2026 “Bridging Pathways” Institute: Supporting Higher Education Opportunities in State Correctional Facilities

The 2026 "Bridging Pathways" Institute: Supporting Higher Education Opportunities in State Correctional Facilities was held on August 10-11^th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, in partnership with the Ascendium Education Group, the event brought together governors' criminal justice policy advisors (CJPAs) and governors education policy advisors (GEPAs) to discuss postsecondary programs in correctional facilities and the dynamics between state correctional departments (DOCs) and institutions of higher education in facilitating and developing these programs.

Over 50 attendees from 18 states and territories attended the Institute, including agency leadership, individuals with lived experience, and subject matter experts. The convening featured panel sessions and presentations on the intersection of higher education and corrections and opportunities for the future growth of postsecondary education programs (PEPs) in carceral settings.

Highlighted Content

During a preconference workshop session, the Urban Institute facilitated a group discussion on the coordinated, bipartisan approaches to preparing incarcerated individuals for employment upon release. Participants identified priority policy actions, implementation challenges, and promising state examples.

Following the preconference workshop, the opening plenary session featured lectures from subject matter experts on the growing body of research around PEPs and existing state initiatives to support and maintain successful programs. During their remarks, presenters offered insights into policy trends and provided a showcase of promising program models to inform attendees about novel approaches. Subsequent panel sessions focused on the perspectives of formerly incarcerated students and leadership in higher education and corrections. The final session featured a group discussion to synthesize attendees' lessons learned and reflections.

In addition to content sessions, select participants had the opportunity to attend an in-person site visit to the SCI-Chester Correctional Facility, a medium-security institution in the Philadelphia area. SCI-Chester offers multiple post-secondary educational programs, including an associate's degree program through Eastern University. During the site visit, participants heard directly from students and staff involved in educational programing and received a tour of the facility.

Key Takeaways

Throughout the two day convening, speakers and participants reflected on some common themes, including:

• The Importance of Community and Stakeholder Buy-In: The impact of educational opportunities on incarcerated students during their sentence and post-release is profound. These positive outcomes are also shared by their families, correctional staff, and local communities. Communicating these benefits through effective data collection and messaging can encourage key stakeholders to remain committed to offering PEPs.
• The Positive Impact of Leadership Involvement: Governors and senior leadership within corrections and higher education can set PEPs as a priority in their states and territories. Support can include organizing a convening or roundtable, highlighting the work of existing programs, and promoting policy change through executive, legislative, or regulatory actions.
• The Power of the First Step: DOC and higher education institutions can start small, with a single class or cohort, to lay the foundation for more robust programs. These early efforts can show proof of concept, demonstrate program efficacy, and get leadership on board for the development of more expansive program offerings.

Next Steps

The "Bridging Pathways" Institute meeting is a part of a multi-year initiative to support PEPs by enhancing the collaboration and coordination of higher education institutions and state DOCs. The Institute meeting will lead directly into the development of a Policy Academy to support states and territories in strengthening the relationship between their departments of higher education and corrections. Goals of this Policy Academy include aligning inter-governmental agency efforts, improving data sharing, and designing career-connected postsecondary pathways for incarcerated students. Participating states and/or territories can expect to explore promising policies and practices at the intersection of education and corrections in furtherance of these goals.

For more information, please reach out to Portia Pratt ([email protected]) or Ken Hardy ([email protected]).