The U.S. Department of Education has published a notice in the Federal Register setting the reporting deadline for the 2025-26 award year for institutions that operate Prison Education Programs (PEPs) under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The notice, issued September 21, 2026, establishes by when those programs must submit required reports and records to the department.
What the notice covers
PEPs are programs of study — including certificates, degrees, and other recognized postsecondary credentials — offered to confined or incarcerated individuals. To participate, a program must be run by a postsecondary institution eligible under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and approved to operate in a correctional facility by the appropriate state authority or the Bureau of Prisons, as specified in federal regulations at 34 CFR 668.235.
The programs must also meet requirements under 34 CFR 600 and 34 CFR 668.234, ensure the courses serve students' best interests, offer transferable credits, and satisfy licensure or certification standards. The financial aid covered by this deadline is the Pell Grant, listed under Assistance Listing Number 84.063.
The department stated that the deadline for all reports and other records required from PEPs for the 2025-26 award year is September 30, 2026. The official version of the notice is available from the Government Publishing Office.