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Adult Education Program
The Sheriff's Office offers GED classes in both English and Spanish for inmates who do not have a high school diploma or GED. Inmates attend a placement class where their reading levels and math levels are determined. This evaluation then determines if the inmate will be placed in a literacy level, pre-GED, or GED class.
The Sheriff's Office has English-as-a-Second-Language (ESOL) classes for inmates who need to learn the English language. Inmates must attend a placement class before they are assigned to the ESOL class.
Alternative School Program
The Alternative School Program is part of the Fairfax County Public School System. The program is designed to provide inmates an opportunity to obtain a high school diploma. If inmates are between the ages of 16-19, and do not qualify for special education services, the inmates will be enrolled in the general education classes of the alternative school program. Inmates between the ages of 16-22, who do qualify for special education services, will be provided services outlined in their individual educational plan (IEP). This means that an inmate qualifies for services if they have emotional disability (ED), learning disability (LD), mildly mentally retarded (MR), or ADHD/ADD (OHI). Inmates' official transcripts are evaluated to determine which courses are needed for graduation.
College Program for the Incarcerated
Ohio University, Louisiana State University, and University of Arkansas are four-year colleges which offer many courses through correspondence. Inmates can take classes which may be transferable to other universities. To be eligible, an inmate must have a high school diploma or GED. The Sheriff's Office recommends enrollment only after an inmate has been sentenced. The cost per course is approximately $350.00, which includes tuition, fees, and books. Coursework requires students to submit lessons, papers, and projects (assignments vary). Examinations are supervised by an Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources (OAR) or educational staff member that the inmate names as his or her proctor. All instructions are listed in the study guide that comes with each class.