Kansas KEEP studying loss program will give households $1,000 awards
A brand new statewide program will give Kansas households $1,000 awards to combat studying loss, Gov. Laura Kelly’s workplace introduced Tuesday.
The Kansas Training Enrichment Program, as soon as absolutely carried out, will give eligible households a one-time, $1,000 award per scholar meant to assist pay for academic items and providers like tutoring and college provides, as a part of an effort to get well missed studying alternatives throughout the pandemic.
“With KEEP, we’re enabling Kansas college students to entry the sources and help they should thrive within the classroom. I look ahead to households having the ability to entry these funds quickly,” Kelly stated in a launch. “Within the meantime, I’m calling on all Kansas companies that present training providers to affix the KEEP Market and assist our college students reside as much as their highest potential.”
Kelly was one of many nation’s first governors to order schools closed nearly three years ago at the onset of the pandemic in the U.S.
Whereas the shutdowns are credited with serving to cease illness unfold and had been later rolled again or continued on the native degree, Kansas’ educational achievement has suffered in the years since, particularly when college students tried to be taught through distant or hybrid instructing strategies.
Extra:Kansas’ national reading, math scores drop to some of the lowest on record
Funding for KEEP comes from Kansas’ share of the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Native Fiscal Restoration Fund. A state panel of lawmakers in December 2021 had approved the creation of a $50 million program to address learning loss for low-income families, and Kelly had come below fireplace for not performing sooner on establishing such a program.
“That is truly a disgrace as a result of there are third occasion entities which are very skilled at this,” Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta and chair of the Home Ok-12 Training Price range Committee, had beforehand stated of Kelly’s delay.
A similar $17.3 program in Oklahoma came under federal and legal scrutiny last year after an investigation discovered program grants had gone towards non-educational bills like smartphones, televisions, online game consoles and Christmas timber. Kansas’ program will particularly bar such purchases.
Kansas KEEP studying loss award utility opens Feb. 22
Solely Kansas households whose family revenue is lower than 185% of the federal poverty degree will initially be eligible for KEEP grants. That may usually imply that college students who additionally qualify for free- or reduced-price faculty meals will probably be eligible.
If funding stays after that preliminary wave, the appliance would turn out to be open to households at 300% of the federal poverty degree. A remaining spherical of awards would turn out to be open to any family, if funds stay out there.
Households will obtain $1,000 awards for every scholar, if eligible.
Functions are open beginning Feb. 22 at keep.ks.gov.
Kansas households can use KEEP studying loss awards on tutoring, day camps and college provides
Per the program’s website, households who obtain KEEP awards will be capable of use them on eligible educational and educationally enriching bills, similar to day camps with educational or subject-specific focuses, language lessons and tutoring.
Households can even be capable of purchase curriculum and academic supplies, together with some technological gadgets. Music devices and classes are additionally eligible.
As soon as this system begins, households will be capable of submit bills for reimbursement and verify their award steadiness utilizing a web-based dashboard.
Some bills, similar to faculty tuition, smartphones, sporting items, discipline journey charges and admission to museums and different venues, are prohibited, below this system.
The state will later launch a web-based KEEP market with an inventory of eligible bills and providers from Certified Training Service Suppliers. Companies and organizations considering turning into Certified Training Service Suppliers could already apply at keep.ks.gov/qesp.
Rafael Garcia is an training reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He will be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by cellphone at 785-289-5325. Comply with him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.
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