FY97 Statistical Abstract. Research studies from other states have indicated that inmate education programs reduce recidivism rates - the percentage of individuals who are released after serving their sentence but end up back in the penal system. Adult education provides a foundation for obtaining job skills and being successful after release. Consequences of dropping out lead to a greater likelihood that the dropout will be unemployed and will receive public assistance than a high school graduate. Nevada Public School Dropouts School Year 1996-97, C. Crothers, Nevada Department of Education, 1998.
Many students report intangible benefits to their participation in adult education.
Literacy students move from viewing themselves as dependent, to being able to comprehend written material at work and at home. Students who pass the GED or receive an Adult High School Diploma know they have accomplished one important thing, and look toward future accomplishments with confidence. There are no tests or statistics that can convey this aspect, but any adult education instructor can relate stories about students who entered their programs, gained self-confidence as their skills improved, and turned their lives around.