The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) is a program approved by the State Finance Council, as recommended by the SPARK Executive Committee, to support Kansas families and children recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning. KEEP provides qualifying parents and guardians with a $1,000 award per eligible student to pay for a variety of education goods and services that promote educational learning recovery and facilitate academic enrichment opportunities. Beneficiaries can spend their award funds in an online education marketplace that offers a variety of approved education goods and services.
The Kansas Education Enrichment Program is available to students who are between the ages of 5 (as of August 31, 2023) and 18 years old (as of May 31, 2024). Kansas Education Enrichment Program awards are also available for students above the age of 18 years of age who are still in high school, with proof of active school enrollment in a K-12 program.
Awards will be issued to those who qualify based on applicants whose income is 300% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Please see the chart(s) below to help determine eligibility:
Can parents and guardians enroll more than one student?
Yes, parents and guardians can enroll multiple students in their household. For each student award, you'll see a separate dashboard that lists the available, pending, and spent funds. Kansas Education Enrichment Program award funds may only be used for the student assigned to that individual account.
What is the process for shared legal custody or students in foster care?
In shared legal custody cases, only one parent or guardian can submit an application to receive an award for the student. No student may be used to determine eligibility in more than one family.
Students in foster care are eligible for program enrollment regardless of their guardian or custodian’s income. Required documentation includes a letter from the Department for Children and Families or Foster Prevention Service Provider verifying the name of the student and the date of the placement or custody paperwork signed by a government or court official.
The KEEP Education Marketplace is a destination for parents/guardians to search and find Qualified Education Service Providers with whom they can use their student’s program funds. The providers found in this marketplace have submitted applications to participate in the program, which were reviewed and approved by Merit for services or goods they provide that would qualify for reimbursement in this program. Please note that these service providers may display additional programs or items on their websites that are not program-approved.
The KEEP Claims app is the application used by parents and guardians to submit claims for the item(s) or service(s) they would like to use the funds for. The KEEP Claims app can be accessed at app.keep.ks.gov, and there is a mobile version that can be found on both the Apple and Google Play stores.
No, the Kansas Education Enrichment Program is not a loan or grant. If awarded, applicants are beneficiaries of Kansas Education Enrichment Program funding.
SNAP and FPDIR recipients are eligible to receive $1,000 per child to pay for educational services and supplies through KEEP. In order to be verified, applicants will need to provide their SNAP or FDPIR award letter.
Award amounts are not determined – if eligible, the award amount is $1,000 per eligible student.
Applications will be reviewed and awarded in the order they are received on a rolling basis.
The first round of awards will be issued to those who qualify based on applicants whose income is 300% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Please see the chart(s) below to help determine eligibility:
Eligibility may be expanded in future funding rounds depending on availability of remaining funds.
Parents and guardians can determine eligibility at www.keep.ks.gov and submit an online application. Applicants will be asked to provide their most recently completed tax return and accompanying schedules to determine household income and establish guardianship of the student(s). If a student is not documented as a dependent by the adult(s) applying, the complete tax return including all schedules are required from the person(s) claiming the student as a dependent.
Please do not submit multiple applications. If you need to update information, please contact Customer Support.
An application guide is available for review in English and Spanish.
Applicants will also need to provide proof of residency by providing any of the documents below.
Kansas drivers license or ID renewal postcard.
Current Kansas vehicle registration or title.
Utility bill or equivalent no more than two months old.
Financial institutions such as a bank statement, deed or mortgage.
One of the following documents to prove Kansas Residency
Current Kansas Driver's License or ID renewal postcard
Current Kansas vehicle registration
Utility bill or equivalent no more than two months old
Financial institution documents such as a bank statement, deed, or mortgage with a current Kansas address
Rent or lease agreement dated within the last 12 months
Kansas Voter Registration Card
For parents of children who are over 18 and still enrolled in a K-12 program in Kansas:
Documents to prove school enrollment for the child
Parents/Guardians who do not have a student in foster care or are enrolled in SNAP benefits, must have their income checked to determine eligibility. Acceptable documents include:
Copies of the first two pages of your IRS Form 1040 (to check income eligibility).
Parents/Guardians who have a student(s) in foster care, must provide:
A copy of the Placement Agreement document
Parents/Guardians who have are actively receiving SNAP benefits:
Parents/Guardians must provide their SNAP award letter.
They also need to provide proof of their relationship to the student with one of the following documents:
The first two pages of their 2021 or 2022 Form 1040 (most recent). If they have more than 4 dependents, then they must include the statement or attachment of dependents.
KEEP will send you an email letting you know your application has been approved within 2 weeks of your application. Please make sure your email mailbox is not full.
KEEP will provide approved parents and guardians with their accounts and access to an online education marketplace to purchase allowable services and materials.
Please note that approval times may be extended for applications that do not include all of the required information.
Parents and guardians can spend funds on approved programs and services to enrich education. These funds can be used for:
Day and overnight camps with academic-related curriculum such as music, arts, science, technology, agriculture, mathematics, and engineering
The purchase of curriculum and educational materials, including certain allowed technological devices
Language classes
Musical instruments and lessons
Tutoring
Other academic classes
Parents and guardians will have access to an online education marketplace to see relevant service providers by category, grade, and location that have been verified as offering approved programs and services.Parents and guardians can use the KEEP platform or app to submit claims and check their account balance(s).
KEEP funds may only be used for qualified education expenses. Prohibited purchases include, but are not limited to, tuition, smartphones, field trip fees, admission to museums, theaters, science centers and season passes.
Technology items will be limited to those purchased in an online store set up by Merit through one of these types of approved vendors: School supply / office supply vendors; Technology provider stores. Electronics purchased elsewhere will not be reimbursed.
Currently this program is only allowing vendors to sell physical goods who have an established online shopping experience that is integrated with Merit and can limit the goods they sell in their online store to only program-approved items. Any interested providers who would like to participate in the program must go through a two-step verification process: an organization review and technical review. For more information and a link to apply, visit this Help Center article.
If you or your organization offers a qualifying program or service, you may apply to be listed as a QESP. You or your organization will be listed in the Kansas Education Enrichment Program online education marketplace, where parents and guardians can search for your organization and the services you provide.
Before completing an application, please note that you will need to submit information about yourself and your organization, including:
Personal Information Required:
Full contact information for yourself and your organization;
Your government-issued ID (state-issued driver’s license or state-issued identification); and
Proof of employment (signed letter on organization’s letterhead).
Organization Information Required:
Your organization's license number, 501c3 number or TIN;
A description of your organization and the services it provides;
The services permitted under the Kansas Education Enrichment Program your organization will provide, a description of each and how the services will be delivered including face-to-face or live online delivery;
Grade levels to be served in the Kansas Education Enrichment Program;
The region(s) your organization will serve in the Kansas Education Enrichment Program;
Under the program, participating families will receive $1,000 per eligible student to spend on programs and services. Parents and guardians can choose to pay you directly for services and submit receipts to the Kansas Education Enrichment Program for reimbursement or submit your invoice for services to the Kansas Education Enrichment Program for direct payment to you. Either way, you'll be helping Kansas families use their award to help further a child's education.
No, QESP participation in the education marketplace is free.There are no application, administrative or transaction fees for QESPs participating in Kansas Education Enrichment Program.
OnJanuary 10, 2022, the State Finance Council, as recommended by the SPARK Executive Committee, approved an allocation from the US Department of the Treasury’s ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to provide individualized learning recovery awards to eligible Kansas students in response to the COVID-19 Public HealthPandemic.
