Program Information

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.

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.
  • Rent or lease agreement.
  • Kansas Voter Registration Card.

All applicants must provide:

• 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.
  • An adoption decree
  • A custody decree
  • An affidavit of guardianship

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.

• 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.

No. KEEP beneficiaries will not need to pay income tax on their awards.

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.

• • 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;
• Customer invoicing information;
• Price range of services; and
• Your organization’s logo (not required).

Please contact Merit’s Kansas Education Enrichment Program dedicated customer success team at (785) 294-3483 or help@keep.ks.gov.

Visit this page for current hours of operation.