For Immediate Release: July 31, 2015

Contact: Madison Donzis, madison@fitzgibbonmedia.com, 210.488.6220

Washington, D.C. — Today, under the Obama Administration, the Department of Education announced the launch of their Second Chance Pell Pilot Program. The program will ultimately re-evaluate how incarcerated individuals receive Pell Grants and pursue a postsecondary education. As a result, it will help to ease incarcerated Americans’ transitions out of prison and ultimately reduce re-incarceration rates.

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org, the nation’s largest online civil rights organization, issued the following statement in response:

“ColorOfChange.org applauds President Obama, Arne Duncan and the Department of Education for their efforts to provide incarcerated Americans with higher-quality academic opportunities that will help them to develop a strong support system and get on the right track.

“With the highest incarceration rate in the world of more than 1.5 million prisoners, it is imperative that the United States give prisoners a second chance to rejoin their families and communities with an enriched level of education. The launch of the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program is a vital step in ensuring that incarcerated individuals get the resources and tools they need for effective reentry into the classroom or workforce.”

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With more than one million members nationwide, ColorOfChange.org is the nation’s largest online civil rights organization.