The First Year of Pell Restoration A Snapshot of Quality, Equity, and Scale in Prison Education Programs
Overview
Pell Grant restoration took effect on July 1, 2023, making incarcerated people in the United States eligible for need-based federal postsecondary financial aid for the first time in nearly 30 years. Since the launch of the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative (SCP) in 2016, more than 45,000 incarcerated students have enrolled in SCP programs. Today, there are more than 750,000 people in prison eligible to enroll in a postsecondary program.
As the landscape of postsecondary education in prison evolves, so does its potential. In this report, the Vera Institute of Justice offers a snapshot of national progress toward implementation using the interconnected domains of quality, equity, and scale through a “balanced scorecard” approach. Drawing on data collected from surveys to SCP colleges and corrections agencies, the report aggregates individual responses to evaluate the adequacy and the system of education offered to incarcerated people. The result is a snapshot of the progress colleges and corrections agencies have made over the first year of this new era of access and opportunity.
Key Takeaway
Serving students in prisons requires collaboration and cooperation across a range of stakeholders. Vera assessed quality, equity, and scale through data aggregated at the level of each jurisdiction. The measures in this report are an invitation for collaboration among stakeholders with the goal of offering high quality programs to incarcerated people.
Publication Highlights
Making high-quality programs available across an entire system creates the strongest possibility that all interested people will have a chance to enroll and earn a credential.
Research indicates that people who enroll in postsecondary programs in prison see higher earnings and reduced recidivism when they return home.
Every jurisdiction has at least one strength and at least one area in which they could enhance their practices. Areas of growth include student services, technology, post-release opportunities, and completion rates.