CAPS Network selects first cohort for $951K initiative toward rural Kansas learning expansion
June 4, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A significant U.S. Department of Education grant is expected to serve as a catalyst for CAPS Network’s ambitious plan to expand profession-based learning in rural America, with a particular focus on its home state of Kansas.
Seven rural partner communities already have been selected.
The federal funding came after impactful advocacy from U.S. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, according to leaders from CAPS, which is headquartered in Overland Park. The primary objective of this initiative is to identify and collaborate with rural communities that share a vision of providing high school students with authentic, real-world experiences directly connected to professionals in various fields.
“Hands-on experience exposes students to new career opportunities and provides them with practical skills they can take with them into the workforce,” said Moran. “Our country is facing significant workforce shortages in a number of industries, and the CAPS Network is helping prepare students across America, and particularly in rural school districts, to meet those demands.”
“I’m grateful these federal resources will provide new learning opportunities for Kansas students and help address our nation’s workforce needs, ” he added.
ICYMI: CAPS Network expanding into rural Kansas schools with $951K education grant
Among the 2024 cohort of rural Kansas communities participating in the initiative:
- USD 430, South Brown County Schools, Horton
- USD 407, Russell
- USD 432, Victoria
- USD 379, Clay County, Clay Center
- USD 443, Rural Education Workforce Alliance, Dodge City
- USD 428, Great Bend
- USD 392, Osborne
The initiative is expected to span the next three years, extending through 2025-2026. Other districts are invited to apply for the 2025 cohort, with CAPS Network planning to award another five to 10 communities and begin working with them in summer 2025.
Click here to learn more about the rural Kansas initiative.
Key highlights of the initiative:
- Affiliate expansion: CAPS Network aims to create 12-15 school district affiliations, introducing the CAPS framework and programming in 2024. This expansion will ensure rural communities have access to cutting-edge educational opportunities.
- K-12 liaison: CAPS Network has hired Allison K. Nelson as the dedicated K-12 Liaison to provide onboarding, on-ground support, and coordination for all aspects of CAPS implementation. This critical role will help ensure the success of the program in rural areas.
- Resource platform access: Educators in rural Kansas will gain access to the CAPS resource platform, known as the CAPS Colab, to integrate profession-based learning into their curricula. Training opportunities on the CAPS teaching mindshift will also be made available.
- National networking: CAPS Network will connect educators from rural Kansas with innovative educators nationwide fostering collaboration and innovation in education.
- Professional learning opportunities: Educators will have the opportunity to attend the CAPS Network professional learning conference, the Summer Huddle, with discounted and free passes provided by CAPS Network.
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Sit Foundry takes a stand for ‘lost art’ of upholstery amid fast furniture’s climate threat
Alex Krause Matlack is bringing what she teaches in the classroom to Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as she pursues Sit Foundry — an all-inclusive reupholstery design studio. “In the first week of my Intro to Entrepreneurship class, I tell my students to go out into the world and take notice of the problems they face.…
De-risking a dangerous job: How a window washing startup is raising the bar (and hose) with drones
It’s a nightmare to clean the windows of multi-story buildings, said Andrew Brain. “It’s incredibly unsafe for folks to be hanging on the side of buildings — and it’s incredibly expensive for them to be there. Insurance liability has gone up 300 to 400 percent. … I was thinking that there’s got to be a…
Callie England’s latest venture has no name or website; When odds are you’ll die next week, you learn to prioritize, she says
Sometimes hypothetical questions become all too real, said Callie England, a serial entrepreneur who frequently posed a speculative query to herself and clients: “If you were going to die next week, what decisions would you make?” It was a question she was forced to answer honestly in July 2021, when the veteran Kansas City startup…
Wingman’s twice-fried chicken flies south, finding its sweet spot in Johnson County
A pandemic-battered, Westport fried chicken restaurant is on the move, chasing new opportunities in Overland Park and frying up a second chance that could be the secret ingredient to franchise expansion, its owner said. “Wingman is the food provider for the entire district,” said Duane Jordan, owner of a Wingman Kitchen franchise, detailing the restaurant’s…