Postsecondary Pathways | Aligning Education, Correctional Rehabilitation, and Workforce Readiness
Thursday, September 24 | 2 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. CT | 11 a.m. PT
One of the most cost-effective ways to improve public safety and strengthen the workforce is through high-quality education and vocational training in correctional facilities. Participating in correctional education programs reduces an individual’s odds of returning to prison by 43%, with recidivism rates dropping even more dramatically as higher levels of education are completed. Research consistently shows that incarcerated individuals who participate in high-quality educational programming are significantly more likely to secure stable employment after release and far less likely to return to prison, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in reincarceration costs. However, for these programs to succeed, they must align with real-world job openings and high-demand industries. This session will examine how long-term educational and labor data can be used to build high-impact prison education and reentry initiatives.
This webinar will explore how state-level election outcomes influence the direction of education policy, from investments in teacher pay and workforce pipelines to priorities in literacy, mathematics, and college and career readiness. Panelists will examine how campaign issues translate into governing agendas, how ballot measures and legislative control shape policy implementation, and what education leaders should anticipate in the months following the election. Grounded in a bipartisan, nonpartisan lens, the conversation will elevate how states can move beyond political rhetoric to advance policies that improve student outcomes.
