Methods

Data

The analyses enclosed evaluated the 2014 U.S. PIAAC (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) Prison Survey. The data is a nationally representative sample on the prison population to examine the skills of incarcerated adults in relationship to educational attainment while in prison. The 2014 U.S. PIAAC Prison Survey includes background variables about various prison activities (e.g. postsecondary education enrollment, completion, and interest). The sample consists of 1,319 incarcerated adults in U.S. federal and state prisons ages 18 to 74. Due to the rigorous survey methods conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the results are representative of the U.S. population and can be generalized to adults in federal and state prisons. ¹

Analysis

To evaluate the demographics of adults in prison who would be impacted by a 5-year stipulation and to evaluate the validity of a 5-year threshold on incarcerated adults' enrollment, completion, and interest patterns in higher education, we used a combination of descriptive estimates, t-Tests, and correlations. The results of the PIAAC Prison Survey were collected in 2014, prior to the Second Chance Pell experiment — which may have influenced enrollment, completion, and interest patterns within prisons.

Prison Site Visits

To address the limitations of survey data and to include the voices of those directly impacted, providing context to some of the unexplainable nuances observed in the data, we observed, interviewed, and led focus groups at selected federal and state prisons. We collected qualitative data from over 200 individuals, including formerly and currently incarcerated students, federal and state correctional administrators, college programming staff, instructors, college presidents, and family members of currently incarcerated students. Selected quotes from the prison site visits are enclosed.