National participation in a nationwide endeavor to broaden post-secondary education prospects for people with previous justice involvement
Expanding Opportunities for Justice-Impacted Students: A Multi-State Initiative
In a significant move towards education equity, five states – Kentucky, Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Virginia – have been selected to participate in a one-year learning community aimed at improving postsecondary opportunities for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. The initiative, known as the Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students project, is a collaborative effort involving several key organizations.
The Vera Institute for Justice and Ascendium Education Group are the primary partners in this initiative, with the Vera Institute providing its expertise in criminal justice reform and Ascendium Education Group providing financial support. The project's goals align closely with the missions of these organizations, which focus on enhancing access to postsecondary education for justice-impacted students and promoting systemic equity.
In Kentucky, the state team includes representatives from the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and the Kentucky Department of Corrections. The initiative will support these state teams in assessing current prison education program policies to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
The initiative's purpose is to foster collaboration across states and institutions, support leadership development, expand resources tailored to justice-impacted learners, and advocate for equitable policies and funding. It aims to address systemic disparities in funding and policy that affect education and reentry success for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.
The scope of the project includes supporting partnerships between higher education institutions and Departments of Corrections to enable effective delivery of postsecondary education in prisons and during reentry. It also involves building leadership and professional development opportunities for justice-impacted students, creating shared databases and curricula designed for the unique needs of these populations, and engaging multiple state education and corrections agencies to coordinate efforts across justice-impacted populations.
While the specific details of this particular project are not explicitly stated, the description strongly aligns with the goals of the Research Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (RCHEP) and the types of programs that Vera Institute for Justice and Ascendium Education Group support. Thus, the project aims to systematically improve education pathways and equity for justice-impacted individuals through state-level collaboration, resource development, leadership training, and advocacy, leveraging the expertise and networks of multiple state agencies, institutions, and justice organizations.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the reinstatement of Pell-grant eligibility for incarcerated students in 2023 has opened the door for postsecondary programs targeting this population. The Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students project is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of many individuals, helping them contribute to their communities and Kentucky's workforce upon reentry.
[1] Vera Institute for Justice. (n.d.). Our Work. https://www.vera.org/our-work
[2] Ascendium Education Group. (n.d.). Our Work. https://www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org/our-work/
- This initiative, the Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students project, is part of a nationwide effort, particularly in Kentucky, Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Virginia, to boost education opportunities for individuals affected by the criminal justice system, aligning with the Education-and-Self-Development sector.
- The project, involving the Vera Institute for Justice and Ascendium Education Group, aims to address policy-and-legislation regarding education access and self-development for justice-impacted individuals, drawing on their expertise and resources.
- As the reentry of Pell-grant eligibility for incarcerated students in 2023 presents a significant opportunity, the Advancing Postsecondary Success for Justice-Impacted Students project is expected to play a pivotal role in the General-News, fostering education equity, and contributing to Kentucky's workforce by enabling justice-impacted individuals to bring their unique skills and knowledge back to their communities.
