2023 Pell Grant Cycle
The U.S. Department of Education launched the Second Chance Pell Program in 2015 under the Obama Administration. This important program allows incarcerated individuals to receive federal student aid in order to pursue two- or four-year college degrees. Through this nationwide expansion, prison education programs put into effect the ideal that quality education truly is life-changing and is, furthermore, a right which should be available to all. As well, postsecondary prison education efforts have been shown to increase public safety, increase employment, and save taxpayer dollars long-term.
When the Second Chance Pell Program began in 2015, it reached more than 130 colleges and universities. This program was a step towards prison rehabilitation efforts and whose values directly opposed the previous “tough on crime” model from the 1994 Crime Bill—which destroyed hundreds of programs around the country. Seeing the importance of this support, the U.S. Department of Education recently announced an even greater expansion of the Pell program, which will consist of a total of 200 colleges and universities across 48 states, including more historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions. The Pell program’s expansion will encourage greater reach geographically and greater diversity among participating institutions. In growing program networks and thus the spotlight surrounding prison education, this expansion is also expected to lend insight into best practices for the growing prison education field.
One university in Indiana, Holy Cross College, has been selected to participate in the Second Chance Pell Program. In 2016, professors from Holy Cross College and the University of Notre Dame formed the Moreau College Initiative (MCI) to serve the population at Westville Correctional Facility in Westville, IN. The program offers an Associate of Arts degree and six different Bachelor of Arts degrees, and all are granted by Holy Cross College. The already-impressive program is expected to grow and expand its resources even more in future years.
Holy Cross Selected by Second Chance Pell Grant Program
Local Prison-Related Organizations and Resources
Midwest Pages to Prisoners
The Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project is an all-volunteer effort that strives to encourage self-education among prisoners in the United States.
PO Box 1324
Bloomington, IN 47402
812-727-0155
mwpp@pagestoprisoners.org
Middle Way House
Middle Way House works to support all survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; and to educate the community through outreach and prevention programs.
PO Box 95
Bloomington, IN 47402
812-333-7404 (Admin)
812-336-0846 (Crisis Line)
middlewayhouse.org
Centerstone
Addiction & Psychiatric treatment, Children & Family Counseling, Crisis and Urgent Care, Housing services and more.
645 South Rogers Street
Bloomington, IN 47403
800-344-8802 (Main)
https://centerstone.org/locations/indiana/facilities/centerstone-bloomington-south-rogers-street/
Hope for Prisoners Task Force
Hope for Prisoners assists with reentry by providing the formerly incarcerated long-term support and services as they work to reclaim their lives, families and standing in the community.
333 N Rancho Dr, Second Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-586-1371 (Office)
info@hopeforprisoners.org
hopeforprisoners.org/
New Leaf, New Life
Through our work inside and outside the jail, we are building a stronger community and offering hope and opportunity to our neighbors affected by incarceration.
1010 S. Walnut St., Suite H
Bloomington, IN 47401
812-355-6842
https://newleafnewlife.org/
Indiana Prison Writers Workshop
Our creative writing workshop offers an outlet for justice-involved individuals to write and express.
Indiana Prison Writers Workshop
P.O. Box 44623
Indianapolis, IN 46244
http://inprisonwritersworkshop.org/
Courage to Change
Courage to Change is a 12-step based, low barrier, sober living environment centered in Bloomington, IN and surrounding counties.
812-391-5440
https://couragetochangehouse.org/
Read-to-Me Literacy Program
Through this program, offenders discover the personal value and personal connections for both the child and themselves in developing literacy skills.
Mary Goetze, kidswithabsentparents@gmail.com
https://www.in.gov/library/icb/RTM/