The
Correctional Education Association (CEA) has been awarded an Institute of
Education Sciences grant to conduct a comprehensive scientific study of the
impact of post secondary education broadcast over the Transforming Lives
Network (TLN). We are thrilled to announce that the application scored very
high and the Institute is quite excited about funding its first ever
correctional education project.
The
six states
participating in the study are:
Arizona,
Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin
Dr.
Stephen Steurer is the Executive Director of
CEA
and the Project Director.
Northstar's Penny Richardson and
Cindy Borden will be the field agents conducting all research. RMC
Research of Denver will direct all research and statistical
analyses. This project will last 4 years, during which students will be
followed during incarceration and post-release.
The
study will pair those students taking post secondary courses over the TLN to
those students taking post secondary courses via other delivery modes –
direct instruction, correspondence, electronic media, etc. The study pairs
states and institutions with similar demographics. Interested and eligible
students will be randomly assigned to either TLN post secondary or “other”
post secondary coursework. Many states pay for student tuition with
Incarcerated Youthful Offender grant funds; however, some are using
other funding sources. The study will compare the results of the student
groups regarding student achievement, institutional behavior, employment,
and recidivism.
Institutions which participate will receive a small incentive for
participation, and, in return, students who participate in this project will
be asked to respond to several surveys and assessments and will be asked to
sign release forms that provide access to academic performance data. In
addition, students will participate in focus groups or interviews to provide
information about their experiences with the program. All data will be
treated confidentially. All field work will be conducted by Northstar,
experienced correctional educators, to keep the work load expected of school
personnel to a minimum. Student progress will be followed during their time
at the institution and after they leave, if they agree to participate.
Prior to commencement of this study, a full institutional review will be
conducted concerning the Regulations for the Study of Human Subjects by RMC
Research.
If you
have further questions regarding the research grant, please don’t hesitate
to call either Northstar (303-438-8913) or Dr. Steurer at CEA
(443-459-3080). For a copy of the Project Summary,
click here.
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October 15, 2007 Update
RMC Research is developing survey instruments and gathering sample
information from sites. Northstar is preparing to pilot the instruments at
correctional facilities in Colorado and finalizing state agreements.
Preparations are underway for the Institutional Review Board process.
November 15, 2007 Update
Dr. Stephen Meyer of RMC Research is continuing the survey instrument
development process, including student surveys and site coordinator
surveys. Northstar is making arrangements with Colorado prisons to pilot
student surveys.
December 15, 2007 Update
CEA, RMC Research, and Northstar meet by conference call every two weeks to
continue work with the states. The Institutional Review Board Process for
Human Subjects Review is ongoing in all states. Northstar is collecting
information from institutions about current post secondary academic
programming and eligible student numbers. One pilot test site for student
surveys is scheduled this month.
January 15, 2008 Update
All data collection instruments
are nearing completion. RMC is pursuing a full collegiate institutional
review board for all involved states. New states may be recruited to ensure
a large enough sample for the requisite power analysis. Wisconsin is
currently piloting the Site Coordinator Survey. The last pilot of the
student survey is scheduled for completion on January 23.
February 15,
2008
Much to the disappointment of the Wisconsin DOC
staff, CEA, RMC Research, and Northstar, Wisconsin will not be able to
participate in the study. Unfortunately, in order to participate in this
study, Wisconsin's exemplary College of the Air Program would have to cease
for sites randomly selected as control sites.
One participant from each state will attend training at
the CEA Forum in Annapolis, March 9-11. The training will be a jointly
delivered by CEA, RMC, and Northstar.
RMC is working with the Institute of Education Sciences
to slightly modify the power analysis. This study will target
forty-four prison sites in six or seven states. New Mexico may also be
joining the study. Each of the forty-four participating sites will be
asked to sign MOU's, which will be distributed in Annapolis, if not before.
The pilot Site Coordinator Survey has been completed in
Wisconsin. The survey took site coordinators 15-30 minutes to complete.
A third student survey pilot will be completed this week at Wisconsin's
Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility. Potentially 80 students
could participate.
RMC Research is continuing the IRB process.
