skip to main content

Leading adult education through support for and the effective application of technology.

OTAN News

Integrated Education and Training (IET) in Corrections

Posted on 05/01/2023

Integrated Education and Training (IET) in Corrections:
A Companion Guide to the IET Design Toolkit

"In 2020, OCTAE funded the IET in Corrections project to identify and support models for IET programs in jails and prisons to help address the foundational and occupational skill needs of adults impacted by incarceration. According to the 2014 U.S. Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), 30 percent of adults in federal and state prisons did not have a high school diploma, and 34 percent of these adults were not in the paid workforce prior to incarceration. Rather than take sequential courses to address their basic skills and workforce training needs, adults impacted by incarceration (particularly those with shorter sentences) can receive enhanced and accelerated instruction through IET programs in preparation for release from incarceration. This guide summarizes lessons learned from the IET in Corrections project and serves as a companion to the IET Design Toolkit. It includes considerations, tools, and examples that can be used by state and facility administrators and instructors as they develop and implement IET programs in jails and prisons (Foster, Stadd, & Tolbert, 2023)."

Reentry Education Framework DiagramReentry Education Framework Diagram

The purpose of this article is to outline the contents within the Integrated Education and Training (IET) in Corrections: A Companion Guide to the IET Design Toolkit for our colleagues who are passionate about rehabilitation and reentry programs.

Introduction - The introduction contextualizes IET in the Reentry Education Context and overviews the IET in Corrections Companion Guide

Designing and Implementing Programs in Corrections - Designated into five subsections which facilitate researching, assessing, designing, planning, developing, implementing, evaluating, and ultimately improving programs.

Next Steps for IET Development - This thought-provoking section is designed for collaborative teams to delve deeply into discussing the questions within the section. Processing before producing.

Appendix – Tools - The appendix is rich with so many resources for teams.

  • State Policy Template for IET in Corrections
  • Integrated Education and Training in Corrections Staff Roles Matrix
  • Making the Case for IET Education and Training in Corrections including sample messages and talking points for instructors, facility administrators or staff, and adult learners.
  • Resources which provide examples, templates, and tools for developing a communication plan.

Complete Documents:

Integrated Education and Training (IET) Design Toolkit
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education . (2022). Integrated Education and Training (IET) Design Toolkit. Washington, DC.

Integrated Education and Training (IET) in Corrections: A Companion Guide to the IET Design Toolkit
Foster, R. L., Stadd, J., & Tolbert, M. (2023). Integrated Education and Training in Corrections. U.S. Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.

Scroll To Top

OTAN activities are funded by contract CN240137 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.