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CAIT at WIU Offering First of its Kind Correctional GED Programming

May 11, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – As part of a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Center for Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) at Western Illinois University is offering an Internet-based high school equivalency curriculum to inmates at Illinois correctional facilities and the program is expected to soon expand, utilizing new technologies with new national partners.

CAIT's i-Pathways program was developed in 2000, in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, as a distance learning option for students without access to adult education programs. It deployed statewide in 2002, and in 2005, the program began national distribution, and is currently used in 16 U.S. states. In 2014, it began to be used in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), and this summer celebrates one full year serving 3,000 minimum to maximum security inmates weekly in 30 Illinois correctional facilities. Throughout its yearlong deployment, there have been no technical security issues; one of the often cited concerns for not using Internet technologies in corrections.

The program provides students with a full preparation curriculum including, math, science, social studies and language arts. It is aligned with national, state and common core standards, preparing individuals to pass the GED, HiSET, TASC and other high school equivalency tests. Through its use, students also become more computer and technology literate.

"This is the first time an Internet-based curriculum is being used in any Illinois state adult correctional facility, and we are in 30 facilities across the state," CAIT Director Richard Chamberlain said of the existing program. "We are currently in talks with individuals across the country from correctional institutions and businesses about potential use of i-Pathways in their facilities."

Expansion of the i-Pathways programming is underway, according to Chamberlain, through partnerships with companies that would like to put the i-Pathways curriculum on tablet computers to be distributed to correctional facilities around the country.

In March, Chamberlain was invited to the nationally-focused Corrections Education Association's Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. to present to the 50 state directors of correctional education on CAIT's success in the IDOC.

According to a Rand Corporation report, released in 2014, a 30-year research study of corrections education revealed that participation in education programs by inmates reduces recidivism by 43 percent.

"That's huge. This is a dramatic way to impact not only an individual's life, but also correctional institutions as a whole," Chamberlain said. "Providing the high quality and rigorous i-Pathways curriculum to those in IDOC seeking a GED is a big step toward helping people change their lives in a positive way, as well as giving them more tools to be successful when they are released."

In states such as Illinois, where budgets are stretched, finding ways to reduce recidivism among Illinois inmates is critical to reducing costs. In the latest IDOC report in 2013, Illinois had about 50,000 inmates in state correctional facilities, which costs the state over $1 billion annually. An added component is that about 42 percent of those incarcerated do not have a high school diploma.

"If we can educate those incarcerated and assist with their transition out of correctional facilities, they are less likely to return to prison and will hopefully become productive members of society," said Chamberlain. "Education is a key lynchpin in this process.

Chamberlain said the use of technology in the instructional process is a critical element in preparing those incarcerated to be able to make a positive transition to the outside.

"This is truly a cutting edge initiative that has the potential to create real change for so many individuals, as well as institutions in our country." Chamberlain said. "We are doing something in Illinois that no one else is doing at this scale."

For more information about i-Pathways programming, visit i-pathways.org.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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