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Federal aid for prisoners a welcome change, Washington educator says

But Tanya Erzen said she's concerned about parts of the pilot program announced last month by the Obama administration.

Last month, the Obama administration outlined a pilot program to offer Pell grants to prisoners, giving them the opportunity to get federal financial aid to take college classes while serving time. That’s a change of heart that’s welcomed by the director of one of Washington’s few prison college programs.

“It’s an interesting time — there’s a lot of potential for positive change to happen,” said Tanya Erzen, executive director of Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS), a program that offers classes in the Washington Corrections Center for Women near Purdy.