The Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison is an initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. The initiative that engages stakeholders from a variety of sectors: corrections, higher education, justice-impacted, faith, business/employers, and public officials in a process of consensus-building and strategic planning to expand access to college degree programs for incarcerated individuals in Virginia prisons. The initiative is generously funded by a $750,000 award from the Ascendium Education Group, a national leader in support for higher education in prison (HEP) initiatives.

To find out more about the initiative please email Terri Erwin.

The Consensus website is live! Check it out at www.vchep.org.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS
On Jan. 27, 2025, House Bill 2158, patroned by Delegates Betsy Carr (D) and Carrie Coyner (R) passed the House with bipartisan support (81-Y 18-N). HB 2158 strengthens the entire educational pathway for incarcerated learners, from basic literacy, through GED completion, to college degrees. Today, 62% of individuals incarcerated in the Virginia Department of Corrections system are college-eligible. During the hearing in the House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Jan. 27, Delegate BetsyCarr introduced the bill and several Virginia Consensus members and allies testified, including Dr. David Dore, Chancellor, Virginia Community College System, Kenneth Hunter, Organizer for Virginia Consensus, and Kemba Smith Pradia, Author and Criminal Justice Advocate.

Click below to watch the live testimony!