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

This AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A was updated on October 1, 2024 to announce that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has discontinued the Prison Education Program Application, Application for Postsecondary Institutions and Oversight Entities and implemented an updated application process through the E-App.

No. According to the September 30, 2024 Electronic Announcement (GENERAL-24-118), updating the electronic Application to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (E-App) and providing all supporting documentation following the instructions in this announcement is the only requirement to apply for Prison Education Program (PEP) eligibility. A separate PEP Application is no longer required, but eligible schools must use the E-App to report or request approval of a PEP.

This announcement provides updated general guidance to schools interested in applying to operate an eligible PEP. It also explains the process for submitting PEPs on the E-App. GENERAL-24-118 replaces the guidance in the June 30, 2023 Electronic Announcement (GENERAL-23-52). See GENERAL-24-118 for more information on the updated process.

ED provided an overview of the PEP requirements in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-23-05.

For more information, see the Prison Education Programs resources webpage and submit questions to ED at [email protected].