Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Correction Reports More Than 1,500 Educational Program Completions, Marking Third Consecutive Year of Growth

MILFORD — The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) recorded 1,572 educational program completions during the 2025–2026 school year, marking the third consecutive year of growth. The trend reflects a shared desire of the Department, its partner service providers, and the incarcerated individuals themselves to create transformative change and opportunity through education.  

“Our dedicated DOC educators, higher education partners and vocational experts continuously expand and enhance opportunities for individuals to learn and grow. This collaboration reduces recidivism and strengthens reentry outcomes,” said DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins. “The increased use of educational offerings through the tablets and partnership programs shows our commitment to successful futures and our housed population's desire to thrive. We are grateful to all our staff who work every day to maintain safe environments where these opportunities can thrive.” 

Educational program completions have increased nearly 34 percent since the 2023–2024 school year, reflecting a growing participation in academic and career training programs. Highlights from the 2025–2026 school year include: 

• 104 high school equivalency diplomas earned through the HiSET program 
• 90 college degrees and certificates earned, including bachelor's and associate degrees 
• 886 ServSafe and OSHA certificates earned through DOC-issued tablets 
• 93 vocational training programs completed 

College-level course offerings reached a record high of 151 during the 2025–2026 school year, continuing six consecutive years of growth. Available courses span subjects including psychology, philosophy, poetry, economics, statistics, and entrepreneurship, providing incarcerated students with opportunities to pursue higher education and develop skills that can support their success after release. 

The Department also continues to expand opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study through partnerships with colleges and universities. Recent initiatives include the expansion of the Boston College Prison Education Program to MCI-Framingham, where 11 students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in 2026. A new graduate certificate program, in partnership with Emerson College, is planned to launch at MCI-Norfolk in 2027. In June 2026, Mount Wachusett Community College celebrated its first nine associate degree graduates at North Central Correctional Institution in Gardner. 

These opportunities build on the DOC’s ongoing educational programs offered through partnerships with higher education institutions across the state, including Babson College, Boston College, Boston University, Bunker Hill Community College, Emerson College, Franklin Cummings Institute in collaboration with The Educational Justice Institute at MIT, Massasoit Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, and Tufts University. 

Beyond classroom-based instruction, the DOC continues to expand access to educational resources through its tablet initiative. During the 2025–2026 school year, incarcerated individuals across DOC facilities logged 672,664 hours of engagement with educational content through DOC-issued tablets. The initiative also provides access to career training courses, including ServSafe and OSHA certification programs. 

These efforts advance a key goal of the DOC’s five-year strategic plan, the Align Initiative, by strengthening resources that support successful reentry. Through expanding access to education, credentials, and skill-building opportunities, the DOC continues to invest in individual growth, successful community reintegration, and long-term public safety. 

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