With a great deal of focus on improving graduation rates in the city of Buffalo, a program is underway at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo that is allowing teenage inmates to reach high school graduation. WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley takes us inside.
Inside the holding center there are two school-like classrooms. Brand new computers line one wall. For teen inmates selected to attend classes, they have a chance to work on high school graduation or returning to school once they are released from jail.
The Sheriff Department and Buffalo Public Schools are partnering to provide classes for students who are incarcerated.
"They are incarcerated so there are safety and security precautions, but it is a typical day. They wake up in the morning, they get breakfast, they get prepared and then they go to school," said Thomas Diina, Superintendent of Jail Management.
Diina said the teens are jailed for all types of crimes.
"It's a myriad of crimes. I mean obviously there is a huge drug epidemic in Buffalo. A lot of gang-related issues, but it really runs the entire gamut," stated Diina.
The staff is made up of Buffalo school teachers. John Iorio is the Supervisor of Adult Education overseeing the jail program. "They're certified in their subject area, so science, math, social studies and literacy," stated Iorio.
35 students are now graduating from the program. Buffalo Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash said it's the best way to return students to society.
"But this is a tremendous start and anytime you help one child go from instead of school house to jail house, start to go from jail house back to school, and have a great on-ramp, like this one, you're saving money, you're saving lives and you're building a stronger human capital pipeline for the city and community of Buffalo.
Currently there are about 340-are high school students incarcerated downtown at the holding center. The incarcerated students reaching graduation would be added to the overall graduation rates in the school district.
The program is 100-percent grant-funded. The budget is under $200,000 and pays for four teachers, school counselor, transitional counselor, special education and administration.