2023-25 Chair’s Initiative on Education Access for Justice-Impacted Individuals

The 2023-25 Chair’s Initiative, led by Governor Laura Kelly, Education Commission of the States’ Chair, focuses on creating access to quality education opportunities for individuals in the justice system. The Initiative will highlight state policy levers that reduce barriers to education, including a focus on funding, governance, student supports and workforce development.

“As state leaders and policymakers, we have a responsibility to provide high-quality educational opportunities to all our citizens, no matter where they might be in their educational journey. Far too often, individuals impacted by the justice system are overlooked and provided only limited educational services, despite the evidence that investing in educational and workforce training opportunities lowers costs for states and reduces recidivism.

Through this initiative, we will work to support states and policymakers to transform their criminal justice systems from ones that are punitive to ones that serve as hubs of educational innovation that prepare individuals to successfully reintegrate into society with a high-quality education, employment prospects, and the skills needed to fully participate in their communities.”
– Gov. Laura Kelly

Resource Bank

State Financial Aid Barriers for Students Impacted by the Justice System: an overview of state financial aid access for students enrolled in prison postsecondary education programs or students with prior criminal convictions who are enrolled in postsecondary education outside of prison.
State Governance Models for Educating Youth in Juvenile Detention Facilities: an in-depth look at three types of governance models that states use to administer and oversee education services in juvenile detention facilities and examples from 14 states to illustrate each type.
50-State Comparison: State Financial Aid Barriers for Students Impacted by the Justice System: a comparison that identifies which states have barriers that cause students impacted by the justice system not to have access to state financial aid.