Create educational and training programs and expand existing programs in prisons. These will pay for themselves by reducing prison housing costs and likely reducing victimization and other indirect costs.
Keep educational programs free to prisoners. From a cost-benefit perspective, the biggest gains from these programs are experienced collectively by taxpayers. If prisoners are required to pay for these programs, the costs may discourage them from participating.
Given that all four forms of education are beneficial, prisons should offer all forms. Students could progress through multiple programs, increasing the total benefits of prison education. This could amplify the positive effects of these education programs. The effect of ABE programs, for instance, will be greater if it enables prisoners to go on to participate in secondary or vocational programs.