The CEA Standards Commission awards Certificates of Accreditation to correctional facilities that have successfully demonstrated compliance with the CEA Standards for Correctional Education Programs through the CEA Accreditation process.

For correctional and rehabilitation organizations to provide programs that meet the needs of the student and society, the CEA believes the correctional education programs must have comprehensive policies and procedures, have qualified and well-trained personnel, have adequate resources, offer appropriate programming, and focus efforts on student needs and best interests of society. CEA has established standards as quality benchmarks for evaluation of correctional education programs in the four major categories of administration, personel, program, and students. Compliance with the Standards is determined through an audit conducted by certified CEA auditors who observe programs, interview staff and students, and review policies and procedures and documentation of implementation.

Premise

Performance Standards for Adult, Juvenile, and Jail Correctional Education Programs have been developed on the premise that education programs in correctional institutions can be of high quality despite significant differences in institutions and program modalities. Based on this premise, correctional schools are evaluated according to the philosophy and goals they are trying to achieve, the community they serve, and actions taken to meet the needs of the staff and students participating.

CEA believes that correctional education programs must have comprehensive policies and procedures, have qualified and well-trained personnel, have adequate resources, offer appropriate programming, and focus efforts on student needs and the best interest of society.

Background

In 1988, the Correctional Education Association introduced the “Standards for Adult and Juvenile Correctional Education Programs.”  This was the first set of comprehensive Standards designed to establish a framework for evaluating education programs in correctional settings.  Since 1988, a number of correctional agencies have used the CEA Standards to evaluate their programs and to determine their compliance with the Standards.  The Correctional Education Association has conducted numerous audits for correctional agencies utilizing the Standards and provided consultation to others who chose to pursue CEA accreditation. During the years the CEA Standards have been in effect, suggestions for updates and improvements have been made by auditors and practitioners.  In 1996, a revision process was implemented that updated and refined many of the Standards.  This work culminated in a set of Standards that was approved by the Correctional Education Association Executive Board at the November 1997 meeting.  In 2000, the CEA Executive Board established the Standards Commission to administer the Correctional Education Association’s accreditation process and maintain the Standards.  The Commission has continued the work begun by the original Standards Committee.

Current Standards

• Performance Standards for Correctional Education Programs in Adult Institutions, 2019
• Performance Standards for Correctional Education Programs in Juvenile Institutions, 2019 (revision scheduled to be released August 2021)
• Performance Standards for Correctional Education Programs in Jails and Detention Centers, 2019

For more information please contact the Standards Commission Chair.