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Education in Action

A work-based learning initiative of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison

Read the EiA Implementation Guide

"Education in Action" (EiA) initiatives integrate meaningful work-based learning opportunities for incarcerated students, enabling them to apply knowledge and skills gained through Higher Education in Prison (HEP) programs through participation in remote employment. These are private sector positions that incarcerated individuals can hold remotely (though some are offered as in-person positions) while they are still incarcerated, allowing them to build experience and skills prior to release.

Over the past few years, the Alliance has been at the forefront of EiA initiatives across the country in multiple states.

State Spotlights:

Utah

Utah is integrating work-based learning into its correctional education landscape through the Education Advocate program at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Funded by the University of Utah, this initiative employs incarcerated students as peer educators, earning $12 per hour for up to eight hours a week. By fostering a culture of learning, this program not only supports literacy and tutoring but also strengthens pathways to post-secondary education inside the facility.

Ohio

Ohio is pioneering work-based learning (WBL) through a partnership between the Vera Institute of Justice, Sinclair Community College, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The pilot program employs an incarcerated individual as a remote intern for the Vera Institute, earning $21–$22 per hour, aligned with Vera’s graduate student intern rate. While logistical challenges have been significant, this initiative has sparked interest in expanding WBL within Vera and beyond.

Maine

Maine currently has dozens of correctional residents involved in work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, making as much as $25/hour, with several residents working in salaried, full-time positions with benefits.

Maine started small, and being at the forefront of EiA exploration has not been without its challenges. But Maine has found EiA to be worth the effort in how it can improve facility conditions, expand the impact of HEP programs, and increase wellbeing for residents and their families.

Kansas

Kansas partnered with the Alliance to pilot work-based learning with one resident, selected for their proven success and active participation in various programs. including educational initiatives. As an Alliance Fellow, they earn approximately $25/hour with 25% deducted for room and board. The success of this initial exploration of remote work has encouraged Kansas to explore expanding similar opportunities. 

Education in Action is an essential step towards building a movement that shifts beliefs and narratives about the value of incarcerated people’s work and challenges the slavery-based model of prison employment. The continued pursuit of our mission and vision underscores the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison's unwavering commitment to shaping an intellectual landscape that recognizes inherent human potential for advancement and growth within the confines of prisons. As conduits for hope, resilience, and opportunity, we are adamant that internships and fellowships possess a transformative power that can engender lasting societal change and disrupt the  perpetuation of cycles of criminalization and incarceration.

Work-based learning (WBL) positions, such as apprenticeships, fellowships, field placements, internships, and practicums, can vary in several ways:
  • They may be paid or unpaid
  • They may or may not offer academic credit
  • Opportunities can be remote (utilizing technology), in-person, or a hybrid of both
  • Positions can be part-time or full-time, depending on the opportunity and institutional policies
  • The duration of these placements can vary.
For incarcerated individuals, Education in Action (EiA) provides a pathway from academic learning to real-world work experience, leading to:
  • The development of practical skills and professional experience through apprenticeships, fellowships, internships, and other WBL opportunities
  • Increased chances of securing employment and achieving financial stability upon release
  • The acquisition of financial literacy and management skills
  • The potential to contribute to families and communities through various compensation methods that can be used for paying fines, fees, restitution, or supporting family needs
  • Providing employers with access to a diverse talent pool that brings unique perspectives and valuable skills.

By connecting education with pathways to meaningful work, education in action empowers incarcerated individuals and fosters a more resilient society.

Utah

Utah is integrating work-based learning into its correctional education landscape through the Education Advocate program at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Funded by the University of Utah, this initiative employs incarcerated students as peer educators, earning $12 per hour for up to eight hours a week. By fostering a culture of learning, this program not only supports literacy and tutoring but also strengthens pathways to post-secondary education inside the facility.

Ohio

Ohio is pioneering work-based learning (WBL) through a partnership between the Vera Institute of Justice, Sinclair Community College, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The pilot program employs an incarcerated individual as a remote intern for the Vera Institute, earning $21–$22 per hour, aligned with Vera’s graduate student intern rate. While logistical challenges have been significant, this initiative has sparked interest in expanding WBL within Vera and beyond.

Maine

Maine currently has dozens of correctional residents involved in work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, making as much as $25/hour, with several residents working in salaried, full-time positions with benefits.

Maine started small, and being at the forefront of EiA exploration has not been without its challenges. But Maine has found EiA to be worth the effort in how it can improve facility conditions, expand the impact of HEP programs, and increase wellbeing for residents and their families.

Kansas

Kansas partnered with the Alliance to pilot work-based learning with one resident, selected for their proven success and active participation in various programs. including educational initiatives. As an Alliance Fellow, they earn approximately $25/hour with 25% deducted for room and board. The success of this initial exploration of remote work has encouraged Kansas to explore expanding similar opportunities. 

Keep an eye on this page!
We will be continually updating with more state spotlights as well as resources and information to help organizations, systems, and states explore work-based learning opportunities for incarcerated people.

Utah

Utah is integrating work-based learning into its correctional education landscape through the Education Advocate program at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Funded by the University of Utah, this initiative employs incarcerated students as peer educators, earning $12 per hour for up to eight hours a week. By fostering a culture of learning, this program not only supports literacy and tutoring but also strengthens pathways to post-secondary education inside the facility.

Ohio

Ohio is pioneering work-based learning (WBL) through a partnership between the Vera Institute of Justice, Sinclair Community College, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The pilot program employs an incarcerated individual as a remote intern for the Vera Institute, earning $21–$22 per hour, aligned with Vera’s graduate student intern rate. While logistical challenges have been significant, this initiative has sparked interest in expanding WBL within Vera and beyond.

Maine

Maine currently has dozens of correctional residents involved in work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, making as much as $25/hour, with several residents working in salaried, full-time positions with benefits.

Maine started small, and being at the forefront of EiA exploration has not been without its challenges. But Maine has found EiA to be worth the effort in how it can improve facility conditions, expand the impact of HEP programs, and increase wellbeing for residents and their families.

Kansas

Kansas partnered with the Alliance to pilot work-based learning with one resident, selected for their proven success and active participation in various programs. including educational initiatives. As an Alliance Fellow, they earn approximately $25/hour with 25% deducted for room and board. The success of this initial exploration of remote work has encouraged Kansas to explore expanding similar opportunities. 

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