ACEA Mission Statement

The Alberta Correctional Education Association (ACEA) is dedicated to the academic, vocational and personal development of incarcerated persons and the professional enhancement of Association members.

Core Principles and Guiding Values

Every Person has Potential to Learn

• We believe education contributes to the growth and development of the incarcerated persons by directing the learning process, stimulating intellectual curiosity and promoting lifelong learning.
• We believe education has a responsibility to challenge incarcerated persons’ understanding of themselves, their abilities, values and aspirations while respecting culture, language, spirituality, and tradition.

Every Person has Potential to Become a More Responsible Citizen

• We believe that an effective way to address crime and crime prevention is to provide education that promotes moral, social and personal skills along with a responsibility to self, family and the larger community.
• We believe criminal behaviour is most often a choice; appropriate educational programs influence incarcerated persons to make alternate, prosocial and ethical decisions.
• We believe education promotes incarcerated persons self-discipline, self-worth, self-confidence, values and morals, thereby encouraging responsible citizenship.
• We believe the community has a responsibility to promote, through education, the reintegration of incarcerated persons into society.

Correctional Education is Unique

• We believe correctional education provides holistic education to address the social, moral, personal, vocational cultural and spiritual needs and academic needs of incarcerated persons.
• We believe correctional educators are professionals who have developed skills necessary to teach effectively in a demanding subculture that is security-oriented, high risk and controlled.
• We believe correctional education meets the diverse requirements of numerous stakeholders.

Professional Associations Contribute to Growth and Development of the Members

• We believe the Alberta Correctional Education Association (ACEA) maintains and develops professional standards through the creation and use of its constitution, publications, in-services, research and anticipation of the future needs of its members.
• We believe the sharing and networking of knowledge, ideas, values and experience provided through ACEA and its activities is of benefit to both the members and stakeholders.
• We believe the members of ACEA are the major resource and strength in achieving correctional education mandates.