Facilitated by the Virginia Consensus and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.
Virginia is at a pivotal moment in its commitment to strengthening its workforce, reducing recidivism and fostering resilient communities. College education in correctional settings is a proven path to reentry success and workforce expansion. In today’s digital world, integrating technology into these programs is essential for both instruction and students' digital literacy. Yet, the requisite ecosystem for conceiving secure education technology solutions remains fragmented in Virginia, with educators, technologists, agencies and corrections often working in silos.
On October 31, justice-impacted individuals and professionals in technology, workforce development, education and corrections convened for a day of design thinking on the question of how Virginia might evolve our technology strategy to optimize the impact of our college programs behind bars. Considerations included regulatory, educational, ethical and workforce imperatives for expanding technology access and seek to lay the groundwork of an innovation ecosystem of users, technologists, resources and priorities with capacity to support best-in-class solutions for Virginia's educational, workforce and rehabilitation goals.
Summit Objectives:
Foster a shared understanding of the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities for technology in education within the Virginia Department of Corrections and local jails.
Catalyze relationship-building and networking among technology companies, educational providers, correctional staff, and civic leaders.
Identify and prioritize key problem areas that can be addressed through innovative technological solutions.
Initiate the co-creation of actionable, collaborative projects and business-to-business frameworks.
Lay the groundwork for a long-term, coordinated ecosystem for technology in prison education in Virginia.
Summit Agenda:
Opening Plenary: The Vision for a True Partnership: VCHEP, VICPP and experts representing higher education, corrections and technology will open the day by framing a shared vision for building a connected ecosystem that strengthens education, reentry and workforce outcomes.
The View from the Ground: An Integrated Panel Discussion: Experts from workforce development, higher education, corrections and technology integration will discuss on-the-ground realities, challenges and opportunities for digital learning in correctional settings.
Small-Group Deep Dive I: Mapping the Ecosystem's Challenges: In pre-assigned, cross-sector groups, attendees will identify the most pressing challenges. Guiding questions will focus on balancing security with academic freedom, integrating university learning platforms, ensuring accreditation standards and defining infrastructure needs.
Solution-Space Exploration: The Art of the Possible: A series of "lightning talks" showcasing potential solutions. This will include technology companies (e.g., secure networking, durable devices) and a presentation from a higher education institution on a successful prison education program model, highlighting what works pedagogically.
Small-Group Deep Dive II: Drafting the Roadmap: Returning to their groups, attendees will focus on solution-oriented brainstorming to develop a preliminary concept for a collaborative project or a key component of the strategic roadmap, integrating educational, correctional and technological considerations.
Gallery Walk & Roadmap Synthesis: Groups will post their core ideas for the roadmap. Attendees will review the concepts from other groups, identify areas of synergy, and offer suggestions to help synthesize a cohesive vision.
Closing Plenary: Commitment to a Shared Path: A call to action from summit organizers, summarizing the key themes and draft roadmap elements that emerged. This session will outline the next steps for forming working groups as part of strategic planning for higher education in prison in Virginia.
Reading Materials and Resources for Educators, Corrections, Technologists and Justice-impacted Students/Alumni
Click here to download a list of materials.
What is a Tech Ecosystem?
This brief and discussion guide from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education describes efforts to provide secure and cost-effective access to technology in correctional facilities to help strengthen and expand educational and reentry services.
