How agencies are using Edovo to advance their programs

Correctional facilities across the nation are facing increasing pressure to provide effective programs that prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry. Despite best efforts, traditional education models often fall short due to limitations in resources, security and the diverse needs of the incarcerated population. Physical workbooks, classroom instruction and peer tutoring, while valuable, struggle to scale.

Edovo offers a transformative solution. By providing accessible, online educational content, Edovo empowers correctional facilities to overcome these challenges and deliver impactful programs. Coupled with Insight, our staff management tool, facilities can optimize program delivery, track learner progress and drive meaningful improvements.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how agencies across the nation are leveraging Edovo to advance their programs and achieve tangible outcomes for incarcerated learners.

Reduced Restricted Housing Time

Multiple agencies are implementing programs to reduce Restrictive Housing Unit (RHU) terms for incarcerated individuals who successfully complete designated Edovo programming.

Here’s how it works:

• Eligibility Criteria: Agencies identify and share with Edovo eligible incarcerated individuals through existing roster file transfers.
• Program Participation: Eligible individuals housed in RHUs can access pre-approved Edovo content.
• Credit Accumulation: Upon completing programming, individuals earn credits.
• Term Reduction: A predetermined number of credits equate to a reduction in RHU term length.
• Program Limits: There is a maximum allowable reduction in RHU term length.
  

How is learner progress tracked and reported? Edovo provides these agencies with a dashboard to monitor completion metrics, engagement with program content, time spent on program modules and performance scores.

Here’s an example program policy: For every 20 hours of completed programming, individuals earn a five-day reduction in their RHU term. The total reduction cannot exceed 20% of the original RHU term.

Milestone Credits - A Hybrid Model

Some agencies have integrated Edovo into their in-person milestone programs to create a blended learning approach. By combining classroom instruction with digital coursework accessible in housing units, these facilities are increasing participant engagement and learning outcomes.

To achieve this, agencies have collaborated with Edovo to identify existing Edovo content that aligns with in-person curriculum topics. Program policies are adjusted to mandate completion of both in-person and digital components for program credit. This dual-learning model has shown increased program effectiveness.

Here’s how it works:

• Eligibility Criteria: While no formal identification is necessary to provide to Edovo, the agencies confirm eligibility prior to enrollment in the in-person class.
• In-Person Milestone Classes: Participants attend traditional classroom-based instruction.
• Digital Reinforcement: Participants engage with pre-approved Edovo content in their housing units on their tablet devices.
• Program Completion: Successful completion of both in-person and digital components is required to earn program credits.
  

Here’s an example program policy: Each course offered as part of their milestone program includes both in-person and digital coursework. Each course offers varying credit amounts, with an average credit value equivalent to a three-week term reduction.

Participation-Earned Credit

Some agencies utilize Edovo to offer eligible participants the chance to earn credits through program engagement.

Here’s how it works:

• Content Assignment: Eligible individuals are assigned pre-approved Edovo coursework.
• Credit Accumulation: Participants earn credits based on time spent actively engaged in assigned coursework.
• Performance Criteria: While agencies vary, some track participation time overall while others track participation association with completion.
• Credit Limits: A monthly engagement threshold is required to earn credits, with an annual cap on total credit accumulation.
  

Here’s an example program policy: Participants earn five days of sentence reduction for every 12 hours of monthly engagement in assigned Edovo programming. A minimum of 12 hours of monthly engagement is required to qualify for credit. Annual credit accumulation is capped at 60 days.

Criminogenic Needs Assessment

Some agencies leverage Edovo to address a key challenge: delivering targeted programming based on individual criminogenic needs. By identifying core criminogenic needs and developing tailored content, agencies can assign specific programs to individuals, streamlining the process and enhancing program effectiveness.

Here’s how it works:

• Content Identification: Identify content that promotes learning and growth in each of the criminogenic needs.
• Learning Path Creation: Build learning paths unique to each criminogenic need and aligned with agency goals.
• Content Assignment: Case managers assign learning paths to individuals based on assessment results, streamlining the process and maximizing program impact.
  

Several agencies are exploring similar initiatives to address specific learner needs. By creating custom learning paths, these agencies leverage Edovo to deliver tailored programming. Like the criminogenic needs model, Edovo’s platform can be utilized to assign personalized curriculum based on individual needs and program goals.

While this approach doesn’t offer sentence reductions, it significantly enhances the quality and relevance of programming, ultimately aiming to improve outcomes.

Testing Readiness

GED Readiness

Many correctional facilities face challenges in delivering GED and HiSET programs to their entire population, particularly during lockdowns. Edovo offers a solution by providing supplemental GED preparation. By assigning coursework to eligible learners, facilities can expand program reach, increase enrollment and ultimately improve GED pass rates. Upon course completion, learners can take proctored GED exams hosted by the agency.

Edovo partners with organizations such as Mometrix Academy, Daily GED, Khan Academy, DCS GED Prep Online and others to provide a wide range of materials designed to help learners prepare for both the GED and HiSet exam. Read more about these offerings here.

College Readiness

Barriers also exist in providing comprehensive readiness programs within correctional facilities. Edovo addresses this by offering college-level coursework that helps learners develop the skills necessary for higher education.

Through a partnership with Modern States, Edovo provides access to 33 free college courses covering a wide range of subjects. Check out all the Modern States classes offered on Edovo here.

Edovo also has a learning path called “College Bound: Building Foundations for Higher Learning” designed to help learners succeed in college. It offers a structured approach to transitioning to higher education, equipping learners with essential academic skills, time management strategies, critical thinking, and self-care techniques. Learn more about the learning path here.

Here are  two different scenarios for how agencies are using Edovo for GED and college readiness:

1. For individuals who aren’t able to complete GED or college readiness programs in an in-person setting due to classification or security reasons, facility staff can make digital programming available. This expands access to education and creates opportunities for individuals who might otherwise be excluded. Similarly, agencies have used Edovo GED and HiSET pretests to measure readiness prior to issuing proctored exams.
   
2. To further enhance in-class learning, teachers and volunteers assign Edovo programming to learners that may be falling behind in class or need extra assistance in a specific subject area. By tailoring education to individual needs, facilities can optimize learning outcomes, ensure classroom readiness., and ultimately improve overall program effectiveness.

By leveraging Edovo, facilities can ensure that no learner is left behind in their pursuit of higher education.

If you are interested in discussing how Edovo can help advance the initiatives in your facility and achieve tangible outcomes for incarcerated learners, reach out to accounts@edovo.org.

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