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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2468 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2706
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Priscila S. Sousa
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to postsecondary education in correctional facilities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Priscila S. Sousa6th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2468 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2706
By Representative Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2706) of
Priscila S. Sousa relative to postsecondary education in correctional facilities. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to postsecondary education in correctional facilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The executive office of education and the executive office of administration and finance,
2in consultation with the department of correction, shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of
3the status of the delivery of postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities for the
4purpose of expanding the high-quality provision of such. This assessment shall include, but need
5not be limited to:
6 (a) the current provision of postsecondary education programs (degree and non-degree,
7for- and non-credit), enrollments, Pell Grant utilization, completions, and equity measures
8related thereto, (b) a determination of the level of unmet demand for postsecondary education
9among incarcerated persons, informed by facility populations, educational assessment data, and
10other indicators of current and potential readiness for program participation, (c) a needs
11assessment of the facilities, materials and staffing required for expanding the delivery of high-
12quality, workforce-aligned postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities in line 2 of 3
13with potential demand, including an inventory of the correctional facilities, including, but not
14limited to, classrooms, multipurpose rooms, libraries and study rooms, staffing, and materials
15and learning infrastructure, including, but not limited to, education technology and internet
16access that is currently available for the delivery of postsecondary education, (d)
17recommendations for and a cost analysis of the improvement of such programs, facilities,
18staffing, materials, and infrastructure to meet the unmet demand for postsecondary education and
19support program innovation and expansion, (e) an analysis of the policies of the department of
20correction impacting the postsecondary education of incarcerated persons, including, but not
21limited to: (i) classification regulations and processes, (ii) facility transfer policies and practices,
22(iii) data systems and reporting, (iv) a listing of any other specific barriers to the effective
23delivery of postsecondary education programs to incarcerated persons, and (v) a survey of (1)
24students of postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities, (2) former students of
25such programs, conducted in consultation with regional reentry programs, and (3) any group or
26person the division deems necessary, and (f) a solicitation of feedback from institutions of higher
27education that provide postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities to understand
28current needs, program delivery costs, credit transferability, and other issues impacting program
29access and completion, (g) a survey of other state agencies regarding staff, programs, policies,
30resources, and funding relevant to expanding delivery of postsecondary education programs in
31corrections facilities the results of which would serve to generate: (i) recommendations for
32establishing ongoing inter-agency planning and cooperation to expand and support the delivery
33and completion of postsecondary education programs during and after incarceration (including
34efforts related to developing processes for timely access to the transcripts and academic records
35incarcerated individuals need to enter collegiate coursework), (ii) recommendations for 3 of 3
36increasing access for corrections staff to professional development and postsecondary education
37programs, (iii) recommendations for a process of regular executive and legislative review of
38progress toward expanding program delivery and completion of postsecondary education.
39 The survey will target an array of relevant agencies including, but not limited to: the
40executive office of education, the department of elementary and secondary education, the
41department of higher education, the office of student financial assistance, the department of labor
42and workforce development, commonwealth corporation, the executive office of health and
43human services, the executive office of veterans services, division of capital asset management
44and maintenance, and the executive office of housing and livable communities.
45 (b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the secretary of administration and finance shall issue
46a report regarding the needs assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The
47report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.