Using data from two of the most recognized studies on the incarcerated population, the "U.S. PIAAC Survey of Incarcerated Adults" and a comprehensive evaluation by the RAND Corporation for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, as well as insights from interviews with leading experts in the U.S. penal system and his own observations made over four decades working in prison education, Stephen Steurer explores the role of education in reentry planning and recidivism and presents a compelling case for why we need to take immediate steps to improve the education and skills of the incarcerated population. The paper presents a series of pragmatic and actionable recommendations across three key domains: (1) improvements in training to emphasize the critical role of education in rehabilitation efforts; (2) advancements in policy supportive of correctional education and skill development; and (3) a call for an expansion of a national research agenda to inform continuous improvements for prison educational programming.