Georgia Prison Education Funding: Current Policies

Prison education programs in Georgia reduce recidivism by 43% and help inmates reintegrate into society. However, funding challenges and policy changes have limited their reach. Key points:

Current Issues: Budget cuts (e.g., $24.4M in FY 2024), compliance costs for Pell Grants, and staffing shortages.
Funding Sources: Federal grants (like a $1.6M grant to Morehouse College), state appropriations, and institutional funds.
Impact: In 2023, 38 bachelor’s and 87 associate’s degrees were awarded, but over 48,000 inmates lack access to education.

Georgia must address these gaps by allocating more of its $372M prison budget to education, simplifying policies, and building partnerships between colleges and prisons.

GSU cancels prison education program despite student success

Current Funding Status

The funding situation for prison education in Georgia has seen major shifts, with both growth and setbacks shaping the landscape. One of the most notable setbacks was the closure of Georgia State University‘s Prison Education Project, driven by a $24.4 million budget cut for FY 2024. Unfortunately, even more cuts are expected in 2025 ^[5].

2023-2024 Policy Changes

Recent changes in policies have made it harder to maintain prison education programs. New federal Pell Grant rules have added layers of administrative work, creating challenges for institutions trying to keep these programs running ^[4]. Although the state’s prison system received an additional $372 million in funding, only a small fraction of that was allocated to education.

Some of the key effects include:

Higher administrative costs due to Pell Grant compliance
Minimal state funding directed toward education programs
University budget cuts forcing program closures

State vs. National Funding

While 44 states are making progress in expanding college-in-prison programs thanks to the reinstated Pell Grants, Georgia is facing distinct hurdles. These include costs tied to compliance and gaps in funding ^[4]. Ruth Delaney, director of the Unlocking Potential Initiative, highlights the mixed outcomes:

While some institutions have struggled to comply with federal regulations, many are expanding their programs, and there is a significant demand for these educational opportunities among incarcerated individuals ^[4].

For public universities in Georgia, Pell Grants often don’t cover the full cost of tuition, leaving schools to find other ways to bridge the shortfall ^[4]. Former inmate Jason Dolensek emphasizes the importance of education for those reentering society:

Do you want us on the correct path with support, with goals, ambitions and everything else? Or do you want us to get out aimless with no support, not knowing what to do and how to go forward? ^[5]

This funding gap highlights the pressing need for updated policies and creative solutions to ensure incarcerated individuals can access impactful educational opportunities.

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Main Problems

Georgia’s prison education programs face challenges that make it tough to deliver quality education and support student success. These issues are tied to both funding shortfalls and logistical struggles, limiting access and effectiveness for incarcerated learners.

Money Limitations

Funding is a major obstacle for prison education in Georgia. For example, Georgia State University’s Prison Education Project had to stop accepting new students due to the high costs of meeting Pell Grant requirements. Even Morehouse College’s program, despite receiving a $1.6 million federal grant, struggles to grow. The program relies heavily on volunteer professors and lacks resources for essential materials, making expansion difficult ^[1]. These examples highlight how limited funding directly impacts the reach and quality of these programs.

But money isn’t the only issue. Operational challenges, like staffing shortages, further complicate things.

Staff and Supply Gaps

Staffing shortages, worsened by tight budgets, are another roadblock. Behavioral health counselors, who play an important role in these programs, earn less than $49,000 annually, making it hard to attract and keep qualified professionals ^[3]. On top of that, limited budgets mean there’s not enough money for educational tools and infrastructure.

"If you have a college degree, that’s going to really help your reentry into society, which is to everybody’s advantage … because they’re going to stay out of prison and get a job and pay tax revenue rather than being a drain on the system." – Peter Lindsay, Philosophy and Political Science Professor, Georgia State University ^[1]

While Governor Kemp’s proposed $372 million prison budget offers some hope, it’s unclear how much will go toward education specifically ^[3]^[2]. These challenges are troubling, especially since prison education programs reduce the likelihood of reoffending by 43% compared to those who don’t participate ^[1]. Solving these issues is critical to unlocking the full potential of these programs.

Next Steps

Needed Policy Updates

Georgia needs to update its policies to improve funding and expand access to prison education programs. Clear standards should be set to ensure these programs meet federal requirements while maintaining high quality ^[4].

Key priorities include:

Allocating part of the $372 million prison budget to education initiatives and building partnerships between state universities and correctional facilities.
Creating straightforward pathways for credit transfer and program accreditation.

David Thomas, President of Morehouse College, shed light on the financial challenges:

"Up until this current grant, Morehouse was having to do this out of our own operating dollars" ^[1].

Advocacy tools like Impact Justice AI can help push these policy changes forward.

New Advocacy Tools

Innovative tools are available to support advocacy efforts. Impact Justice AI, for example, helps users create evidence-based messages to influence government officials and decision-makers about prison education funding and reforms.

Ruth Delaney, director of the Unlocking Potential Initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice, highlights the importance of public state universities in prison education ^[4]. Research by the institute indicates that at least 750,000 incarcerated individuals nationwide are academically prepared for college programs ^[4].

Georgia can draw inspiration from other states. According to the Vera Institute, 44 states are expanding college-in-prison programs following the reinstatement of Pell Grants ^[4]. Georgia has the chance to adopt successful strategies while also developing its own methods to fund and deliver these programs.

A pressing issue is the rising operational costs. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute reports that prison system expenses have grown by nearly 70% over the past 20 years, even though the incarcerated population has stayed relatively stable ^[6]. This underscores the need for better resource allocation and creative funding solutions to support these education programs effectively.

Moving Forward

In 2023, Georgia prisons saw 38 bachelor’s degrees and 87 associate’s degrees awarded, but over 48,000 incarcerated individuals still lack access to educational programs ^[1]. The success of Morehouse College’s initiative shows there’s a proven way to expand these opportunities throughout the state’s prison system ^[1].

To improve prison education programs, efforts should focus on:

Building partnerships between correctional facilities and colleges
Securing federal funding while developing reliable state funding plans
Using advocacy tools like Impact Justice AI to push for policy changes

The Georgia Department of Corrections is actively seeking new partners, creating opportunities for colleges to grow their prison education programs ^[1]. With collaboration among state agencies, advocacy organizations, and policymakers, Georgia has the chance to create a stronger, more effective system that benefits both individuals and the broader community.

Education in prisons has been shown to significantly lower recidivism rates, making it an area worth further investment and growth ^[1]. By addressing current gaps and adopting creative approaches, Georgia can maximize the impact of its prison education programs.