Former Secretary of Education John B. King, now president and CEO of The Education Trust, talks about his passion for giving all learners, particularly those in poverty and prisons, access to higher education. He discusses with hosts Jon Fansmith and Lorelle Espinosa how his own personal experiences, his work in the federal government, and his work as an education advocate drive him to help students who just need a chance to succeed. He also provides practical solutions for institutions and policymakers who want to close equity gaps.

**Programming note**

dotEDU will take a break for the holidays and will return with new episodes in January.

EPISODE NOTES

Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:

Conversation with John B. King

Congress Approves Future Act ACE

ACE2019: Real Students, Real Change: How Students' Lives Can Transform Higher Education John B. King moderates a student panel at ACE's 101st Annual Meeting

Higher Education Behind and Beyond Bars: A Father and Son Story The Education Trust

College Behind Bars Documentary

DeVos Calls for Making 'Second Chance Pell' Permanent Inside Higher Ed | June 26, 2019

REAL Act of 2019

ACE's Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report

The 1619 Project The New York Times

Broken Mirrors The Education Trust

Lift the Ban on Pell Grants for Students Who Are Incarcerated The Education Trust

Ban the Box Campaign

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness

ACE2020, ACE's 102nd Annual Meeting, March 14-16 in San Diego

ABOUT THE SHOW

Each episode of dotEDU presents a deep dive into a major issue impacting college campuses and students across the country. Hosts from ACE are joined by guest experts lead you through thought-provoking conversations on topics such as campus free speech, diversity in admissions, college costs and affordability, and more. Find all episodes of the podcast at the dotEDU page.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or email [email protected].

HOSTS

Lorelle Espinosa is the vice president for research at ACE. In this role, she is responsible for developing the organization's thought leadership and research agenda and for ensuring a consistent evidence base across ACE's array of programs and services.

Jon Fansmith represents ACE and its members on issues related to the federal budget and appropriations process, with a particular focus on student aid.