Reading Information Sheet
Author/s: Kast, S., & McKone, J.
Main Idea or thesis:
While there was an attempt by Congress in 1994 to the barn the use of government grants in government prisons, the Obama administration is introducing a pilot program allowing a limited number of prisoners behind bars to receive Pell Grants for the courses they take jail.
Major supporting point:
The United States believes in second chances, and it is essential to give prisoners charged with various offenses a second chance to become important people in society. The idea will also save costs for the taxpayers.
Brief Summary (8-12 sentences):
The federal grants will be used on a temporary to cover the cost of college courses for prisoners. This will be the first time the prisoners will be benefitting from the government funds since Congress banned them from getting student aid. The program will take three years then get opened to only those prisoners ready to be released. However, Low-income citizens are the only people who were eligible for the Pell Grants. Most of the Republicans criticized the idea saying it was a rewarding criminal who broke the law instead of benefiting the most hardworking citizens. Some Republicans also supported the idea but argued that the executive could not implement such a program without Congress’s permission.