Freedom to Learn - Inmate Led Prison Education

Any funds donated using the below embedded form or this web link will be earmarked specifically for our prison-focused initiatives unless otherwise specified.

About the Inmate-Led Prison Education Programs we support

The Cade Moore Foundation (CMF) is a memorial foundation dedicated to promoting equity, education, and justice in underserved communities. CMF is excited to announce our latest initiative: an innovative, autonomous, inmate-led prison education program.

In researching this project, CMF found that many states' carceral education system urgently needs improvement.  E.g. the Virginia Department of Corrections(VADOC) currently hosts five Prison Education Programs (PEPs) accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. However, due to a limited investment in internet infrastructure by the VADOC, each of these PEPs operates somewhat independently. Inmates interested in enrolling in a VADOC PEP may discover that their facility does not offer one. For example, the Rappahannock Community College PEP is only available to inmates at Haynesville Correctional Center, while the Southside Virginia Community College PEP is limited to inmates at Lunenburg Correctional Center. Out of Virginia's 37 correctional facilities, only 11 offer PEPs—over half of which are either not accredited or not Pell-eligible. 

None of the programs mentioned above provide secondary degrees. The highest level of education currently available to incarcerated students in Virginia is an associate degree. To address this gap, the Cade Moore Foundation is preparing to launch a post-secondary, inmate-led, and autonomous Prison Education Program (PEP). Cade Moore Polytechnic Institute (CM Tech) will serve incarcerated individuals starting in both Virginia and Washington state prisons, marking it as the first and only program to offer secondary degrees to incarcerated individuals in the state of Virginia. 

CM Tech is actively recruiting a team of incarcerated individuals to serve as educators and staff members for the program. Our team of incarcerated educators will teach in-person courses to inmates in Washington and provide distance-learning courses to those in Virginia. Incarcerated staff will have full autonomy over program operations and design, while educators will have the freedom to manage their classrooms, courses, and curriculum. 

CM Tech aims to give incarcerated educators and students the opportunity to acquire real-world skills necessary to succeed as educators in underserved districts— a field that is in high demand, particularly in Virginia. Each student enrolled in CM Tech will be encouraged to assist program staff with managing operations, and educators will receive a certificate of achievement for each semester they spend teaching. 

According to the Learning Policy Institute, "406,964 teaching positions were either unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments," which represents about 1 in 8 teaching positions nationally. In Virginia, the public education system employs 92,651 teachers, of whom 16,317 lack the state's recommended teaching credentials. As of October 1, 2023, the Virginia system lists 3,650 unfilled positions, providing potential opportunities for A-PEP graduates upon their release.

*Applicants with convictions for child crimes, sexual offenses, or crimes involving family violence will not be eligible for the program.

Your support is crucial in making this vision a reality. We are actively recruiting a team of incarcerated educators who will have the autonomy to design and manage their own classes, bridging gaps in education and providing real-world skills to fellow inmates. Each student will gain the practical experience they need, while earning certificates that will help them thrive upon release.

Here’s how you can help:

• Donate: Your financial contribution will directly support the development of Cade Moore Polytechnic Institute, from hiring incarcerated educators to providing necessary educational resources and technology.

• Spread the Word: Share our mission with your friends, family, and networks. Raising awareness is key to creating a movement for change.

• Get Involved: If you’re passionate about justice and education, we invite you to reach out to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Together, we can overcome the barriers faced by those in the carceral system. Join us in creating a brighter future for incarcerated 

students, the public education system, and nation's underserved communities!