TEJI Receives $749,000 Grant
The Educational Justice Institute at MIT (TEJI) is proud to announce the receipt of a $749,000 grant from the Ascendium Education Group to further the work of the Massachusetts Prison Education Consortium (MPEC). This generous award will support the expansion of equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for system-impacted individuals, aligning with TEJI and MPEC’s shared mission to advance sustainable solutions to mass incarceration.
MPEC is a collaborative and dynamic consortium of stakeholders, including state and county agencies, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations, working collectively to dismantle the systemic barriers that have long limited access to education within correctional settings. Through strategic alignment of educational systems and workforce pathways, MPEC is building a more cooperative, effective educational environment across Massachusetts correctional facilities.
By addressing barriers to postsecondary access and creating clear pathways to living-wage employment, MPEC’s work contributes to long-term improvements in educational attainment, socioeconomic mobility, and public safety. The consortium’s initiatives help reduce recidivism and empower individuals with the tools needed for successful reintegration and personal transformation.
A key component of the Ascendium grant is support for the launch of MPEC’s newest initiative, the Prisons to Pathways Pilot Project (P4), set to begin in Fall 2025. The pilot will be launched at the Suffolk County House of Correction in partnership with Roxbury Community College (RCC) and Massasoit Community College (MCC). Through P4, incarcerated students will have the opportunity to earn college credits toward an associate degree by completing stackable credentials and transferable coursework offered by RCC and MCC.
Community college enrollment during incarceration is a critical step toward post-release degree completion and career readiness. By aligning educational programming in correctional institutions with in-demand workforce needs, P4 will prepare students for success in today’s labor market. The project also includes the development of a dynamic statewide course inventory to identify educational gaps and address underserved facilities.
Ascendium’s investment will foster cross-sector collaboration, support sustainable systems change, and create transformative educational pathways for incarcerated learners across Massachusetts. By strengthening reentry outcomes and reducing recidivism, this initiative represents a cost-effective and impactful solution for communities throughout the Commonwealth.
— Carole Cafferty, TEJI