Contacts:
E-mail:[email protected]
Telephone: (936) 291-5303
Fax: (936) 436-4031
Windham School District
P.O. Box 40
Huntsville, TX 77342-0040
Program Description: Windham School District (WSD) provides academic and vocational education to eligible offenders incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Windham operates in the Correctional Institutional Division. WSD is the first education system of such scope to be established within a statewide prison system. Classes are conducted in prison units across the state. The mission of the Windham School District is to provide appropriate educational programming and services to meet the needs of the eligible offender population in TDCJ and reduce recidivism by assisting offenders in becoming responsible, productive members of their communities. Windham provides a variety of academic classes and Career and Technical Education (CTE) to offenders incarcerated in the TDCJ. In addition to WSD programs, the Continuing Education program offers offenders the opportunity to participate in college courses, and recreational activities.
WSD operates schools on 90 sites serving TDCJ. Most literacy program participants attended classes 15 hours per week, and most of those participating in CTE programs attended 30 hours per week.
Degrees Offered: Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degrees
Programs Offered: Windham provides a variety of academic classes and Career and Technical Education (CTE) to offenders incarcerated in the TDCJ. In addition to WSD programs, the Continuing Education program offers offenders the opportunity to participate in college courses, and recreational activities. WSD operates schools on 90 sites serving TDCJ. Most literacy program participants attended classes 15 hours per week, and most of those participating in CTE programs attended 30 hours per week.
Unique Features: Recognizing the value education has in a correctional setting, the TDCJ was the first government agency in the United States to set up a statewide prison education system.
Headquarters: Huntsville, TX
Correctional Facilities Served: Correctional facilities within Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Correctional Institution Division (TDCJ)
Population Served: People who are incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
Number of Students: Total of 8936 post-secondary participants in academic year 2009-10
Graduates to Date: 502 Associate’s, 39 Bachelor’s, 22 Master’s
Year Founded: 1969
Founders: Texas Legislature
College/University/Organization Partnerships: Separate contracts with 14 community colleges and three universities to provide post-secondary education services to its students.
Funding: Memorandum of Understanding between Windham and TCJD ~$66M; Funding from Texas Department of Education: Students under the age of 25 and within five years of release are eligible to receive financial aid for tuition and materials associated with post-secondary education classes from the “Youth Offender” grant. WSD uses the money to cover the cost of the first three courses taken by eligible students.