Literacy is the number one workforce, economic and social imperative. It improves quality of life, leads to better health outcomes and creates opportunities for individuals. Basic literacy skills are a requirement for most good jobs. By 2030, Kansas will add 54,000 new jobs that require education beyond high school.

Yet a third of Kansas students read below grade level. Recognizing that this number must improve, Kansas is implementing a bold new initiative to change the trajectory of literacy in our state and help all students reach their potential - the Blueprint for Literacy. 

In February of 2024, the Kansas Board of Regents adopted the Blueprint for Literacy. Subsequently, the Kansas Legislature passed the Blueprint in SB 438, which was signed into law by the Governor on April 25, 2024. The Blueprint makes literacy a state-level priority, establishes a framework for increasing literacy, and creates a structure to implement and oversee the initiative through the Regents’ new Office of Literacy, the Director of Literacy and the Literacy Advisory Committee.

The Blueprint provides Kansas with a framework to improve literacy rates and establishes two important goals for the state.

1. 100 percent of the Kansas special education, English for speakers of other languages and elementary teacher workforce achieve a microcredential in the science of reading and structured literacy by 2030
2. 90 percent of students in grades 3-8 reading at grade level by 2033

The Blueprint will utilize developments in the Science of Reading to ensure that all teachers are equipped with and practiced in proven methods of literacy instruction. This will be achieved through new applied learning courses that are being implemented across the state's public higher education system to incorporate the Science of Reading into teacher education. In addition, the Office of Literacy will launch a series of courses for teachers in the classroom and school leaders that will lead to micro-credentials.

To view Senate Bill 438, click here. 

The Literacy Advisory Committee was established by the Kansas Legislature to monitor progress of literacy training for in-service and preservice teachers and literacy education of elementary and secondary students. The Committee designates best practices for literacy training for in-service and pre-service teachers and literacy education of elementary and secondary students.

The Committee is responsible for the attainment of the transformational goals created by the Blueprint, and makes recommendations for achieving those goals to the Director for Literacy, the Board of Regents, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature. The Committee will also submit annual progress reports to the Legislature.

The Advisory Committee is developing a plan for the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Reading.

Meeting Information

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If you’re here, you’re looking for a career that pays well and is in demand.

Whatever gets your motor running – mechanical, medical, industrial, computers or something else– a Kansas Career Technical Education program will give you the hands-on 21st century skills that are essential to employers and our economy.

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Don’t let financial costs hold you back from taking the next step.

Kansas Career Technical Education programs provide an inexpensive way to build or re-tool your skills and start working in a high demand profession with more flexibility for your future.

Plus, you may also qualify for financial aid including the new Promise Act scholarship from the Kansas Board of Regents to help pay for your CTE tuition and fees.

Apply for a grant or scholarship to help you build a new career.

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Start building your career in as little as a few weeks.

Kansas CTE programs prepare you for a new career quickly with lots of short-term training, certificate, and associate degree options.

With dozens of technical colleges, community colleges, and universities that offer training throughout Kansas, you can find a program close to you to start building your new career in as little as a few weeks.

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Nearly 350,000 Kansans have some college credit but no degree. Kansas CTE programs provide the skills and credentials needed for hundreds of jobs where you can see the results of your work everyday!

Kansas CTE is a great way to build a career that is:
• right for you
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There’s a real sense of excitement when you look towards the future and take the steps to make it happen. Kansas CTE jobs not only pay the bills, but pave the road to something better for you, your family, and your community.

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The Kansas Adult Learner Grant provides assistance for adult students aged 25 and older who are seeking a bachelor’s degree in specific fields of study.  This is a service scholarship; accepting funds obligates the recipient to live and work in Kansas after graduating from their degree program. 

APPLICATION

 Application for the 2025-2026 is now closed. 

                                           *Awards are made on a first come, first serve basis. 

ADULT LEARNER GRANT ELIGIBLE FIELD OF STUDY

Only certain degree programs are eligible for the grant.  Eligible fields of study include: 

• Information technology and security; 
• Health care and nursing; 
• Science, engineering, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing; 
• Education, early childhood education and development; 
• Business, accounting or data analytics; OR 
• One additional field of study designated by the institution and identified as high demand, high wage, or critical need occupation. 

INSTITUTIONS

Eligible institutions must have at least one existing eligible program to be considered eligible and include:

• Public four-year universities;
• Washburn University; and
• Private, not-for-profit institutions;
• Not-for-profit institutions operating outside of Kansas which is nationally accredited and offers a qualifying online competency (this includes Western Governor's University)

APPROVED PROGRAMS BY INSTITUTION

AWARD AMOUNTS 

• $3,000 per semester 12 or more hours 
• $2,750 per semester 11 hours 
• $2,500 per semester 10 hours 
• $2,250 per semester 9 hours 
• $2,000 per semester 8 hours 
• $1,750 per semester 7 hours 
• $1,500 per semester 6 hours 

Awards are only for Fall and Spring semesters. 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

For students to be eligible for a service scholarship, they must:

• Be a Kansas resident; AND
• Be 25 years of age or older by the start of the first grant-funded college course; AND
• Be seeking a bachelor’s degree at an eligible four-year institution in an eligible field of study (see Approved Programs list above)

To be eligible, students must have a family household income of:

• $100,000 or less for a family of two;
• $150,000 or less for a family of three; and
• $150,000 + $4,800 per additional family member beyond three.

Students must:

• Complete the online scholarship application (link at top of page);
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Enroll as a full time or part-time (no less than 6 hours) at an eligible institution in an eligible program for Adult Learner Grant.  
• Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the Adult Learner program.

FULFILLING SERVICE OBLIGATION

To fulfill the requirements of the scholarship agreement, students must: 

• Graduate from their degree program within 48 months of receiving first grant award; AND 
• Live and work in Kansas within 6 months of graduation for two consecutive years.  

If a student fails to satisfy the service obligation, they will be required to repay the grant.  

Scholarship Obligation Verification Paperwork -  Kansas Adult Learner Grant Verification form

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