Adult education programs help justice-involved students stay on track
After dropping out of high school in the 10th grade, watching her sisters and brother accept their diplomas was a little hard for Krysti Lopez. She didn’t have a job and found herself in legal trouble just after she turned 18. On probation, she went to her local day reporting center where she found she could earn her high school equivalency through Desert Edge Adult School.
“I felt like I needed to do it for myself,” she says.
“They really enjoy seeing somebody succeed.”
Krysti Lopez, Desert Edge Adult School student
Run by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE), Desert Edge Adult School provides adult education programs in the county’s jails and probation day reporting centers. Students can earn their high school diploma or equivalency, study English as a second language (ESL) and enroll in career technical education (CTE) programs, offered at some locations.
“We provide teachers, we provide a full program basically including the technology and curriculum and everything that’s needed for the program,” says Lucie Gonzalez, lead principal for Desert Edge School. “We have programs in the jails and we have programs for people who are on probation. Bottom line is our program is about helping people who want a second chance to complete their education and change their life. That’s what we’re all about.”
And as educational levels rise, recidivism rates fall: A 2018 RAND study found that inmates who participated in educational programs were 28% less likely to re-offend and end up back in jail.
“RCOE partners with the sheriff to provide these robust programs that are shown to have an impact, significantly lowering recidivism rates versus people who don’t complete an education program,” Gonzalez says. “It allows them to meet some basic requirements for employment, a huge one being their GED or high school diploma.”
Lopez passed the HiSET exam in 2021 and earned her high school equivalency credentials. She’s currently exploring her college and career options. She says that while she was initially intimidated about going back to school, it was a great experience for her.
“The programs are there, they’re designed to help people who are down and out and don’t know what to do, to help them make something of themselves,” Lopez says.
“They really enjoy seeing somebody succeed. They congratulate you a lot and kind of push. They want you to come back and they want to see you do well.”
For more information about Desert Edge Adult School, visit www.rcoe.us.
Written by Anne Stokes.
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| Southern California | High School |
