The REAL Act aims to make college affordable for incarcerated people. Will Congress pass it?
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When it comes to restoring rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in the U.S., the discussion too often lives and dies around voting rights. And make no mistake: Voting matters. But when it comes to helping formerly incarcerated people staThe REAL Act aims to make college affordable for incarcerated people. Will Congress pass it?
When it comes to restoring rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in the U.S., the discussion too often lives and dies around voting rights. And make no mistake: Voting matters. But when it comes to helping formerly incarcerated people stay out of prison, one of the biggest factors is access to education. Receiving education while incarcerated has also been shown to increase a person’s opportunities for work (and higher pay) after release. But—as is too often the norm—systemic barriers are in place that limit people’s ability to receive an affordable education. Finally, a bipartisan effort is working to change that. And the resulting bill is moving closer to Congress. For decades, incarcerated people have not had access to federal Pell Grants. Pell Grants are need-based financial grants meant to support low-income people in pursuing higher education. Pell Grants are not loans, so they don’t need to be paid back. There are a number of requirements for recipients of Pell Grants, but generally they go to students who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree and whose families’ annual income is below $50,000. They can be applied to fall, spring, or summer courses, and the amount the student receives varies based on the cost of their particular institution. These grants can also go toward expenses such as books. Basically, Pell Grants are immeasurably important. And incarcerated people who would otherwise meet the qualifications for the grant deserve them just as much as anybody else. Read more