The need for college bridge programs

The restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated people, which takes full effect in July 2023, could significantly expand access to higher education programs. However, access alone is not enough. Currently and formerly incarcerated students, even those with a high school credential, often lack the crucial literacy and numeracy skills necessary to succeed in college. To meet this need, the PGP offers college readiness programming that helps incarcerated people acquire the writing, critical thinking and math skills required to access postsecondary programs, while fostering the sense of educational self-efficacy and confidence vital for success.

Humanities-rich writing and critical thinking course

Strengthening students’ writing, critical thinking and meta-cognitive skills is especially important to ensure their success in higher education programs. For this reason, the first component of the PGP college bridge program is a writing course in which students learn to engage with a broad range of texts and express their opinions in an organized and persuasive manner, adapting their writing to different contexts and audiences. The course can be offered in a fully virtual, in person, or hybrid format and it has a modular structure that allows for a nine-week or twelve-week option.

The course is taught by teams of two instructors recruited among faculty and graduate students at PGP university partners, and students are supported by PGP volunteer tutors. The program was piloted at the D.C. Jail where it continues to be offered. In 2022 the college-bridge writing course will be offered at the Boston Pre-Release Center, FCI Fort Dix, NJ and other locations.

Blended learning math and literacy program

The PGP will offer a college readiness math and literacy program to complement the writing and critical thinking course. When possible, the PGP will adopt a blended learning model, where students progress at their own pace through self-guided, adaptive online college readiness curricula, while receiving complementary in-person tutoring support. The PGP uses baseline and progress data from students’ online learning sessions to inform tutoring strategies.

Program evaluation

We evaluate student progress in college-ready writing by comparing baseline literacy assignments to final papers. In the blended learning math and literacy program, the online curricula include formative and mastery skills assessments that are aligned with the Test of Adult Basic Education and college entrance examinations. For both programs, students complete surveys and reflection forms to assess their own progress and provide program feedback.

The PGP is establishing collaboration agreements with higher education institutions to evaluate college readiness program success by determining how many program participants matriculate to postsecondary programs, what their persistence and graduation rates are, and how they perform in their first college-level writing and math intensive courses.