Letter to Hon. Kathy Hochel, Governor of New York, Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader of New York State Senate, and Carl Heastie, Speaker of the New York State Assembly - Members of New York Congressional Delegation Back Including Tuition Assistance for Incarcerated New Yorkers in Gov. Hochul's State Budget

Letter

"Dear Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie:

We write as Members of the New York State Congressional delegation to express our support for lifting the ban on Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards for incarcerated individuals. Since its inception in 1974, TAP has been a lifeline for generations of New Yorkers of low- to middle-income backgrounds that pursue higher education degrees in our state.

In 2020, Congress voted to restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students following a 25-year ban. This bipartisan federal reform is a bold step towards college affordability and accessibility for all students. With the restoration of Pell eligibility, we believe it is critical that the State seize this momentum and restore TAP eligibility for incarcerated students. Allowing incarcerated students to benefit from TAP is a long overdue and straightforward action that builds opportunity, promotes equity, strengthens democracy, and affirms our commitment to racial justice in New York State.

We applaud Governor Hochul's decision to lift the ban on TAP for incarcerated students in the State's annual budget. We also support legislative efforts in the State Assembly (A2322) and State Senate (S4464) to codify TAP for incarcerated individuals into law. Currently, an estimated 1,578 New Yorkers in prison are eligible for TAP grants to support their education. Restoring TAP for incarcerated individuals would account for less than 1% of the overall $1.1B TAP budget and will deliver an estimated four to five dollar return on investment for every dollar spent per individual. Restoring TAP for incarcerated students will also fill equity gaps for incarcerated New Yorkers and those who await reentry into society, including:

Reducing recidivism and increasing public safety: People who participate in college-in-prison programs are 43 percent less likely to recidivate than individuals who do not participate in such programs.3 Over the past 20 years, 90 percent of alumni from one program in New York, the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), have never returned to prison -- an overwhelming improvement from the state's average recidivism rate of 40 percent in three years. The recidivism rate for BPI students who earned an associate's degree is 8.7 percent, and for those who earned a bachelor's degree, the rate falls to 3.1 percent.
Providing economic opportunities: Employment rates are higher among formerly incarcerated workers who have participated in an educational program while in prison compared to those who had not participated in one. In New York, 85 percent of BPI students are employed within 60 days of their release from prison.
Narrowing gaps in educational quality and outcomes: Higher education remains the best means for economic security and upward mobility. 69 percent of incarcerated adults express interest in obtaining a college degree, yet less than five percent have the ability to obtain one. These benefits have been shown to pass on to children of incarcerated college students, who are more likely to pursue a degree themselves.
Strengthening democracy by encouraging civic engagement: Empirical research demonstrates a strong correlation between higher education and overall civic engagement.7 With access to higher education, justice-impacted individuals can create meaningful solutions for themselves, their children, and their peers.
Affirming New York's commitment to racial justice: Black and Brown communities are disproportionately represented in the prison system. Providing higher education in prison helps reverse negative outcomes linked to the overcriminalization of marginalized people.
Restoring TAP for incarcerated individuals will give New York a chance to demonstrate its commitment to social justice, equity, and fairness. We strongly support its inclusion in the State budget this year and appreciate your consideration of this request.