Education & GED
Per Scholas
Bronx
Tuition-free tech training and career placement (IT support, cybersecurity, software engineering, AWS).
Education & GED in the Bronx
Education programs cover high school equivalency (GED) prep and testing, adult literacy, English classes, college access and programs that continue college work started in prison. Most adult education here is free.
Tip: if you earned credits, a certificate or a diploma while incarcerated, request your transcript from the facility or the college that ran the program, so you get credit for that work instead of repeating it.
If a Bronx program has a waitlist, the citywide services below can often see you sooner, by phone or at an office in another borough.
9 services based in the Bronx, plus 70 citywide
Based in the Bronx
Education & GED
Bronx Community College - Adult Education & Training Program
Bronx
Free ESOL and adult education services for adults seeking to improve their English language skills.
Education & GED
Bronx Community College - Future Now
Bronx
Free HSE and vocational classes, counseling and college prep for ages 17-24.
Education & GED
CUNY Fatherhood Academy
Bronx · Brooklyn · Queens
Free HSE prep or college prep track with tutoring, counseling, parenting seminars, financial incentives and job preparation.
Education & GED
Reentry@Lehman (Lehman College)
Bronx
Support for Lehman students impacted by the criminal legal system: enrollment, registration, financial aid, referrals to housing, employment, legal and scholarship resources.
Substance Use Recovery
Argus Community
Bronx
Treatment and prevention programs: care management, intensive residential treatment, outpatient services, career training, money management, a reentry initiative and an HSE program.
Family & Reunification
Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC)
Brooklyn · Bronx
After-school tutoring, summer camp, mentoring, a licensed mental health clinic and family engagement services for children of incarcerated parents.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Bronxconnect
Bronx
A faith-based community organization offering alternatives-todetention and -incarceration to court-involved youth in the Bronx and Manhattan.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
The Children's Village
Bronx
Provides services including residential treatment centers, shelters for undocumented children, foster homes, mom/baby boarding homes, runaway/homeless shelters, foster care related services, residential programs, community centers, after-school programs, mentoring initiatives for court-involved youth, and daycare...
Citywide services
These serve people from every borough, often by phone, online or at more than one office.
Education & GED
NYPL Free English Classes
Citywide
Free ESOL, ABE and English-for-Work classes in 10-week cycles.
Education & GED
NYC Public Libraries - Neighborhood Tech Help
Citywide
A joint program of NYC's three public library systems offering free, one-on-one tech support to help New Yorkers use devices, connect to the internet, set up online accounts, and build tech skills.
Education & GED
NYPL TechConnect
Citywide
Free computer-training workshops: internet basics, Microsoft Office, video chat, coding, online job searching.
Education & GED
NYS Department of Education - High School Equivalency (HSE)
Citywide
State office providing information on all pathways to a High School Equivalency diploma: application forms, eligibility, required documents and test sites. The call center gives recorded information Tue-Thu 10am-12pm.
Family & Reunification
SCO Family of Services
Citywide
Provides services to children, families, and adults, including therapeutic, educational, vocational, and supportive services for young adults on Rikers Island before and after release, Multi-Systemic Therapy for court-involved youth, foster care, early childhood education, and family/community services such as counseling, employment, and substance use treatment.
Education & GED
CUNY Adult Literacy Program
Citywide
Free ESOL, Basic Education and HSE/GED preparation classes at CUNY campuses.
Education & GED
NYC Department of Education - Adult Education
Citywide
Free basic education, ESOL and HSE test preparation for adults 21+ without a US high school diploma or equivalency, plus tuition-free career and technical education classes; some classes may have material/exam fees.
Family & Reunification
NYC Department of Education (DOE) - Infant and Toddler Programs
Citywide
Offers free or low-cost early childhood education for children ages six weeks to three years old who are not yet eligible for 3-K, including education, health, nutrition, and social services.
Family & Reunification
The Child Center of NY
Citywide
Offers counseling, substance use treatment, early childhood mental health and education programs (including Head Start and Early Head Start), and after-school and enrichment programs for youth in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The Jamaica Family Wellness Center serves court-involved youth, and the Benefits Access program helps families enroll in entitlement benefits and health insurance and get referrals for financial and legal assistance.
Education & GED
City University of New York (CUNY)
Citywide
26 colleges plus adult education (ESOL, HSE, college transition). Support page for students with conviction records.
Housing & Shelter
Thrive for Life Prison Project
Citywide
A faith-based organization offering housing, continuity-of-care support, and education for formerly incarcerated individuals at Abraham House and Ignacio House. Residents can access scholarships to partnering colleges and job-readiness and career-development support, plus help finding permanent affordable housing; a food pantry operates Saturdays at its Bronx location (340 Willis Avenue).
Education & GED
American Indian College Fund
Citywide
Scholarships for Native students at accredited nonprofit colleges.