National Park College (NPC) is marking a decade of providing life-changing educational opportunities at the Garland County Detention Center (GCDC), a partnership that has empowered thousands of individuals to build brighter futures through literacy, workforce training and high school diploma completion.
During the college’s June Board of Trustees meeting, staff spotlighted the success of NPC’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) programming inside the detention center — a collaboration that began with the facility’s construction planning in 2013 and launched its first classes in 2015.
“This program is personal to me,” said Lisa Couch, director of adult education at NPC. “Before I joined NPC, I worked inside the detention center and I saw firsthand the difference education can make. We meet students wherever they are and help them build a better path forward, whether that’s earning a GED®, gaining job skills or preparing for life after release.”
Through the partnership between NPC Adult Education, the Garland County Sheriff’s Office and the local court system, individuals housed at GCDC can work toward earning their Arkansas high school diploma (GED®), Arkansas Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy (WAGE™) workforce skills certificates, ServSafe and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certifications, literacy training and more. For many students, these achievements mark their first significant educational success and provide critical pathways to reentry.
Since 2015, more than 2,600 students have participated in the program, with 257 individuals
earning their GED®. On any given day, NPC instructors serve 60 to 70 students across
two classrooms inside the detention center, which houses approximately 400 residents.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick. “The relationship between National Park College and the Garland County Sheriff’s Office has been substantial. We’re stronger today than we’ve ever been and we’re changing lives on a daily basis.”
“Education is the most powerful tool we have to reduce recidivism and empower individuals to become successful parents, employees and contributing members of our community,” said Bill Ritter, NPC vice president for workforce. “From the very beginning, this program has been built on partnership. We’ve spent 10 years working alongside the Sheriff’s Office, the court system and passionate leaders like Capt. Belinda Cosgrove and Sheriff Mike McCormick, who have championed this mission from the start.”
GCDC operates as a direct supervision facility, where providing structured programs is essential. NPC’s innovative use of technology allows students to access educational content using the college’s computers while remaining within the secure facility. The detention center also serves as an official Pearson VUE GED® testing site, offering incarcerated individuals the chance to earn their diploma while still in custody.
In recognition of this achievement, GED® graduates are permitted to invite one in-person guest to celebrate their success — a milestone made even more meaningful as all other visitations at the detention center are conducted virtually.
Programs started at GCDC can be continued at NPC’s main campus upon release, ensuring that education, job readiness and career preparation extend beyond incarceration. NPC also partners with employers in Garland County and surrounding areas to connect students with felon-friendly job opportunities.
“The work being done at the Garland County Detention Center reflects our mission of learning and student success,” said NPC President Dr. Wade Derden. “We want every member of this community to have the best chance at success in life. Our team works hard to create meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in education at every level, and this program is a perfect example of that commitment.”
NPC’s Adult Education programs are offered to the community at no cost, both inside the detention center and at locations across Garland County.
For more information about Adult Basic Education, visit np.edu/AdultEd or call 501.760.4335.
Pictures: Both pictures are from the first cohort of graduates 10 years ago.