Expanding Digital Pathways to Education and Employment

Overview

The Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP) is partnering with Washington County Community College (WCCC) to expand access to technology-focused post-secondary education for incarcerated learners in Maine. Through a New England Prison Education Collaborative Accelerator Grant awarded to WCCC, the project will support the development and implementation of online, stackable certification programs in computer technology across multiple Maine Department of Corrections facilities.

The initiative aims to expand access to industry-recognized, workforce-aligned credentials that prepare students for technology-related careers. Certification courses will be offered at no cost to students and are designed to serve as an entry point to a Pell-eligible associate degree in computer technology.

This project builds on CEPP’s ongoing partnership with WCCC, the Maine Department of Corrections, and other collaborators to enhance access to quality postsecondary education and workforce pathways for justice-involved learners.

Our Approach

CEPP serves as a strategic partner in supporting the coordination and implementation of the project alongside WCCC and the Maine Department of Corrections.

CEPP’s role centers on assisting partners in translating program goals into effective, sustainable practices by:

• Developing and delivering the Google and Apple Swift curriculum
• Coordinating project implementation across multiple correctional facilities
• Employing Opportunity Scholars as peer coaches to assist with student onboarding, engagement, and academic persistence
• Supporting career exploration, workforce pathway development, and reentry planning
• Helping to build peer mentoring programs that foster student support and success
• Aligning educational programming with workforce needs and employment opportunities
• Delivering trauma-informed and recovery-centered professional development and supporting the integration of these practices across program activities

Through these activities, CEPP helps ensure that program design, implementation, and student supports are aligned to promote long-term educational and employment outcomes.

The Impact

Access to quality education and workforce training is a key factor in successful reentry. This project provides incarcerated learners with chances to develop in-demand technology skills and earn meaningful educational credentials.

By expanding access to online certification programs across Maine correctional facilities, the initiative helps eliminate barriers to participation, strengthen connections between education and employment, and create pathways to continued postsecondary education.

Together with its partners, CEPP is demonstrating how correctional education, workforce development, and reentry planning can be aligned to achieve better results for individuals, families, and communities.