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Obama administration wants to expand Pell grant program

Secretary Duncan gave a speech outlining a vision for higher education in America.- photo U.S. Dpt. of Education
Secretary Duncan gave a speech outlining a vision for higher education in America.- photo U.S. Dpt. of Education

JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the Obama administration wants to expand the Pell grant program to prisoners.

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students.

He and Attorney General Loretta Lynch will visit the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, Maryland, on Friday to announce the plans.

In a speech Monday, Duncan said the administration wants to develop “experimental sites that will make Pell grants available” to inmates so they can get training for jobs.

Prisoners in federal or state institutions are not currently eligible for Pell grants, which are for lower-income people and do not have to be repaid.

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