States have used various policy mechanisms to create access to quality education opportunities for individuals who are incarcerated. The previous post in this series highlighted work being done in North Carolina pursuant to an executive order. This post spotlights efforts in New Hampshire that were initiated by the legislature.
After a bipartisan act of Congress reinstated Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated learners as of July 2023, the focus in carceral education circles turned to how states could prepare to create new Pell-eligible prison education programs to meet projected demand.
Inspired by a 2023 report of the New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison, New Hampshire State Sen. David Watters introduced a bill to create a cross-sector planning group to expand access to educational opportunities in carceral facilities statewide. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by then-Gov. Chris Sununu in June 2024.
The planning group established through S.B. 376 includes representation from:
- New Hampshire Department of Corrections.
- Formerly incarcerated individuals.
- New Hampshire Department of Education.
- The University System of New Hampshire.
- The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
- The New England Board of Higher Education.
- The New Hampshire Employment Security.
- The Community College System of New Hampshire.
This diverse group is charged with assessing and improving the education and vocational programs in New Hampshire’s state correctional system.
While Pell reinstatement was the impetus for this statewide initiative, the demonstrated benefits that states and communities reap from expanding learning opportunities for incarcerated individuals has further justified the effort. Indeed, the positive impacts of higher education in prison have been well-documented: from a 48% reduction in recidivism to increased safety within correctional facilities and improved employment outcomes for individuals post-release.
During their 2024 meetings, planning group members identified challenges to expanding incarcerated students’ access and success in postsecondary programs to summarize in their inaugural report to the governor and legislature. The challenges included inadequate technological infrastructure and limited funding and staff capacity in the department of corrections and higher education institutions. The group also identified difficulties with quantifying unmet demand for programs and the need to better understand licensure and certification barriers for individuals with criminal records.
New Hampshire is not unique in wrestling with challenges related to space, staffing and technological resources, but the work that the state is undertaking to surmount these barriers could be pathbreaking. In November 2024, the planning group unanimously voted to be the inaugural state to complete a year-long state strategic planning process with the support of the New England Board of Higher Education’s New England Prison Education Collaborative. Through this process, the group will address identified challenges and develop a roadmap to expand programming, which can serve as a model for other states interested in this work.
Sen. David Watters has high hopes for this phase of the work, which began earlier this month: “As a member of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison, I have seen firsthand the progress that we can realize with New England Board of Higher Education playing the role of convener.”
For New Hampshire Commissioner of Corrections Helen Hanks, this cross-sector work “will bring much-needed planning and resources to support New Hampshire taking a lead — both in expanding educational and vocational opportunities and in multiplying the associated benefits to individuals, communities and the state.”
The state strategic planning process begins with a needs analysis to establish a baseline and identify any major technical assistance gaps. With a comprehensive view of the current state of affairs and with the support of the New England Board of Higher Education and their national network of subject matter experts, the planning group will be empowered to create a guiding vision and set actionable goals to make that vision a reality.
