Kansas Enrichment Network

Over the past half-decade, Kansas has made great progress in promoting safe, healthy, and enriching afterschool programs for thousands of our children. However, changes in the economy, the political environment, and the demography of the state have created tremendous stress on the educational system, the state, its communities, and its parents and youth. We believe that these three factors alone create substantial urgency for the establishment of a broader and stronger system of afterschool programs, especially at this critical educational juncture for Kansas.

The University of Kansas Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, along with its partners, has created the Kansas Enrichment Network, a collaborative partnership committed to to the children of Kansas through a coordinated service program. The lead partners in this effort are the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Kansas State Department of Education, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Kansas Health Foundation.

The Kansas Enrichment Network is building and expanding school-linked, school-based programs to enhance learning opportunities for students and is providing technical assistance to new and established programs. Agencies and organizations in Kansas that have experience with and an interest in out-of-school time projects-both community and faith-based projects-are mobilizing in a colaborative effort toward this end.

The Network envisions a state where all children and youth can participate in safe, high quality, affordable out-of-school time activities that keep kids safe, provide academic assistance, and help working families.
Our partnership strives to raise awareness, build capacity and sustainability, and promote the importance of such programs.