Education Program

It’s a well-studied factor in successful re-entry that education is one of the single most important determinants for an inmate to gain employment upon release from a correctional setting. At CCNO, we prefer that inmates use their incarceration to improve and take personal responsibility to set themselves up for success when re-entering our communities. Establishing a robust educational program is one way for us to aid them in achieving this goal.

We’ve spent some time developing our vision of an education program that can truly meet the needs of our inmates and maximize the number of inmates that it can reach. We have learned that adaptability and flexibility are fundamental to post-pandemic life and operations. Our education programs offer on-line, in person, and self-study options for optimal inclusion that covers all our inmates’ learning styles.

Through a partnership with PENTA Career Center, CCNO offers both GED and Tooling U classes. Our GED program is staffed by two certified teachers, who with PENTA’s guidance, utilize appropriate and varied curriculums, meeting each individual inmate’s educational needs. Instructors are also required to meet professional development goals annually, as well as adhere to all state adult education requirements.

CCNO is a state-certified GED testing site. Our inmates are able to qualify for the GED test prior to their release, leaving the facility fully prepared to seek employment. The GED test is comprised of four subjects: Reading and Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. Each subject requires passage of its section test. Once all four subject tests are passed, the GED has been earned. The state GED system tracks all testing, so no matter where a section was passed, it follows that inmate to other facilities or into the community.

New to CCNO, Tooling U is a certified, on-line pre-manufacturing course. The program’s 28 topics include such things as mathematics, safety concerns, PPE, troubleshooting and quality control. All topics covered lead to careers and job interviewing skills. Completion of this three-month course offers inmates additional work skills for re-entry.