In a groundbreaking legislative decision, New York State officially repealed the ban preventing incarcerated students from accessing TAP funding on April 7th! For the first time in 26 years, incarcerated students will be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program. This victory is even more historic as it comes on the heels of the restoration of Pell funding for incarcerated students.
TAP restoration will uplift programs across the state and sends a message that college-in-prison matters. It lets our students know that our state leadership believes in their second chance. This news will allow us to further build out our holistic approach to college-in-prison from pre-college, on-site academic coordinators, computer labs, instructional support, and reentry services such as clothing, housing, technology, employment services, continuing education, and community building.
Thank you all for your support as we’ve campaigned to #TurnOnTheTAPNY! It’s been an honor for us to be part of a coalition of currently and formerly incarcerated people, college providers, grassroots organizations, and many more that have advocated for decades to make this accomplishment possible.
Leave a Reply