Kansas Joins National Effort to Expand Education and Workforce Pathways for Justice-Impacted Individuals
~The KDOC will receive up to $2.1M through Jobs for the Future initiative to increase access to education and training~
TOPEKA, Kansas. – The Kansas Department of Corrections has officially joined the inaugural cohort of Jobs for the Future’s (JFF) Fair Chance to Advance (FC2A) State Action Networks, a new initiative to help states expand high-quality postsecondary education and workforce pathways for individuals with histories of incarceration. As one of four states selected for the initial cohort, leaders in Kansas will work with JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to address barriers including discriminatory hiring practices and legal restrictions, that limit economic opportunities for many of the more than 70 million people in the United States with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration.
“Kansas has long recognized the profound impact education and workforce programs have on our incarcerated population, and our state’s selection for the Fair Chance to Advance State Action Networks is true recognition of the strides we have made,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Connecting returning citizens to training, education, and employment opportunities sets them up for success upon their release and reduces recidivism. Our efforts are rooted in the core belief that when we invest in people, we create safer communities, a thriving workforce, and a stronger state for all.”
The launch of the State Action Networks represents the latest phase of the FC2A initiative, initially launched in 2024 with support from Ascendium Education Group. JFF selected Kansas from among more than 30 applicants based on Kansas’ existing efforts to expand economic mobility for individuals with records, a strong commitment to bringing together a range of leaders across state agencies, and clear articulation for how participation in the cohort will catalyze long-term change in the state. Kansas will use its cohort membership to formalize channels for collaboration among state leaders, strengthen reentry metrics, and expand employer engagement amid significant statewide job growth.
“We are excited to collaborate with the bipartisan, inter-agency leaders from across Kansas who are committed to strengthening the state’s workforce, supporting businesses, and creating pathways to quality jobs for learners with histories of incarceration,” said Rebecca Villarreal, Senior Director, Center for Justice & Economic Advancement at JFF. “As Kansas experiences significant economic growth and workforce demand, state leaders are showing interest in how fair chance employment can contribute to the state’s future. FC2A will work with partners to explore how education and employment during incarceration connect to emerging opportunities across the state.”
Over the next four years, Kansas along with Maine, North Carolina, and Oregon, will receive up to $2.1 million in funding and technical assistance valued at $1.8 million from JFF and the Coleridge Initiative, a nonprofit organization working with governments to ensure that data is more effectively used for public decision-making. States will gain access to a secure data-sharing platform to improve coordination between partner agencies and participate in a national learning network designed to accelerate reforms across corrections, postsecondary education, workforce development, and fair chance employment.
“States play a critical role in creating education and workforce systems that open doors to opportunity,” said Molly Lasagna, Senior Strategy Officer at Ascendium Education Group. “When leaders align policy, funding, and data around a shared commitment to economic mobility, they can build pathways that work for learners and employers alike—especially for individuals with histories of incarceration that have been traditionally excluded from those opportunities.”
Mathematica will serve as the third-party evaluator to document lessons learned and share insights with the field. Throughout the initiative, the FC2A State Action Networks will closely engage people with histories of incarceration as advisors and co-designers. An application to join Kansas’ five-person directly impacted advisory board is now open.
###
About Jobs for the Future
Jobs for the Future (JFF) transforms U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for all. We design innovative solutions, scale best practices, influence policy, and invest in system change to create pathways to advancement and economic mobility. jff.org
About Kansas Department of Corrections
The Kansas Department of Corrections is the state agency managing Kansas’s prisons, focused on rehabilitating, training, educating, and preparing incarcerated individuals for reentry, offering programs like GEDs, CTE, college courses, and reentry support.
###
|
