Education

High School Program

The High School program provides instruction for students under 22 years of age with an educational disability, and minors adjudicated as adults and sentenced to prison. ADCRR education personnel also identify other students with a high probability of meeting the Arizona Department of Education requirements for high school graduation and offer them the opportunity to enroll in the high school program.

Upon completing the Arizona Department of Education high school graduation requirements, the ADCRR Education District issues a high school diploma. A high school diploma is a significant achievement that can lead to other educational and career opportunities within ADCRR and in the community when released.

Please mail official transcripts to the Arizona Department of Corrections, School Registrar, 701 E Jefferson St, MC320, Phoenix, AZ 85034, or email the official transcript to [email protected].

Should you require additional information, contact the Registrar's Department at: (602) 771-0502 or (602) 771-0503. Fax No. (602) 364-0550.

Functional Literacy

This program targets students with minimal functional skills and/or limited English language development. It is designed to develop reading, writing, mathematics, and other skills necessary to function in a working environment.

As mandated under A.R.S. § 31-229 and A.R.S. § 41-1604.07, all persons remanded to ADCRR's custody are tested upon arrival at the Reception Center using the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE). Anyone who does not receive a minimum 8th-grade score in reading, language, or math on the TABE must attend Functional Literacy classes. Students in the Functional Literacy Program are provided basic instruction to bring their scores up to at least the 8th-grade level.

A.R.S. § 41.1604.07 mandates that a prisoner who fails to achieve functional literacy at the 8th-grade level will not be released to begin the term of community supervision until either the prisoner achieves an 8th-grade functional literacy level or the prisoner serves the full term of imprisonment imposed by the court, whichever occurs first.

General Education Development (GED)

The GED Preparation Program provides instruction to students who do not have a high school diploma or GED, helping them in successfully passing the GED test. The GED test is the same given to the general public per A.R.S. § 31-201.01. Any student who achieves the 8th-grade Functional Literacy standard or an incoming student who tests above the 8th-grade standard but does not have a high school diploma or GED may enroll in the GED Preparation Program.

Upon completing the GED testing procedure, the Arizona Department of Education prepares an official diploma. Obtaining this diploma is an important achievement and can lead to other educational and career opportunities within ADCRR and in the community when released.

Career and Technical Education, and Apprenticeships

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are designed to assist students in gaining marketable employment skills. ADCRR provides CTE instruction to students who are functionally literate but have no identifiable work or employment skills. Programs range from six months to two years in duration. The skills gained through these programs assist students in obtaining work within the prison setting and upon release.

The Registered Apprenticeship program requires a minimum commitment of two years. It provides participants with the benefits of paid, on-the-job training, and related technical instruction, as well as the possibility to network with employers in the field prior to release. The apprentices will receive a nationally-recognized certificate of completion from the Department of Labor that they can use to obtain employment after release. Participation in the apprenticeship program can help to create strong employment pathways to job opportunities and increase their earning and job outlook potential, but it will also reduce the likelihood of recidivism by successful reentry into our communities.

Special Education

According to A.R.S. § 15-1372 and Federal Statutes, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ADCRR provides educational services to minors adjudicated as adults and sentenced to prison, as well as to students less than 22 years of age without a high school diploma or GED who are found to be eligible for services. Incarcerated individuals are evaluated upon enrollment in education programs.

Resource Centers

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) provides students access to reading materials through Resource Centers at each prison complex. The centers provide materials that support the academic and personal development programs offered by the Department, which include career education, substance abuse prevention, and life skills. Recognizing the wide range of student education levels and the many benefits of reading, ADCRR provides fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, magazines, and general reference materials at various reading levels.

As mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lewis v. Casey, ADCRR provides students access to the courts for qualified legal claims. Qualified legal claims are defined as those involving direct appeals of the conviction for which the student is incarcerated, habeas corpus petitions, civil rights actions, or cases involving conditions of confinement. Basic legal reference materials, legal forms, and contracted paralegals are provided to facilitate legal access. 

ADCRR accepts donations of appropriate materials, with the understanding that they will be added to the Resource Center using the same criteria and processes as purchased materials. Security is the primary consideration when selecting materials for the Resource Centers. Materials shall not in any way undermine the basic objectives of the Department nor jeopardize the safety of the institution, students, staff, or the public. ADCRR staff will review all donations and retain the right to refuse donations that do not adhere to the Department’s policies and procedures or that are considered inappropriate for inclusion in the center. Materials that may be deemed inappropriate include:

• As defined by A.R.S. § 13-3501 et.seq, material that can be considered obscene

• Materials that could be used as an aid to escape

• Materials containing information that could be used to help to disguise or alter their appearance

• Any written, graphic, audio, visual, or pictorial information about the construction, formulation, utilization, or application of weapons, explosives, poisons, alcohol, or other substances that could cause physical harm, aid an escape, or cause/contribute to institutional disturbances

• Any materials that may otherwise be considered contraband

• Materials with sharp edges or metal spiral binding

To donate general reading materials, including fiction, non-fiction, and reference books, contact the Correctional Education Program Supervisor or Correctional Education Program Manager at the prison complex of your choice to obtain the Offer of Donation Form 301-1P.

Should you require additional information, call (602) 542-4177.

Note: Call (602) 542-3090 to donate religious materials.

For Further Information Contact:
(602) 364-3234

FAQ

Q. Does having a GED make incarcerated individuals ineligible for Special Education Services?

A. No,  incarcerated individuals eligible for services do not lose eligibility until the end of the school year after they reach the age of 22.

Q. Can my son or daughter sign up for education classes?

A. Incarcerated individuals are prioritized for enrollment in adult literacy, GED, high school, and CTE based on their individual needs. After earning their GED or high school diploma, inmates may apply for college admission.

Q. How does my son or daughter apply for college?

A. Incarcerated individuals can apply for admission to Ashland University using their inmate tablets.  After obtaining the application from Education or their COIII, inmates can apply for community college correspondence courses.

Q. How can I obtain my GED records?

A. Contact the Arizona Department of Education to obtain GED transcripts.

Q. Can I still receive special education if I am in functional literacy?

A. Yes. Special Education services can be provided if the student does not have a high school diploma.

Q. How will my teacher know if I need Special Education

A. During the screening process, incarcerated individuals are asked if they have ever received Special Education. If, during the screening process, it is found that the student is having trouble in school, they may be referred to the child study team for possible Special Education evaluation.