TAP is Back
Bard Prison Initiative, April 7, 2022: TAP is Back
“Today, after 26 years – at last – New York State has repealed its ban on incarcerated people receiving TAP grants.
“In our field – since the evisceration of education in prison in the mid-1990s – the fundamental goal has been the restoration of baseline public funding for college-in-prison.
“This is a generational victory.
“It’s not just about money. Most of all, the elimination of college 25+ years ago sent a clear message that the government had no regard for the fate or future of incarcerated people; that prison should be as cruel and destructive as possible. It coincided with dramatic divestment in CUNY and SUNY, investment in prison building, and neglect of spending essential to Black and Brown communities statewide.
“The win is possible because of the work of thousands of incarcerated students and alumni, advocates, formerly incarcerated people, religious communities, educators, supporters, and friends. The #TurnOnTheTAPNY Campaign and our friends at College & Community Fellowship deserve special credit.”
Additional reading:
Bard Prison Initiative, April 7, 2022: TAP: A Long Time Coming
New York Daily News, April 14, 2022: Helping prisoners go to college helps New York
