ACTE PACE Summit 2024

In July 2023, the 1.2 million people incarcerated in prisons across the U.S may now be eligible for Pell grants. This is a historic moment for colleges to increase the number of postsecondary education programs offered in prisons and reimagine career pathways for learners who are incarcerated by implementing CTE programs that lead to quality jobs. Research shows that people who participate in CTE in prison improved their odds of post-release employment by 12% and reduced their odds of recidivism by 16%. This workshop will highlight promising practices emerging from Jobs for the Futures’ Postsecondary Education in Prison CTE Accelerator Network, a community of practice that pairs colleges with subject matter experts to develop, adapt, and scale quality, credit-bearing CTE programs in prison. Workshop attendees will hear from one network member, the Director of Prison Education at Amarillo College, who will share how they implemented an Intermediate Diesel Mechanic Certificate Program in a state prison facility. After the workshop, participants will understand the importance of providing CTE options for people who are incarcerated; familiar challenges faced when implementing CTE programs in prison; and viable solutions and critical actions for success, including partnership and learner engagement and creative funding strategies.