How the GED/Literacy Program Works at FCI Texarkana: A Guide for Families
If your loved one is at FCI Texarkana without a verified high school diploma or GED, education usually isn't optional. Here's how the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Literacy Program works, what "required" actually means, and how you can support them through it.
The GED/literacy track at FCI Texarkana follows the Bureau of Prisons Literacy Program - a national program standardized across all BOP facilities. The core rules, enrollment expectations, and consequences for dropping out aren't made up by each prison. They're set by national policy. For families, that consistency is helpful: the basic structure should look similar whether your loved one is at Texarkana or transferred somewhere else.
Note: The BOP states that all Bureau facilities offer the Literacy Program, which includes GED preparation for people who need it.
Literacy classes typically run Monday through Friday across BOP facilities. Exact times vary by institution and can depend on housing or work assignments. If you're wondering why your loved one is harder to reach on weekdays, this schedule is usually why.
Each class session runs at least 1½ hours per day. This isn't a quick check-the-box program - there's a real daily time commitment built into how the BOP runs literacy education.
People without a confirmed GED or high school diploma are generally required to enroll in the Literacy Program. The requirement stays in place until they earn a GED or complete at least 240 instructional hours. Even if your loved one is motivated and moving fast, there's still a minimum amount of instruction the BOP expects - unless they qualify for an exception.
Key point: If your loved one doesn’t have a confirmed GED/high school diploma, participation is generally required for at least 240 instructional hours - or until they earn the GED.
Not everyone has to attend. The BOP exempts several groups from the Literacy Program: pretrial inmates, people committed for study and observation under specific federal statutes, sentenced deportable aliens, and those staff determine are temporarily unable to participate due to special circumstances beyond their control.
Some exceptions are temporary. If someone is exempt due to special circumstances, the BOP can require them to start - or restart - literacy programming once those circumstances no longer apply.
If your loved one is thinking about dropping the program, the stakes are real. People who withdraw before earning a GED get restricted to the lowest pay level and can't vest or earn the maximum Good Conduct Time. If they're frustrated or embarrassed about school, remind them: staying enrolled isn't just about education. It affects their money and their time.
- ✓ Encourage your loved one to stay with the Literacy Program until they finish what’s required.
- ✓ Ask them what their current class schedule looks like so you can support their routine.
- ✓ Request progress updates directly from them (test dates, milestones, or how many hours they’ve completed).
- ✓ If you need clarity on how the program runs there, confirm details with the institution - every BOP facility offers the Literacy Program, but local logistics can differ.
Tip: Since literacy classes are typically Monday–Friday and run at least 1½ hours per day, encourage your loved one to build a steady weekday routine around class time - and double-check local timing at the facility.
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