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Re-Instatement of Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students: Implications for CS Education

Published: 16 May 2024 Publication History

Abstract

The US incarcerates more people, and at a higher rate, than any other country in the world---predominantly low-income people of color. Higher education in prison (HEP) has a powerful impact on justice-impacted people, improving their quality of life during incarceration and reducing their likelihood of returning to prison post-release. HEP nearly disappeared in 1994 after Pell Grant eligibility was eliminated for incarcerated students, which was recently reinstated. More computing educators can reach incarcerated students with digital literacy skills, core computing content, and critical analyses of the impacts of computing on society. CS education researchers can also support the growth of CS education in prisons, and influence policies restricting technology infrastructure.

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    RESPECT 2024: Proceedings of the 2024 on RESPECT Annual Conference
    May 2024
    321 pages
    ISBN:9798400706264
    DOI:10.1145/3653666
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License.

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    Published: 16 May 2024

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    1. computing education
    2. diversity
    3. higher education in prisons

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