Governor Laura Kelly saying that participation in post-secondary education at Kansas adult correctional facilities has increased by more than 50% over the past year.

As of November, 2022, all nine Kansas Consortium of Correctional Higher Education (KCCHE) member colleges have been accepted to the U.S. Department of Education PELL Experimental Site Initiative, which provides need-based Pell grants to people in prison. Because of these partnerships, Kansas now leads the country as the only state to provide Pell-eligible college programming in every adult correctional facility.

“Research shows that when people have access to correctional education, they’re more likely to get and hold down a job, avoid returning to prison, and successfully rebuild their lives post-release,” the Governor said. “By expanding affordable educational opportunities in our correctional facilities, we’re making Kansas a safer, more prosperous place for us all.”

There are currently 22 higher learning programs available in all adult correctional facilities within Kansas. Programs vary from career and technical education to associate degrees in a variety of studies and bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems and business administration or management. Today, there are 545 students enrolled in college courses, with 46 in bachelor’s degree programs, 338 in associate’s degree programs, and 161 students in Certificate or Certified Technical Education programs.

The colleges and universities offering these programs include Washburn University, University of Saint Mary, Barton Community College, Butler Community College, Colby Community College, Cowley Community College, Donnelly College, Hutchinson Community College, and Kansas City Kansas Community College.