- Most people in prison are eligible for, but are not provided with the resources for, a postsecondary education.
- Postsecondary education in prison increases employment and earnings for formerly incarcerated people.
- Postsecondary education in prison provides workers with skills that employers seek.
- Greater access to postsecondary education in prison is expected to reduce state prison spending.
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Abstract:
This report describes how lifting the current ban on awarding Pell Grants to incarcerated people would benefit workers, employers, and states.
This report describes how lifting the current ban on awarding Pell Grants to incarcerated people would benefit workers, employers, and states. Specifically, it analyzes the potential employment and earnings impact of postsecondary education programs in prison; identifies the millions of job openings annually that require the skills a person in prison could acquire through postsecondary education; and estimates the money states would save through lower recidivism rates these postsecondary education programs would yield. The research produced the following findings:
Descriptive Research
What the experts say
Investing in Futures makes a sound and compelling case for the reinstatement of Pell Grant support for men and women behind the walls of our prisons. The authors artfully link post-secondary education to recidivism, and outline the economic impact of opening this funding opportunity to those who are incarcerated. While the estimate of the percentage of inmates who will take advantage of this funding opportunity may be high, the impact nonetheless would be significant. The report provides sound data and research-based findings on the impact of higher education, not only on the offender's economic opportunities, but more importantly in the public mind, on society's economic and fiscal outcomes. It takes the debate narrative from one of emotion to facts and data.
On the downside, the authors do not address the practical difficulties that men and women face in actually registering and completing postsecondary programming in our prison systems and a look inside our correctional education system could yield insight into the outcomes that might result from Pell Grant support. There is little information that adult education administrators, educators, or support staff can utilize to inform practice. While it is clearly indicated that Pell Grants and accessibility to higher education provide long term benefits for incarcerated individuals, there is no information related to Adult Learners and how to move a potential student from an AE class to Postsecondary Education.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2019
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Abstract:
As correctional and reentry education continues to evolve, the field stands at a pivotal moment shaped by technological innovation, policy reform, and a growing recognition of the power of education to transform lives. In this webinar, Jeffrey Abramowitz, returning citizen, educator, administrator, and subject matter expert—will explore emerging trends and challenges in correctional and reentry education. Drawing from lived experience, participants will examine new approaches to technology integration, workforce development, digital literacy, and postrelease support. Original webinar date: March 12, 2026 Webinar recording link: https://youtu.be/U5XHmrkX2oU
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Abstract:
Correctional educators often work in isolation, navigating complex security protocols, restricted technology, and high student turnover with limited resources and financial support. This webinar introduces COABEs new Transforming Correctional Education Community of Practice (CoP), and information about the inaugural cohort, which will support the Community of Practice. We invite on-the-ground correctional educators to join the Community of Practice, which is designed to reduce professional isolation, strengthen instructional quality, and foster shared expertise across states. Grounded in three core pillars—cultivating excellence, fostering a trusted community, and developing shared practice—this session highlights how COABE is helping to build a collaborative network that can transform both educator experience and student outcomes in correctional settings. Participants will explore how a strategic partnership with COABE can serve as a force multiplier through national advocacy, professional development, and resource sharing. The session outlines an actionable implementation roadmap for the new cohort, along with measurable success indicators, and opportunities for leadership engagement. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how the new Correctional Education Community of Practice and Cohort will be launched and the next steps for those interested in joining the inaugural 1-year cohort. Webinar date: March 9, 2026 Webinar recording link: https://youtu.be/9NceYKlzvjc
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Abstract:
This compendium describes nine innovative practices with a holistic approach to adult education services as selected by the Advancing Innovation in Adult Education project.
This compendium describes nine innovative practices selected by the Advancing Innovation in Adult Education project. The practices featured in this compendium represent AE programs’ efforts to provide core AE program services—learner intake, assessment, and instruction—as well as a range of supportive services to engage, motivate, and enable learners to attain their goals for participating in AE. Although the implementation of supportive services such as referral of learners to community agencies for transportation, childcare, and other resources has been a feature of AE programs, what is innovative about the current efforts of the practices highlighted in the compendium is the range of activities they are conducting to assist AE learners and the assumptions of the AE programs implementing the practices about the necessity to support AE learners as broadly as possible to help ensure their success.
