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Illinois Central College, Pekin Federal Correctional Institute, and U.S. Department of Education Announce New Prison Education Program, the First in the Nation to Be Approved

by Amanda Lewis

East Peoria, IL (09/05/2024) — At a press conference held on September 5, Illinois Central College (ICC), the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Pekin, and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced they are partnering to offer a new prison education program (PEP) for individuals who are incarcerated. ICC is proud to offer the first new PEP in a federal facility approved by ED, which will provide students who are incarcerated the opportunity to use Federal Pell Grants to access postsecondary education.

ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey expressed the college's enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "ICC is excited to partner with the Pekin FCI to offer educational pathways that empower individuals who are incarcerated to create brighter futures. We are committed to supporting these students on their path to success and are grateful for the support of the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This partnership is going to change the trajectory of these students' lives."

The PEP offers participants the opportunity to earn a Business Specialist certificate. The curriculum is designed to equip students with essential skills for entry-level employment that leads to further career growth. Courses include accounting, business math, management, customer service, finance, sales, marketing, human resource management, and professional development. The certificate also provides the foundational coursework for students interested in pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree at ICC. Currently, 33 students are enrolled in the program.

Dr. Amy Loyd, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education, applauded the partnership between ICC and FCI-Pekin, "Access to high-quality education is essential for individuals who are incarcerated to better themselves, their families, and their communities. This partnership and the educational opportunities it provides will transform students' lives and improve culture and community inside of the correctional facility. Education is a springboard to opportunity, and we are thrilled that this program will help students develop the knowledge, skills, and credentials our nation needs and help strengthen our workforce and grow our economy. This is the first Prison Education Program of its kind in a federal facility, but it is certainly not the last, as we work to ensure that higher education is within reach for hundreds of thousands of deserving people across the country through access to Pell Grants. What is happening here in Illinois serves as an excellent model for the rest of the nation."

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Illinois Central College is a two-year community college with campuses in East Peoria, Peoria and Pekin, Illinois, providing a high-quality, affordable education to prepare students to enter the workforce or to transfer to a four-year institution. ICC is the 2020 awardee of the National Community College Charles Kennedy Equity Award from ACCT, a 2022 EDA Good Job Challenge Institution, and the Lead College for the state of Illinois' Workforce Equity Initiative. ICC also conducts original research in agricultural fields, including water quality and soil conservation. For more information, visit icc.edu.

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