S. 5614 — Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2026

This section sets forth congressional findings on the scale of criminal and juvenile justice involvement in the United States, including 70 million people with arrest or conviction records, more than 450,000 annual prison releases, nearly 8 million annual jail admissions, and 500,000 youth arrests each year. It also finds that collateral consequences hinder reentry, disproportionately affect people of color and low-income individuals, reduce earnings and employment, and that expanded educational opportunities can improve outcomes by lowering recidivism.

This section directs the Secretary of Education, through the Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation, to issue guidance recommending that institutions of higher education remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from admissions applications. It requires the guidance to address when such questions may be retained, specifies procedures for delayed or non-admissions inquiries, and mandates training and technical assistance for admissions, financial aid, housing, and other staff on the use of such information.