-effective way to meet these mandates.' "Options," says Greg Bayduss, Program Lead for Alternative Education, New York State Department of Education. 'We have inmates incarcerated in 62 counties in New York, and each inmate under 21 years of age is entitled to a quality education,' he explained. 'Some of these facilities have more advanced and comprehensive programs than others. SAFETY-NET has the potential to offer these facilities, plus other alternative educational settings throughout the state, additional education options to meet the specific needs of students.' "Added safety and security," says Michael Pleskovich, Assistant Warden at Lancaster Correctional Institution, a youthful offender prison in Central Florida. 'We know from experience that educational programs can have a direct impact on reducing the number of incidents resulting in disciplinary reports and use of force within the prison. Engaging programs, like SAFETY-NET, that capture the attention of our inmates and provide a productive diversion with hands-on educational experiences work. We are putting the signal into our department-wide satellite network system so those inmates can watch SAFETY-NET in the classrooms and dorms. I am a huge fan of the SAFETY-Net initiative and genuinely believe that it should be a significant part of the educational programming offered to our inmates.' "Training for the High-tech workplace," says Dr. Deborah Nance, Superintendent of Education, Texas Youth Commission. 'Our job is to make sure our students don't come back; SAFETY-NET is a great resource to help meet this objective.' SAFETY-NET offers video programs that prepare students for the world of work (Workplace Essentials), help students identify potential careers (CareerZone), and offer standard math and English curriculum in the context of work. 'SAFETY-NET programs make the connection between school and work,' Dr. Nance says. 'GED Preparation," says Julie Cacianti at Sumter Correctional Institute in Florida. 'Most of our students will not go back to high school, but we all know they must have a high school diploma or GED. The new GED series that SAFETY-NET carries, produced by KET, Kentucky Educational Television, is incredible. It addresses the new GED testing requirements, is appropriately entertaining, and uses multiple techniques to address diverse learning styles. I would subscribe to SAFETY-NET just to have direct access to the latest and best resources to help my students pass the GED.' 'Finally, those of us working in correctional education now have multimedia resources selected and previewed to meet our unique needs,' says Bill Woolley, Director of Education for the Florida Department of Education. 'In these times of tight budgets, SAFETY-NET offers resources for our teachers and students at a fee we can afford.' For more information and a subscription form, please go to www.safety-net.org. Dr. Gail Arnall is the Executive Director of SAFETY-NET. She has served in this position for the past five years. |
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