Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will expand the Second Chance Pell experiment for the 2022-2023 award year.

Margaret diZerega, director of the Vera Institute of Justice’s Unlocking Potential Initiative, issued the following statement in response:

“Five years ago, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Second Chance Pell (SCP) Experimental Sites Initiative—a historic pilot program aimed at ensuring people in prison could access postsecondary education courses through federal Pell Grants.

While we eagerly await the Department of Education's full implementation of the reversal of the Pell ban, Vera is excited to welcome additional colleges into the SCP program. Expanding high-quality postsecondary education in prison is a proven strategy that helps to address racial equity, improves safety, and expands opportunity in our country. We are grateful to the Department of Education for its continued commitment to students in prison.”