Virginia advocates believe more can be done to make higher education accessible to incarcerated people.

Only a handful of community colleges partner with less than half of the state's correctional facilities to help people obtain associate's degrees.

In 2023, incarcerated people became eligible for federal Pell Grants, supporting tuition costs for low-income individuals.

Terri Erwin, director of the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison, an initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, said the General Assembly can help grow the programs.

"I think that the General Assembly can be kind of a third leg in the stool in supporting the collaboration as it develops between the Department of Corrections and the institutions of higher education," Erwin asserted. "What might be needed depends in part on how those relationships develop."

Higher education's shift to technology was one big challenge in maintaining this access during the pandemic. She noted Virginia did not pivot the same way, yet technology solutions in states such as Tennessee and Maine provided secure learning management and intranet access to incarcerated students. Despite the challenges, higher education in prison has grown nationwide in recent years.

Studies show some benefits of these programs are a 43% reduction in recidivism and a 13% increase in post-release employment. Erwin emphasized the programs can be transformative for people.

"It's an opportunity to reenter society with just one more similarity to folks who have been on the outside all along," Erwin pointed out. "It helps to move past some of the stigma. It gives them a hook to put their hat on as they move forward in looking for jobs and telling the story about who they are."

Formerly incarcerated people reentering society face numerous obstacles. Programs such as SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are proven to reduce recidivism by 10% but having a criminal background disqualifies someone's eligibility for both social programs and unemployment insurance.


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A newly passed Connecticut bill will modernize the teacher certification process. House Bill 5436 is expected to make it easier for educators to teach at different grade levels.

The change is part of an effort to alleviate the state's ongoing teacher shortage, which is becoming cyclical. Burned-out teachers are leaving their jobs, straining remaining teachers and hose entering the field.

Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said the state needs to address other factors, too.

"Looking at the barriers to entry in terms of cost, the exams we use, the expectations of our edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment) program," Dias outlined. "Some of that is also about how are we inviting second-career educators in and what are the programs we're using and how are those programs really supporting our new teachers."

Some opposed the measure during a recent public hearing, saying it felt rushed or was a short-term solution. Dias explained educating lawmakers about the system was key to understanding how the certification process got this way. Some wanted the changes implemented in 2025, but she noted being mindful of its effects means the changes will not roll out until 2026.

Educators are adapting to working through the shortage but Dias noted financial commitments have not been made to address it. It can be challenging since some starting salaries do not cover Connecticut's rising cost of living. She stressed conversations with lawmakers can bring stakeholders to the table to understand educator's value.

"These are highly desirable workers that are really getting pulled into other industries through salary and other competitive wage factors," Dias acknowledged. "For us, getting to 60,000 was really about being competitive with our other industries so that we can keep and attract these people to our profession."

While many teachers burned out during the COVID-19 crisis, reports showed it only exacerbated an existing problem. Nationally, almost 300,000 teachers were leaving the profession yearly before the pandemic.


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Teachers in Michigan are taking home less pay than they did in past years, according to new research from Michigan State University. The average annual salary of almost $65,000 for a Michigan teacher is similar to the pay in nearby states, although it is slightly below the national average. Researchers found a significant decline in teacher pay over the past two decades, when adjusted for inflation.

Jason Burns, report lead author and research specialist at M.S.U.'s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative said the there are several factors involved.

"It's hard to point to a single, specific thing - it's like, 'This is the smoking gun,' kind of. In a lot of ways, what it comes down to is, Michigan just hasn't invested in education as much as a lot of other states have," he said.

Burns added until 2000, Michigan was one of the top-paying states for educators. But now, it's around 16th or 17th - due to an approximate 20% decline in inflation-adjusted salaries.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recommended retention bonuses for teachers last year, but they didn't make it into the final state budget.

The report said mid-career teaching professionals earn about one-third less than other college graduates. Burns said for new teachers, fresh out of college, the steep salary decline could prompt them to look elsewhere for employment.

"In 2021-22, Michigan was ranked 39th in terms of average starting teacher salary. And there's another year of data that's come out of course since we drafted the report, and Michigan has fallen two more spots," he said.

A public survey, also by the M.S.U. collaborative, shows most Michigan residents think starting salaries for teachers should be increased by about $10,000.

Burns added there is reason to be optimistic - because teacher compensation can be bipartisan.

"Like, when you look at state governors that have taken up this issue, and you look at state legislatures that have taken up this issue, it's been a really bipartisan set of folks that are looking to take action on the issue of teacher compensation. And so, I think that means that, at least politically speaking, there's probably more opportunity there than maybe there has been in the past," he explained.

This year's final state budget included enough for Michigan school districts to give teachers $600 to $800 more per year.


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Hoosiers are launching their boats to enjoy another season on the water. However, before jumping aboard, now is an ideal time to review safety plans and brush up on boating laws.

John Gano, master conservation officer for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, has spent summers patrolling popular recreational boating spots in Indiana for nearly 30 years. He spends most summer weekends on Geist and Morse Reservoirs and said it is imperative boaters know what is expected of them while out on their voyage.

"Certainly, the basic safety regulations, equipment for the boat, how to properly number your boat, moving violations that we look for that are unsafe," Gano outlined. "People that might be riding on the gunwale or the bow of the board in an unsafe position where they could come overboard and be run over."

Gano recommended before your first boat ride this season, run through a checklist to make certain your vessel is ready. He noted it is not necessary to memorize the boating manual and regulations but boat operators should be familiar with the rules.

For some Hoosiers, spending the day on the boat includes drinking alcohol. Gano pointed out it is important for boat drivers to remain sober for everyone's safety. Indiana law is the same whether you're behind the wheel of a car or boat: If your blood alcohol level is .08 or higher, you will be arrested. However, impaired driving is not the only reason for which boaters may be stopped.

"On those stops, we're going to obviously do inspections for safety gear like life jackets and things like that," Gano emphasized. "Sometimes, we determine other things about the boat itself that could be unsafe."

Indiana law requires a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket be available for everyone aboard. Boaters planning to tow passengers for tubing, water skiing or wakeboarding should put on their life jacket before jumping into the water. Failing to do so could easily mean the difference between a fun day or a tragic day on the lake.


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