Parental Incarceration and Education

BLOG — March 6, 2025

Author: Nadja Miljkovic

While incarceration rates have dramatically increased since the 1970s, it also means that the amount of incarcerated parents with dependent children has increased as well. Parental incarceration has extensive effects and risk factors on the children affected, one of which is the child’s educational progression.

Children with an incarcerated parent face stigmas and strain within their family system that are linked with poor academic outcomes. These children that face stigmatization from their own teachers have lower academic expectations than students without an incarcerated parent. Children with incarcerated fathers are more likely to repeat a grade than children who have not experienced paternal incarceration (Turney & Haskins, 2014). Adolescents with incarcerated mothers are more likely to have extensive absences, fail classes, and get suspended (Trice & Brewster, 2004).

Programs that aim to help children of incarcerated parents through their education:

1. ScholarCHIPS

ScholarCHIPS is an organization that provides college scholarships, mentoring, and support to children of incarcerated parents.

Requirements for scholarship eligibility:

College student or graduating high school senior with plans to pursue higher education.
Must be personally affected by a parent’s incarceration or an immediate family member’s incarceration who serve as a primary caregiver to the applicant.
Minimum high school cumulative GPA or 2.0
Can live anywhere in the U.S. (must be willing to travel to DC or another state for the Annual Awards Ceremony, expenses paid.)

2025 scholarship application opens November 2024.

More information can be found on https://www.scholarchipsfund.org/scholars/

This moment is why we share these opportunities — our founder, Anna Tovchigrechko, receiving the ScholarCHIPS award.

2. Pullan & Young

Pullan & Young Supporting Prisoners’ Families Scholarship

Established to help students who have been affected by a loved one’s incarceration. Their goal is to make education more accessible and affordable for those who have been affected. Scholarship is $1000 to one student per semester
Spring 2025 scholarship deadline is March 17, 2025
Requirements:
- Must have a parent or family member who has been incarcerated.
- Must be enrolled in or accepted into a college/university for the Spring 2025 semester (U.S. only).
- Must be pursuing undergraduate or graduate degree.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.

More information: https://www.pullanyoung.com/scholarship

Resources

Turney, K., & Haskins, A. R. (2014). Falling Behind? Children’s Early Grade Retention after Paternal Incarceration. Sociology of Education, 87(4), 241-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040714547086

Trice, A.D., Brewster, J. The effects of maternal incarceration on adolescent children. J Police Crim Psych 19, 27–35 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802572