Mar 9, 2004 Boise---The Robert Janss School has been regionally accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities Commission. The Idaho School received the accreditation during the group’s recent annual meeting in Portland.

Robert Janss is an Idaho school you might not know exists. Yet last year, it served more than 3,817 students in seven different locations. The Robert Janss School operates inside the Idaho Department of Correction facilities. Schools are located at Idaho State Correctional Institution, Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Idaho Correctional Center, North Idaho Correctional Institution, Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, South Boise Women’s Correctional Center, Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center, and South Idaho Correctional Institution.

Robert Janss helped 474 compete their GED, High School equivalency or high school degree last year during FY03. 778 offenders raised their literacy level one or more steps. The majority of offenders are not well educated. 65% do not have a high school degree and many or functionally or totally illiterate. Since most offenders in prison will return to communities it is important to provide them knowledge and skills to improve their abilities to become stable citizens and contributors to the community.

Governor Kempthorne along with university presidents, Board of Education dignitaries and superintendents from Idaho schools recently attended a graduation at Idaho State Correctional Institution. 82 graduates were honored at the commencement and received GEDs, High School Equivalencies, High School Diplomas and vocational education certifications.

The Robert Janss School was first accredited with the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools in 1984. Robert Janss is one of 1656 schools in the region accredited through this commission.


Press release courtesy of Idaho Department of Corrections