BOP Program Statement 5356.01 § 7

An inmate’s high school diploma or its equivalent is verified when:

 The SOE receives official documentation from the appropriate school or agency.

 Government personnel officially verify the high school diploma or its equivalent in the pre-sentence investigation report (PSI). A PSI should only be accepted as verification when the

writer clearly indicates educational records were verified.

 A valid postsecondary credential (e.g., associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s

degree, or doctoral degree) is an acceptable form of verification for a high school diploma or

its equivalent.

An English translation of the official high school diploma sent directly from a secondary or

postsecondary education school/agency from a foreign country to the SOE may be used, upon

verification, to document a high school credential.

When there is no adequate information to verify an inmate’s high school diploma or its

equivalent, the inmate must attempt to get verification information.

To do this, an inmate must complete a BP-A0812, Request for Education Records form, and

submit it to the SOE, who will forward it to the appropriate school or agency. An inmate may

request the form from a staff member.

Except those inmates exempt under Section 5 of this program statement, an inmate who cannot

obtain information to verify high school completion or its equivalent will participate in the

literacy program. Inmates have 28 days from their arrival at the institution to provide

documentation of a high school diploma or its equivalent. If the institution does not receive

verification of high school completion, its equivalent, or a completed college degree, the inmate

will be placed on the GED waiting list.

Guidance on accepting and documenting a high school diploma or its equivalent, including

online schools, can be found on the ESB page of the Bureau’s intranet site.

5356.01 6/22/2026 Federal Regulations from 28 CFR: this type. Implementing instructions: this type. 10