By Lou Baudouin and Isabella Nyiri, Special To The Observer
Michelle Horton, 46, was a self-proclaimed “professional criminal” and single mother, slipping into a life of crime and fast money after a prison sentence.
Trying to provide for her children after her release and struggling with how to forgive herself for a previous nonviolent gun offense, she decided furthering her education was the best option for beginning a new life and setting an example for her loved ones.
“Education is key to rehabilitation. If you don’t like your life, you need to figure out how to change it,” said Horton, who is now working at the Sacramento mayor’s office and pursuing higher education at Sacramento State, with support from the Rising Scholars Network.
The Rising Scholars, or Re-Emerging Scholars, program is key to the success of many people like Horton. The program serves formerly and currently incarcerated students, as well as students who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, at California community colleges. It promotes inclusivity and equity for these underrepresented groups, providing academic, financial, and social support services.
In January, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed an expansion of the Rising Scholars Network that will provide $30 million in ongoing funding through Proposition 98. Proposition 98 is a California constitutional guarantee for a minimum level of funding for K-12 and community college education.
“It was $5 million in 2018 and now we’re at $9 million currently, and we’re hoping for $30 million in the upcoming year,” said Gina Browne, assistant vice chancellor of programs and strategic operations for California Community Colleges.
The increased funds will provide necessary resources, such as technological assistance and shared learning spaces, and ensure that all community colleges have access to the program. Of the 116 community colleges in the state, only 65 have a funded program. All four community colleges in Sacramento County currently have a funded Rising Scholars Network. Browne said the goal is for the program to be state-funded and available at all community colleges.
Additional funds will strengthen career pathways after graduation, provide technological assistance, and allow for more faculty or support staff trained to “understand those needs of the incarcerated students and formerly incarcerated,” Browne said.
There are also significant economic benefits, including improving the workforce and reducing recidivism rates.
The expansion could have a profound impact on California’s African-American and Latino communities, which are overrepresented in prison.
About 28% of people incarcerated in California prisons identify as Black, even though only about 6% of California’s adults identify as Black. About 46% of the state’s prisoners identify as Latino, compared to 38% of the state’s adults.
Marisa Johnson, director of policy impact at the Campaign for College Opportunity, a nonprofit focused on higher education advocacy in California, said, “almost every dollar invested in higher education has significant payouts to the state in different ways.”
The program has grown significantly since the passing of legislation (AB 8417) in 2021, formalizing its structure and funding. Johnson noted enthusiasm from community colleges eager to participate.
Jeff Knorr, Faculty Coordinator for Re-Emerging Scholars at Sacramento City College, has been teaching English to students inside and outside the program for over 23 years.
“The funding is critical, and thank God it’s been there and continues to grow. We do need more funding. The funding has grown and been tremendously supportive, and it’s been at a wonderfully sustaining level,” said Knorr.
Browne said the Rising Scholars program provides educational opportunities and increases access to higher education for those who may not have previously considered it an option.
“We want to acknowledge that just because you’re incarcerated doesn’t mean that you’re a throwaway. It means that you can still come back to society and be contributing,” said Browne.
Johnson highlighted the program’s success in creating pathways for students and garnering strong support from California Community Colleges.
“The community colleges… their role is to serve everyone; that’s their job,” said Johnson.
Knorr emphasized the program’s role in reintegration, providing resources and a pathway to higher education. Cohort-based classes allow students to take regular college courses, fostering a sense of normalcy and success.
“They’re some of my favorite students I’ve ever taught in 34 years of teaching,” said Knorr.
He expressed a strong emotional connection to his students, shaped by personal experiences in his own family and a desire to support those facing similar challenges.
Horton, who used to be among Knorr’s students, mentioned the Rising Scholars program’s support for her, including tutoring, scholarships, and peer community building.
“It wasn’t just the program as much as it was the people who kept you going… the counselors who said, ‘Hey, who cares if you failed that class the first time,'” Horton said.
Meng Lee, who is majoring in biochemistry at Sacramento City College, said the program has been life changing, bringing academic and personal growth.
“The bond with fellow classmates, we became a family of sorts. We share information, we help each other out wherever we can,” said Lee.
Horton also said the program not only fosters social connections but also builds self-worth. She advocates for increased funding and improved policies to sustain the program, which helps individuals seeking a fresh start. Lee also credited the support, saying it has allowed him to pursue his studies and work toward a better future.
“The program’s very helpful coming out of being recently incarcerated. It has given me a gateway to more, a better life,” said Lee.
Incarceration affects identity, so the program fights stigma and helps fulfill the need of some students to redefine themselves beyond past mistakes.
“Our culture has strong judgments about people who commit crimes… but beyond the mistake, there’s still a person who wants to contribute and do well,” said Knorr.
The program helps students overcome educational trauma and disengagement, which can contribute to deviant behavior. According to Knorr, when students lose a “connection to their academic pursuit”, there is a higher risk for the student to engage in more deviant behavior.
Johnson and Browne highlighted the program’s impact on reducing recidivism by providing education and employment opportunities, benefiting both individuals and society. Studies consistently show that higher education levels among formerly incarcerated individuals are linked to lower recidivism rates. According to the AAC&U, earning an associate degree reduces the recidivism rate to 13.7%.
Despite the program’s success, challenges remain, including employment barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals.
“You don’t think of the barriers that having a criminal background puts in your life that makes you so easy to re-offend,” said Horton. “Your credit, your background, it follows you everywhere.”
The California Community College system is willing to provide institutional support to students in the program to help overcome these barriers.
“We know that our incarcerated students are very successful. Once they have the resources to complete college classes, they can be successful,” said Browne.
Student success stories like Horton’s illustrate the program’s impact, with many transitioning to higher education and careers in human services.
“The Rising Scholars Program taught me to be of service, taught me to help other people. It gives you social support, it gives you cultural capital, it gives you references, it gives you employment. All these things that you need to feel worthy of change is what the program does for you,” said Horton.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced for The OBSERVER by Sacramento State journalism students under the guidance of nationally known data expert Phillip Reese.