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<p>This policy statement addresses the educational  and vocational aspects of the overall programming plan that was discussed in <a href="/Report/PartII/ChapterII-A/PolicyStatement9">Policy Statement 9</a>,  Development of Programming Plan, and expands on ways to effectively use the  educational and vocational assessment information described in <a href="/Report/PartII/ChapterII-A/PolicyStatement8">Policy Statement 8</a>,  Development of Intake Procedure. When a person is incarcerated, a tremendous  opportunity exists to provide him or her with basic reading, writing, and math  skills; a trade that is useful in the marketplace; and, sometimes, an advanced  degree. Too often, this opportunity is lost because the class slots available  are limited, not varied, or poorly timed; because programming does not  correspond to the person's skill levels; or because the individual is not  sufficiently interested in participating in the programs. When vocational  education is offered, the training often does not correspond to high-demand jobs  or to those employment sectors that are forecasted to provide new job  opportunities in the community to which the prisoner will return. The research  and recommendations that follow outline ways to improve the quantity and quality  of vocational and educational programs available to people during their  incarceration, so that they are best prepared to return to the community. </p></items>
