The development of cognitive skills is influenced by characteristics of both individuals and the environments in which they live, including their homes, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces. Contextual features of these environments shape and constrain cognitive development in various ways. This article considers the case of numeracy development…

The recent Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) provides insights into the skill levels of incarcerated adults ages 18-74 for the first time in more than a decade. Initial analyses of PIAAC data indicated that 31 percent of incarcerated adults with dependent children under 18 have low literacy skill levels…

Nearly all incarcerated adults will eventually be released to reenter communities and rebuild their lives. The literature indicates half of re-entering adults return to prison within five years and recidivism is higher for adults with low education attainment. The aim of this paper is to add to existing knowledge on incarcerated adult…

This paper uses the 2014 PIAAC prison data to study whether numeracy and literacy skills along with inmate educational and vocational training have an impact on social outcomes. Specifically, the authors address the following questions: (1) How do literacy, numeracy, formal education, and vocational training affect prison inmates' social outcomes…

This paper uses 2014 PIAAC prison data to study the association between literacy/numeracy and correctional education as it relates to program type, ways of course offerings, and job/education history prior to incarceration. Specifically, the authors examine the relationship between participation in correctional education programs while…

This study examines what demographic and skill-level factors predict the aspiration to enroll in any education class or program among people in prison in the U.S. The authors draw independent variables from the literature on prison and community-based programs that relate to educational achievement and aspiration. These include race, gender, age,…

Incarcerated men and women in state and federal prisons face multiple educational and economic challenges. Disabilities and health concerns of incarcerated adults exceed that of the general population. Despite widespread availability of correctional education programs in prisons, only a small proportion of prisoners complete them. Employing…

Using data from two of the most recognized studies on the incarcerated population, the "U.S. PIAAC Survey of Incarcerated Adults" and a comprehensive evaluation by the RAND Corporation for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, as well as insights from interviews with leading experts in the U.S. penal system and his own observations made over…

This study used the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) prison sample to explore the predictive contributions of Print Vocabulary and Sentence Processing skills to the Literacy and Passage Comprehension performance of 461 U.S. prisoners. Both predictors were significant, but Print Vocabulary accounted for less…

Incarcerated men and women in state and federal prisons face multiple educational and economic challenges. Disabilities and health concerns of incarcerated adults exceed that of the general population. Despite widespread availability of correctional education programs in prisons, only a small proportion of prisoners completes them. Employing…