Research

https://octae.ed.gov/aefla/national-leadership-activities/research

Understanding Adult Literacy in the U. S.Research indicates that there continues to be a need for Federal investment in adult education programs, in part because of data suggesting that the United States is losing ground to many of its economic competitors as measured by the employment-related skills of working-age adults. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), also known as the Survey of Adult Skills, is a cyclical, large-scale international study that was developed under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). PIAAC is a direct household assessment designed to assess and compare the basic skills and competencies of adults around the world. The assessment focuses on cognitive and

Correctional Education

https://octae.ed.gov/aefla/correctional-education

Correctional education is a fundamental component of rehabilitative programming offered in juvenile justice facilities, most American prisons, and many jails and detention centers. A wide variety of administering entities operate correctional institutions in the United States, and a wide variety of organizations are the providers of onsite prison education programs. Various federal education programs have supported education in state and local prisons. In 1991, an Office of Correctional Education (OCE) was created by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, to coordinate and improve these efforts to support educational opportunities in correctional settings. The OCE function currently resides in the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE

Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) Program

https://octae.ed.gov/cte/legislation/educational-flexibility-program

The Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) program is authorized under the Educational Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 and was reauthorized by section 9207 of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Ed-Flex program allows the Secretary to authorize a State educational agency that serves an eligible State to waive statutory or regulatory requirements applicable to one or more of the included programs for any local educational agency (LEAs), educational service agency or school within the State.This program permits Ed-Flex States to waive certain requirements under state-administered formula grant programs, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Prison Education Programs

https://octae.ed.gov/aefla/correctional-education/prison-education-programs

The FAFSA Simplification Act passed on Dec. 27, 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 made important changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), including the restoration of Pell Grant for students incarcerated in federal or state penal institutions and students who are subject to involuntary commitments. The law ties Pell Grant Eligibility to enrollment in an eligible prison education program (PEP). In addition, it creates a new definition of a “prison education program” and adds specific requirements for approval, reporting, oversight, and evaluation of such programs. The provisions of the FAFSA Simplification Act related to incarcerated students, have an effective date of July 1, 2023. Prison

Correctional Resources and Research

https://octae.ed.gov/aefla/correctional-education/resources-and-research

This page contains links to Department of Education, other Federal agency, and non federal resources and research that pertain to correctional and reentry education.