Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 004 - DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS › Rule 004.00.90-005 - Educational Services

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
500
Educational Services
I.
Authority
The authority of the Board of Correction to promulgate this
			 Administrative Regulation is confirmed in Act 50 of 1968 as amended; Act 279 of
			 1973, created the Arkansas Department of Correction School District; and Act
			 288 of 1985, created Riverside Vo-Tech within the Arkansas Department of
			 Correction.
II.
Purpose
This Administrative Regulation establishes the policy of the
			 Department with respect to education and the interactions between educational
			 services and the administration of the Department.
III.
Applicability
This Administrative Regulation applies to the Board of Correction
			 and Administration of the Department, to the administrators, instructors and
			 support staff of all educational programs operating within the Department and
			 to all volunteer organizations and individuals supporting the educational
			 process within the Department, and to all inmates participating in educational
			 programs.
IV.
Definitions
A.
		  "Educational services" refers to all programs in the Arkansas Department of
		  Correction School District, Riverside Vo-Tech, to college courses taught
		  on-site by any regionally accredited college or university, and to volunteer
		  organizations and individuals who provide financial aid, tutor training, or
		  direct instruction in coordination with an established program.
B. "Instructional space" refers to
		  classrooms, laboratories, workshops, office spaces, and furnishings, other than
		  instructional aids and materials.
C. "Access" refers to the general
		  availability of educational services to all inmates, with exceptions made only
		  when necessary for the good order and security of the institutions. Access may
		  also be limited by the screening mechanisms of educational services on the
		  basis of need and appropriateness of placement.
D. "School Board" refers to the Department's
		  Board of Correction formally sitting as the School Board and having authority
		  to approve budgets, contracts and programs for operation of the School
		  District.
V.
Policy
It shall be the policy of the Department to provide instructional
			 space for the operation of approved educational programs in selected units of
			 the Department and to allow those inmates in need of these programs access to
			 them.
VI.
Procedures
A. Each
		  educational service will have written policies and procedures which include
		  admission, operational and dismissal policies and maintenance of
		  records.
B. Each educational
		  service shall conform to all state and federal standards and requirements
		  applicable in a correctional setting. Staff should be appropriately
		  certified.
C. Staff of educational
		  services shall be trained on relevant Administrative Regulations and
		  Administrative Directives of the Department and are expected to comply with
		  them, and to support the good order and smooth operations of the
		  institution.
D. Staff of
		  educational services have the authority to take disciplinary action.
E. Each educational service should make its
		  admission criteria and rules for operation available to inmates.
F. All inmates entering the Department are
		  tested and/or interviewed as to their education level and job related skills.
		  This information is documented and available to educators and to classification
		  committees.
G. Inmates having
		  academic scores or skills below a certain level set by the Board may be
		  required to participate in educational programs.
H. Beyond minimum requirements, inmates may
		  request participation in educational programs. Acceptance or refusal may be
		  predicated on custody level, as defined by Administrative Directive, and need
		  of and/or appropriateness for the program in accordance with defined standards
		  set or approved by the Department of Education or School Board approved
		  practice.
I. An inmate's class may
		  be considered in the decision of the classification committee to assign an
		  inmate to a particular program. Loss of class should not be considered an
		  automatic barrier to educational services. However disciplinary problems, if
		  disruptive of classes or resulting in absence due to punitive isolation or
		  restrictions, may be considered cause for suspension or termination of
		  educational services.
J. Programs
		  will be evaluated at least every three years to determine whether objectives
		  are being met. Part of this evaluation should relate to the Department of
		  Education's Review and Certification process. Another part should relate to
		  penological operations and goals.
VII.
References
Board of Correction Approval Date: 3/30/90
Attorney General Review Date: 3/30/90
Date Filed Secy of State: 4/2/90
Supersedes: 501
Dated: 9/30/82