Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget would replace classroom Chromebooks and expand GED testing in Georgia prisons
Summary
The governor’s recommended amended FY25 and FY26 budgets include funds to replace damaged Chromebooks used in educational programs and to increase GED testing capacity in response to a growing inmate population, the corrections commissioner said.
Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told the subcommittee the department is seeking one‑time and ongoing funds to support educational programming that officials say lowers recidivism.
The presentation said the department would replace about 1,000 Chromebooks in the amended FY25 budget (slide cited $450,000) and expand the contract to increase GED testing from 20 to 25 test sites or units (presentation cited a FY25 amended line of roughly $701,789 and FY26 operating figures of about $805,000 for testing and education support).
Why education was discussed: Lawmakers asked about access and eligibility. The commissioner said all offenders remain eligible for educational and rehabilitative services unless restricted for behavioral reasons (segregation or other limitations), and that participation in pro‑social and vocational programs is associated with lower recidivism rates cited on a slide (educational program recidivism listed at about 20.9 percent in the department’s materials; vocational 13.6 percent and other program metrics were shown).
Committee follow‑up requests: Representatives asked how demand compared with capacity and whether the education and counselor pay proposals would improve recruitment. The department said counselor pay will be adjusted and said it would provide additional comparisons to K‑12 teacher pay and other agencies as requested by lawmakers.
Ending: The department said the educational investments are intended to increase capacity for a growing population and flagged that expanded program access depends on staffing and facility conditions.
