A Student-Parent’s Long Drive Home, to be a Determined College Student and a Father
September 25, 2026 by Benjamin Villegas-Brockie On fatherhood, reentry, and what higher education asks student-parents to carry and the sacrifices they make
I Was a First-Generation College Student. My Kids Will Not Be
September 25, 2026 by Omari Amili The road to college success from a Justice Fellow who was formerly incarcerated and a student-parent facing multiple obstacles. Nevertheless, he persisted
Work-Study Didn’t Just Pay My Tuition. It Helped Rewrite My Future
August 24, 2026 by Jovanda Irving Federal Work-Study is more than financial aid. It’s an investment in college students’ futures by giving them real work experience
Closest to the Problem, Closest to the Solution: Five Years of the Justice Fellows Policy Program
August 12, 2026 by Duke Cruz Dela Rosa In 2021, EdTrust launched the Justice Fellows Policy Program to give justice-impacted students a voice to help shape higher education policy and become leaders
Second Chances Require Investment — Not Contradiction
April 30, 2026 by William Freeman III Access to education during incarceration is one of the most reliable pathways to economic stability after release
The Consequences of Pell Grant Cuts on Student-Parents and Justice-Impacted Students
September 29, 2025 by Alexa Garza, Ramieka Robinson For millions of low-income and first-generation college students, the Pell Grant is more than financial aid; it is a lifeline
Advocacy in Action: Advancing Higher Education in Texas Prisons Across Two Legislative Sessions
September 16, 2025 by EdTrust-Texas How EdTrust facilitated the passage of SB 2405, which establishes postsecondary education in Texas prisons, by forming a bipartisan coalition and engaging in sustained, strategic advocacy for oversight, access, and quality standards for incarcerated students
How Dismantling the Department of Education Threatens Higher Education Access for Incarcerated Students
It would have a grave impact on justice-impacted students, who rely on crucial financial aid and grants and federal oversight of prison education programs
Introducing our Third Cohort of Justice Fellows
March 21, 2024 by William Freeman III Out of more than 300 applicants from across the country, we have selected eight outstanding individuals to participate in this yearlong fellowship.