Education while incarcerated in Kansas can lead to post-prison success. Federally funded Pell Grants will help.
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Jeff Zmuda, Secretary for the Kansas Department of Corrections
January 30, 2021
Key Points:
- Full access to federally funded Pell Grants has been restored for incarcerated individuals. That means incarcerated Kansans can once again apply for federal Pell Grants to pay for college courses and career technical education programs.
- It’s a wise investment for our society and state. A recent study by the Rand Corporation indicates for every $1 invested in higher education for incarcerated students, taxpayers save — on average — between $4 and $5 in three-year reincarceration costs.
- Many individuals in our prisons have become disenfranchised through the criminal justice system and the educational system. Pell grants alone aren’t the answer, but with wider access and availability to training and education, hundreds of individuals who will one day return to Kansas communities will no longer lack the training to fill good jobs that provide a livable wage. In turn this directly benefits local and state economies and improves the quality of life for all involved.