The Correctional Education Association (CEA) was founded in 1930 to provide educational services in correctional settings. This non-profit professional association is the largest affiliate of the American Correctional Association.
The Correctional Education Association is the professional organization for educators who work in adult correctional and juvenile justice facilities internationally. Although based in the United States of America, where most of its members work, it has made great advances in encouraging members from outside the US to become active members from outside the US to become active members of the organization. The CEA provides a host of services to its members. These include the following: a peer-reviewed international journal, a quarterly newsletter, annual membership and resource directory, a satellite-based network for inmate instructional and staff training programs, an accreditation system for prison, jail, and juvenile school programs, a website and listserves for its special interest groups, under-graduate and graduate online courses for educators, and many more services.
Based on the results of his 1928 nationwide survey of prison education, (later published in 1931 as a book entitled The Education of Adult Prisoners: A Survey and a Program), Austin H. MacCormick, Assistant Director, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, organized in 1930 a standing committee on education within the American Prison Association (now the American Correctional Association). The Standing Committee on Education published its first journal from 1937 to 1940 entitled Correctional Education. In 1945, the Standing Committee on Education organized the Correctional Education Association (CEA) at the 76th Congress of the American Prison Association. In 1946, CEA was formally recognized with Price Chenault elected as the first President. In 1949, The Journal of Correctional Education was reestablished with Chester D. Owens as editor. In 1981, the CEA hired its first Executive Director, Osa Coffey, and established a national office.
In 1986 CEA moved its national office to Maryland from Washington, DC where it remains today. In 2005 CEA purchased its own office. The current address (October 2015) is 12625 Laurel Bowie Road #3430, Laurel, MD 20709. Telephone is 443-459-3080 and the fax number is 443-459-3088. Website: www.ceanational.org. The Acting Executive Director is Morris Dews and the Administrative Assistant is Kiara Wilson.
CEA is divided into 9 regions encompassing both the United States and Canada. There are two international representative seats open on the Executive Board of the CEA. There is one representative for Canada and one for the Rest of the World. The International Representatives relay the issues and subjects of concern from international members to the Executive Board at regular meetings.