Maine DOC Joins National Effort to Increase Access to Education and Training in Correctional Facilities

The Maine Department of Corrections will receive up to $2.1M in funding as one of the first four states selected by the Jobs for the Future initiative

AUGUSTA, ME (Jan. 14, 2026) - The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) today announced it has joined Job for the Future's (JFF) Fair Chance to Advance (FC2A) State Action Networks , a new initiative to help states expand high-quality postsecondary education and workforce pathways for individuals with histories of incarceration. As one of the first four states selected for this initiative, leaders in Maine will work with JFF's Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to address barriers that limit economic opportunities for people with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration.

MDOC Commissioner Liberty is proud to support this work, stating "This initiative will solidify Maine's commitment to empowering our residents and probation clients to advance in jobs and education, bringing transformative confidence and economic stability."

The launch of the State Action Networks represents the latest phase of the FC2A initiative, initially launched in 2024 with support from Ascendium Education Group . JFF selected Maine from among more than 30 states who applied based on Maine's existing efforts to expand economic mobility for individuals with records, commitment to bringing together a range of leaders across state agencies, and clear articulation for how participating in the cohort would catalyze long-term change in Maine. Maine aims to leverage the State Action Networks to scale employer-connected pathways, strengthen cross-agency alignment, and expand data capacity to track outcomes.

Over the next four years, Maine-along with Kansas, North Carolina, and Oregon-will receive up to $2.1M in funding and $1.8M in technical assistance from JFF and the Coleridge Initiative, a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data are more effectively used for public decision-making. States will gain access to a secure data-sharing platform to improve coordination between partner agencies and participate in a national learning network designed to accelerate reforms across corrections, postsecondary education, workforce development, and fair chance employment.

"We are excited to collaborate with the bipartisan, inter-agency leaders from across Maine who are committed to strengthening the state's workforce, supporting businesses, and creating pathways to quality jobs for learners with histories of incarceration," said Rebecca Villarreal, Senior Director, Center for Justice & Economic Advancement at JFF. "Maine has invested in a range of in-person, synchronous, and remote postsecondary learning and employment opportunities for people in custody. FC2A will partner with state leaders to sharpen that coordination, surface where systems still disconnect, and strengthen pathways that work better for people navigating them."

"States that are most effective at linking postsecondary education and the workforce start with a clear purpose: ensure learners gain the skills and credentials that lead to upward mobility and meet workforce needs. From there, state leaders create the infrastructure and partnerships to make that vision possible-using data to identify opportunities, aligning funding and policy, and creating learner pathways that respond to employer demand," said Molly Lasagna, Senior Strategy Officer at Ascendium.

Mathematica will serve as the third-party evaluator to document lessons learned and share insights with the field. Throughout the initiative, the FC2A State Action Networks will closely engage people with histories of incarceration as advisors and co-designers. An application to join Maine's five-person advisory board is now open.

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About Jobs for the Future

Jobs for the Future (JFF) transforms U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for all. We design innovative solutions, scale best practices, influence policy, and invest in systems change to create pathways to advancement and economic mobility. jff.org

About Maine Department of Corrections

The Maine Department of Corrections is responsible for the direction and general administrative supervision, guidance, and planning of both adult and juvenile corrections within the State. It is the mission of MDOC to make our communities safer by reducing harm through supportive intervention, empowering change, and restoring lives through the Maine Model of Corrections, which focuses on normalizing life for prison residents and supporting reentry pathways following incarceration.