For Immediate Release:
January 31, 2023
Contact:
Cassie Nichols
cassie.nichols@ks.gov
Governor Kelly Announces Program to Provide $1,000 per Student to Qualifying Families to Promote Learning Recovery
~~Kansas Education Enrichment Program to
Open for Applications February 22~~
TOPEKA – As Kansas students continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Laura Kelly announced today the creation of the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP), which will provide qualifying parents and guardians with a one-time $1,000 award per child to pay for educational goods and services such as tutoring and school supplies. KEEP will open for application on February 22. Kansas businesses that provide educational materials or services are urged to join the KEEP Marketplace.
“With KEEP, we’re enabling Kansas students to access the resources and support they need to thrive in the classroom. I look forward to families being able to access these funds soon," said Governor Kelly. “In the meantime, I am calling on all Kansas businesses that provide education services to join the KEEP Marketplace and help our students live up to their highest potential.”
Students whose household income is less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines will be eligible for KEEP funds.
KEEP funds will be able to be used on enrichment and educational activities including:
- The purchase of curriculum and educational materials, including school supplies and certain allowed technological devices
- Camps with academic-related curriculum such as music, arts, science, technology, agriculture, mathematics, and engineering
- Tutoring
- Language classes
- Musical instruments and lessons
The funds will not be eligible for private school tuition.
Parents and guardians may select enrichment and educational activities from approved service providers via the online KEEP Marketplace or request that a service provider be approved and added to the statewide directory.
Businesses that offer educational opportunities and services are encouraged to join the KEEP Marketplace to assist families and students. Businesses interested in becoming a provider on the KEEP Marketplace can apply to become a Qualified Education Service Provider on the program website: www.keep.ks.gov.
More information on how families can apply for, access, and use their funds is forthcoming and will be available in February when the KEEP application launches.
KEEP is being offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Kansas Office of Recovery, with the goal of providing educational activities and learning opportunities to students across Kansas to promote educational learning recovery in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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