Is There an Application To Participate In a Prison Education Program?

Yes. There is a Prison Education Program Application, Application for Postsecondary Institutions and Oversight Entities. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced availability of the final version of the application and instructions in the June 30, 2023 Electronic Announcement (GENERAL-23-52). See GENERAL-23-52 for more information. ED also provided an overview of the requirements in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-23-05.

Per the PEP Application:

"This form is to be completed by institutions of higher education or postsecondary vocational institutions (institutions) applying to the Department of Education (Department) 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 (Oversight entity).

Instructions:

• A separate form must be completed for each PEP.
• A postsecondary institution applying for approval of the first PEP at the first two additional locations, must complete all sections of the form.
• A postsecondary institution reporting a subsequent PEP beyond the first PEP at the first two additional locations is not required to complete Section 3. However, all other sections of the form must be completed.
• Both the oversight entity and the postsecondary institution must complete the information in Section 4.

Specific instructions for each section follow, and additional requirements can be found in Section 5 at the end of this form.

If after reviewing the form and consulting our resources webpage you have questions, please email the Department at [email protected]."