March - 202119GOVERNMENT CIO OUTLOOKand services be used to improve educational attainment, rehabilitative progress, and workforce readiness for every incarcerated learner? Every decision we make concerning our platform serves our goal of maximizing learning. We are not trying to make money off of our students, which would detract from the work we do to build the highest quality learning experience we can. Our goal is to enable departments of corrections to transform their correctional facilities into education centers."Since its founding in 2014, APDS has worked to bring the highest quality personalized learning technologies, which have become standard fare in K-12 classrooms, into the correctional setting. The company designed secure tablet computers that could connect to its networked data center and provide students secure access to approved content. The APDS learning management platform is designed to assess the individual educational, rehabilitative, and workforce readiness needs of each learner. The APDS platform then crafts a personalized learning plan and tracks each learner's progress through the content ­ measuring progress achieved and time on task to report back to on-site staff. Their data portal enables the jurisdiction to determine where their learners need more support, assess whether interventions are working, and recognize learners who commit themselves to their learning pathways. Learners, in turn, are able to earn digital credentials and certificates as they progress, plan for a post-release job search by building a resume and exploring career opportunities in their area, and prepare for major credentialing exams like the GED. Today, with deployments 88 facilities across 17 states, APDS continues to expand its footprint. With significant investments in product development, the company plans to launch its next-generation learner portal later this spring, which will incorporate new best practices in creating an easily navigable, engaging user experience. "As more and more correctional facilities commit to offering high-quality educational options, incarcerated learners are proving that their success is worth investing in. As a society, we cannot afford to write off everyone in prison or jail. We cannot afford to miss out on that much potential. In providing incarcerated learners with educational opportunities, we're working to finally shut down the correctional system's revolving door," concludes Ferrell.
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