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DOC says in-house teachers and vocational partners ease scheduling for inmate education
Summary
Education bureau staff told lawmakers the department has favored hiring its own credentialed teachers for flexibility, and is pursuing vocational partners such as Last Mile and workforce agencies for job training.
Department education leaders told the committee the corrections system uses in-house credentialed teachers for basic education and HiSET preparation and is exploring vocational partnerships for job training.
Travis Anderson, Education Services Bureau chief, said vocational providers and trade associations can supply curriculum and job-readiness training and that the department is already using programs such as Last Mile and consulting with the Department of Labor and the university system: "We also are working with, experts in the field through either Department of Labor or the university system, and exploring some of those types of, job training, job readiness types type programs in the vocational realm."
Anderson explained that for adult basic education and HiSET training the department has had better success running programs with its own staff because internal teachers provide schedule flexibility and more tailored instruction for students with low achievement levels.
Lawmakers also discussed why the department stopped using contracted teachers at the Montana Women's Prison. Department staff said that scheduling contracted staff proved difficult to mesh with prison security and operations, and the shift to in-house instruction aimed to provide more consistent services across facilities. Staff noted Pine Hills operates as an independent school district and that education staff at DOC facilities maintain credentials with the Office of Public Instruction.
Committee members asked whether vocational instructors must be licensed teachers. Anderson said vocational instructors with technical expertise can be beneficial and that increased flexibility to bring in contractors, part-time instructors or community partners would improve scheduling and program delivery.
Why it matters: Education and vocational training are core rehabilitation tools and affect post-release outcomes. Lawmakers asked for line-item details and counts of enrolled students per facility to confirm figures and monitor program delivery.
The department said it will provide a detailed equipment and staffing breakdown and a student enrollment verification for the facilities listed.
