Ohio’s Incarcerated Students Celebrate Educational Milestones

August 24, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: JoEllen Smith, [email protected]

Ohio's Incarcerated Students Celebrate Educational Milestones

(Columbus, Ohio)- As students across the country are going back to school, the Ohio Central School System is celebrating ongoing educational achievements among incarcerated students across the state.

The Ohio Central School System (OCSS) serves as the school system for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), providing incarcerated men and women with educational opportunities in the form of high school equivalency certifications, college degree programs, apprenticeship programs, career-technical education, and more.

During fiscal year 2023, 1,484 students earned career technical education certifications, an increase of over 300 students from the previous year. Studies show that stable employment after incarceration reduces the likelihood of returning to prison. OCSS continues to partner with outside organizations to create educational opportunities that assist in job readiness to prepare incarcerated adults for successful reentry.

"Education is necessary for the growth and rehabilitation of the people in our care," said Director Annette Chambers-Smith. "We have retooled everything we are doing in education, and our education staff are committed to providing classes and programs that will help people succeed after incarceration."

OCSS and ODRC hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year to unveil a new tower technician training program. The program trains incarcerated individuals to install and repair telecommunications 5G and broadband towers to restore or prevent interruptions in communication transmissions. The second class of participants has already begun their training.

"Around 18,000 people leave our prisons each year, and our goal is to make sure they are ready to enter the workforce equipped with skills and tools for Ohio's in-demand jobs. Our returning citizens are the workforce Ohio needs," Chambers-Smith said.

In 2021, OCSS successfully expanded college opportunities to include all prisons through partnerships with six Ohio-based colleges and universities, making Ohio one of only a few states with college available at all facilities.

The Ohio Central School System served thousands of incarcerated men and women last fiscal year, with more students completing high school equivalency and post-secondary programming than the previous fiscal year.

Fiscal year 2023 educational achievements:

• 959 students earned high school equivalency certifications.
• 1,484 students earned career technical education certifications.
• 683 students earned apprenticeship certifications.
• 3,247 students earned advanced job training (college) certifications or degrees.

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