The purpose of this fact sheet is to outline the Department of Education’s requirements that will be effective on July 1, 2023, at 34 CFR 668 Subpart P for nationally recognized institutional accrediting agencies for its accredited institutions to establish eligibility of a prison education program (PEP).

As of July 1, 2023, a confined or incarcerated individual is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if they enroll in an eligible prison education program (PEP). This fact sheet provides more information for postsecondary schools about the approval process for a postsecondary program to become an eligible PEP.

This form is to be completed by institutions of higher education or postsecondary vocational institutions applying to the Department of Education for approval of a prison education program (PEP) in collaboration with the appropriate state department of corrections or other entity responsible for overseeing correctional facilities or the Federal Bureau of Prisons, if applicable.

Postsecondary institutions use the E-App to apply for designation as an eligible institution, and for initial participation, recertification, reinstatement, or change in ownership, or to update a current approval. Updates include changes such as name or address change, new location or program, increased level of offering, change of officials, or mailing address for publications.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. You use the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid, such as grants, work study, and loans. In addition, most states and colleges use information from the FAFSA form to award nonfederal aid.

This is a Spanish translation of an existing application. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid process. You use the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid, such as grants, work-study, and loans. In addition, most states and colleges use information from the FAFSA form to award nonfederal aid.

This is the full text of the FAFSA Simplification Act, as passed by the 116th Congress.

This webinar presents research and professional perspectives on the use of technology in prison education programs. The discussion covers how programs can be intentional and thoughtful in their use of technology, how corrections departments can navigate technology vetting and protocols, and how programs can adjust to unexpected circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This webinar offers an introduction to postsecondary education in prison programs. Experts in the field discuss guiding principles for designing and implementing effective programming.

This is a report summarizing findings from an evaluation of the Vera Institute of Justice's Renewing Communities initiative between 2016 and 2019. The findings of Vera’s study, summarized here, draw on program data from, and student surveys administered at, all 14 sites. In-depth qualitative research was conducted at five of the community-based programs, housed at different colleges and universities across California.

Drawing on the experiences of the first group of Second Chance Pell colleges, this toolkit, drafted in collaboration with the Chemeketa Community College, is designed to aid new and existing participants as they guide students through the complexities of filing for federal financial aid in prison, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA.

By surveying state financial aid laws, regulations, and practices, this report highlights the barriers to financial aid for incarcerated students, reviews available funding sources, suggests ways to incorporate state financial aid into a suite of funding, and provides a state-by-state listing of need- and merit-based aid programs.

This report, which is the result of a collaborative effort with the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, 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.

This report describes the design and implementation of the Vera Institute of Justice's Unlocking Potential: Pathways From Prison to Postsecondary Education project. It also outlines the experiences of Pathways partners and students and provides recommendations on policy and practice for college programs with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students.

Fresh Start is a one-time, temporary program from the U.S. Department of Education that offers special benefits for borrowers with defaulted federal student loans. Fresh Start automatically gives you some benefits, such as restoring access to federal student aid grants and post-release loans, but you need to act to claim the full benefits of Fresh Start and get out of default.

This webinar asks justice-impacted college graduates to reflect on their educational experience—the challenges encountered as they worked toward earning their degrees, the services they found helpful, and what the future of college in prison programming should look like.

This webinar explores the key components, challenges, and possible solutions to delivering high-quality academic advising, specifically for students enrolled in postsecondary education in prison programs. Panelists share how their institutions provide counseling services and academic advising in order to support student success in carceral settings.

This panel focuses on the impact of the Second Chance Pell Experiment and the expansion of Pell access. Panelists speak about their involvement with the Second Chance Pell Experiment, the value of financial aid, and what colleges and departments of corrections need to know in order to support the education of incarcerated students.

This fact sheet highlights the effects of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which restores access to Pell Grants for people in prison.

A guide created for colleges and corrections departments seeking to set up new programs to help program coordinators launch a college in prison program—from the decision to undertake this work to the first day of class.