A New Era of Prison Education
Preview:
With the restoration of Pell Grant funds for incarcerated students this summer, there’s an opportunity—and an obligation—to improve access to higher education among America’s prison population.
More than 700,000 incarcerated individuals are estimated to be eligible for Pell Grant funds as of this past Saturday, July 1, marking the first time men and women in prisons have had broad access to Pell Grants since 1994, when Congress voted to deny these funds to incarcerated individuals. (Since 2015, a federal pilot program known as Second Chance Pell has allowed access to Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in programs offered by a select group of participating colleges.)
Originally published: July 6, 2023
Author: Judy D. Olian
Position: President
Institution: Quinnipiac University
Published by: Inside Higher Ed