Benefits and Uses
This compendium describes the nine innovative practices selected from the third round of applications that adult education (AE) programs submitted in January 2021. These practices illustrate how AE programs can enhance the likelihood of learners’ success by implementing a holistic approach to adult education services. A variety of stakeholders will find this information useful, including AE state staff; AE program administrators, instructors, and staff; workforce development staff; federal agency staff; and AE researchers.
Required Training
No prior training is required.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2021
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Abstract:
This Guide is designed for people who are incarcerated and for those on community supervision (probation and parole) to help them get started—or continue—on the path to further education and training.
The Take Charge guide is designed for people who have been incarcerated, and for those on community supervision (probation and parole). It will help them begin-or continue-on the path toward furthering their education or training.
Benefits and Uses
The updated version of the Take Charge of Your Future guide provides an overview of the current education and training landscape to help target audience make informed decisions about their next steps in a career pathway. It includes tips for finding community resources and profiles of and advice from formerly incarcerated individuals about the importance of education and training in their lives.
Required Training
None
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2022
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Abstract:
This resource explores the technical, instructional, and other components necessary for expanding the use of technology in correctional education programs.
This resource is designed to help education and corrections leaders understand key issues in adopting and integrating technology to support instruction in jails and prisons. It describes the components of a state correctional education technology ecosystem (the who, what, why, and how of technology use), profiles four state ecosystems, and provides a discussion guide for exploring the policy and technical components needed to further expand the use of technology in correctional education programs.
Benefits and Uses
This resource is an update to Educational Technology in Corrections 2015, which described how correctional facilities provide access to technology for education programs. With the acceleration of technology use due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reinstatement of Pell Grants, and other legislation, this updated brief and discussion guide focuses on technology access and use in correctional education (e.g., adult education, career and technical education, and postsecondary education). It illustrates how technology use should be student-centered and aligned to instructional goals. The final section, the Discussion Guide, provides a tool for guiding state-level conversations about the policy and technical components needed to develop a state correctional education technology ecosystem. Corrections and education leaders can use this resource to understand the technical and other components necessary to further expand the use of technology in correctional education programs. For example, they also can use it to answer questions related to device selection/maintenance, funding, security, staffing and teacher development, student preparation, teaching and learning, and vendor selection.
Required Training
Prior training is not required for this resource.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2022
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Abstract:
This guide summarizes considerations, tools, and examples that can be used by state and facility administrators and instructors as they develop and implement IET programs in jails and prisons.
When aligned with career pathways and other education and training programs in the community, IET programs offered in prisons and jails enable participants to make significant progress toward their education and training goals that can be continued after release. This guide summarizes lessons learned from the IET in Corrections project and serves as a companion to the IET Design Toolkit. It offers considerations, tools, and examples for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating IET programs in prisons and jails, designed to supplement the guidance provided in the Toolkit.
Benefits and Uses
IET programs continue to gain momentum in adult education as a strategy for combining adult education and literacy, workforce training, and workforce preparation to offer contextualized instruction for learners. Since 2020, OCTAE has supported the development and implementation of IET programs in prisons and jails to help address the foundational and occupational skill needs of adults impacted by incarceration. IET offers important benefits to correctional education participants, such as accelerated learning, access to career pathways, and contextualized instruction. This guide summarizes lessons learned from early experiences developing IET programs for correctional education settings and can help correctional education staff to apply IET guidance to their specific context.
The guide also is being used to support OCTAE’s recent project designed to provide technical assistance (TA) to 36 states as they develop and implement IET programs in corrections. Participating states – and others – can potentially use the guide to complement information offered in the IET Design Toolkit as they develop, plan, implement, and evaluate IET programs in corrections.
Useful features of the guide include: considerations for developing and implementing IET programs in corrections related to each phase of IET design; examples from pilot states’ experiences developing IET programs in corrections; and tools for developing state policy guidance, making the case for IET in corrections, and understanding partner and staff roles in each phase of IET design and implementation.
Required Training
Prior training is not recommended for this resource, but it is encouraged to be used in conjunction with the IET Design Toolkit.
Resource Notice
This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.
Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2023
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Abstract:
Tackle one of the toughest hurdles in adult and correctional education: helping those with low reading skills become proficient readers and writers. Join this webinar to learn a simple foundational literacy framework to empower non-readers, multilingual learners, and students below 6th-grade reading levels. Discover evidence-based teaching models, valuable resources, and strategies for quickly acquiring skills to decode and comprehend complex texts. Let's remedy the adult reading rift together! Original webinar date: April 25, 2024 Webinar recording link: https://youtu.be/CzOgA3CfF2Q