ReEntry Education Fund

Madison College and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) partner to provide educational opportunities for justice-impacted students. RAND’s 2013 meta-analysis shows that for every dollar spent on high quality, post-secondary education for justice-involved students, approximately $5 is saved in reincarceration costs and recidivism rates are reduced by 43%. In 2020, Madison College was selected by the Department of Education to become a Second Chance Pell (SCP) college. This allows incarcerated students to access federal Pell grants to pay for tuition and student fees for enrollment in eligible programming. Madison College currently offers a technical diploma and associate degree in Small Business Entrepreneurship to students at eight different DOC institutions across the state. Unfortunately, some students are not eligible for these grants. For those who do qualify, occasionally there is still an unmet need. Students earn pennies on the dollar at their institution jobs if they are fortunate to have one. Once restitution and other court ordered fees are deducted, students are often left with little money for basic needs and to save for their reentry back into society. This fund will help to remove financial barriers for justice impacted students pursuing post-secondary education at Madison College either while incarcerated or after their release while ensuring a high quality, equitable, and rewarding experience for them.