A just-released strategic plan aims to increase college attainment for Kansas Citians from low income high schools by 10 points to 23 percent by 2030, outlining an education access effort that doubles as an economic roadmap for a region in mid-transformation.
Supported by a grant from the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, KCCAN unveiled the strategy Tuesday. It offers concrete steps to help more students complete a college degree, technical program, or apprenticeship, said Dr. Mako Miller, inaugural strategy director for KCCAN, a focused initiative of the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network (MOCAN).
Dr. Mako Miller, inaugural strategy director for KCCAN, speaks during a KCCAN summit in December; courtesy photo by Estuardo Garcia
“The evidence is overwhelming: when education stops at high school, economic mobility often does too,” she said. “Graduating twice is now the surest path to a good job and a stable future, yet too many students are navigating the college and career landscape without the support they need. Closing this opportunity gap isn’t just an educational goal — it’s an economic imperative. Kansas City can’t afford to wait, and this plan offers a clear, actionable roadmap to expand opportunity and mobility for young people across the region.”
KCCAN’s plan is the result of a six-month process that brought together 75 stakeholders representing more than 40 organizations. Designed to complement efforts already under way in the region, the strategic plan details a coordinated strategy for driving improvement in three priority areas: career-connected learning, postsecondary enrollment, and postsecondary completion.
Click here to read the strategic plan, which calls specifically for:
- Increasing participation in career-connected learning by expanding access to structured experiences to build career awareness and exploration and greater access to high-quality career-connected advising.
- Increasing postsecondary enrollment by helping more students complete financial aid forms and apply for scholarships, and increasing the knowledge of adults – especially counselors and families – regarding local career pathways, required credentials, and the affordability and return on investment of postsecondary programs.
- Increasing rates of postsecondary completion through measures such as “stackable” credentials that let students accumulate marketable certifications along the way to a degree – with a special focus on credentials applicable to high-growth, high-wage industries in the KC metro area.
Workgroups have been convened on each of these key outcomes and began meeting in December. Each group will prioritize specific activities to undertake, using the strategic plan as a guide and reporting out quarterly.
“KCCAN represents the kind of bold, community-based initiative that is helping make Kansas City a national model for real economic opportunity and equitable economic growth,” said Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. “This plan will build on the progress we’re making and accelerate the transformative change that’s needed to close the educational opportunity gap and build an economy that works for everyone.”
In August, MOCAN hired Elizabeth Mounteer as KCCAN’s inaugural advising director. She leads a team of six full-time advisors placed in six KCPS high schools: East High School, Northeast High School, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Central High School, and Southeast High School.
Over time, the advising team may expand, enabling KCCAN to support more schools and districts across the region.
“This work matters because talent is everywhere — but opportunity is not yet equally accessible,” said David Miles, president of the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation. “By bringing together educators, employers, community partners, and families, we can build a stronger, more equitable future for Kansas City’s students and for our regional economy.”
