For the past three years, Literacy Source has been partnering with Seattle Central College to offer GED tutoring at the King County Correctional Facility, and this year we are expanding the program to the Maleng Regional Justice Center. 

Seattle Central provides the instruction, and Literacy Source provides tutors for GED, ABE, and ESL classes. The primary focus of the program is to work with students that are hoping to become high school graduates, although we tutor students in ESL, ABE, and college prep as well. For example, if there is a student that wants to get their Commercial Driver's License upon release, a tutor might work with them until they can get a passing score on practice tests so that they are one step closer to their goal when they are released.

Literacy Source's experience working with marginalized populations makes us a good fit for providing support to students in these facilities. Tutors work one-to-one with students helping them to think critically and explore other pathways to getting the right answer, which isn't always easy. Many students have had negative past experiences in school and Adverse Childhood Experiences that make patience, open communication, and creativity critically important. Additionally, the environment in the jail can be intimidating and distracting. Our program coordinator Liz Wurster says, "In my initial conversations with potential tutors, I often say 'We make the impossible, possible...' because while there are so many barriers working against us, our students still make incredible, meaningful strides, and they are so thankful that community members care enough to volunteer in this environment. I believe many of my tutors at the jail would say this is one of the most meaningful things they've done in their lives."

Indeed, from introducing incarcerated students to what might be their first positive and supportive educational experience, to partnering with them in strengthening their ability to successfully re-enter society, tutors at the jail  understand that the difficulty of the journey makes those positive experiences all the more meaningful. Says one tutor: "It is not an easy trek for me to get to the jail from my place of work. There are days when I am exhausted from my 8+ hours of work and struggle with the thought of making it to the jail for my tutoring session. But when I finally arrive at the jail and my student and I launch into our evening's work, all the exhaustion of the day is gone, and is replaced with an incredible feeling of purpose and value. This is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have ever done." 

If you have any questions, contact Liz Wurster, who coordinates our tutoring programs at KCCF and MRJC.