The Opportunity Institute
For Support Of "Renewing Communities" To Improve College Opportunities For Incarcerated Californians
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Amount$500,000
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Program
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Date Awarded11/17/2015
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Term12 Months
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Type of SupportProject
Overview
Almost 200,000 men and women are currently incarcerated in California, and an estimated 8 million California residents have a criminal record. Recidivism is extremely high, yet research shows that a college education reduces recidivism. However, fewer than 5 percent of incarcerated adults are enrolled in college classes, and educational opportunities have almost exclusively been non-interactive correspondence courses, which are known to yield poor outcomes. Among all 146 public colleges in California, fewer than ten offer programs supporting formerly incarcerated students. The Renewing Communities initiative aims to (1) increase the quality and quantity of higher-education opportunities for these students, (2) build strong links between the criminal justice and higher education systems, and (3) support participating students to achieve educational success. To do so, the Initiative will support pilot partnerships between educational and correctional institutions in both urban and rural areas, while convening and providing technical assistance to these pilots to improve efficacy and sustainability. Projects will be funded partially by private foundations and partially through state and local matching resources. Ultimately, the aim is for high-quality programs to be replicated throughout the state of California.
About the Grantee
Grantee Website
theopportunityinstitute.org
Address
1400 Shattuck Ave Ste 12, #136, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Grants to this Grantee
for support of development of national equity indicators
The Opportunity Institute promotes social mobility and equity by improving outcomes from early childhood through early career, bringing together leaders in early childhood development to 12th grade education, juvenile and criminal justice, and higher education to collaborate across policy sectors for broader and deeper impact. The Institute’s vision and mission is to a create a country where education, health, and career opportunities allow every individual to pursue a thriving, productive, and meaningful life. This grant will support the implementation of indicators needed for equity-driven school decision making. (Strategy: K-12 Teaching and Learning)
for support of "Renewing Communities" to improve college opportunities for incarcerated Californians
The Opportunity Institute works across issue silos to address the complex barriers to social mobility and focuses broadly on educational opportunities ranging from infant and toddler development to pathways out of incarceration. One signature project is Renewing Communities, a four-year initiative that is building pathways from criminal justice to higher education in California. The systems-change initiative aims for long-term sustainability so that the state’s public higher education system adopts the goal of higher education achievement for currently and formerly incarcerated students.
