Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workforce Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Level Up Kansas asks committee to continue $2.5 million in funding after reporting 35,000 inquiries
Summary
Level Up Kansas told the committee the program has drawn more than 35,000 inquiries and asked that Commerce keep its $2.5 million appropriation to continue navigator‑led services that connect adult learners to community college programs, apprenticeships and scholarships
Kaylee Legasse, program director for Level Up Kansas, asked the committee to continue funding the program at $2,500,000. Legasse said Level Up had received more than 35,000 inquiries in its first 17 months and that 32,675 Kansans had requested information via the program’s intake process, with 569 referrals into community and technical college enrollment pathways to date.
Legasse described the program’s core model as navigator‑based casework: four navigators spread across the state provide personalized help by phone and email, guide adults through scholarship and apprenticeship options, help enroll candidates at community and technical colleges, and follow up during mid‑semester. Level Up’s navigators work remotely and are based in Merriam, Junction City, Hutchinson and Wichita, Legasse said.
Committee members asked operational questions. Representative Rogers asked for success stories; Legasse highlighted several client testimonials in the committee packet and said the navigator who matches Spanish speakers helps bilingual applicants. Representative Curtis asked for county‑level data; Legasse said she would follow up with specific Wyandotte County numbers. Representative Roth asked why the program appears in Commerce’s budget but not in House Bill 2007; Legasse said the program is in Commerce’s budget request but was not included in HB2007.
Level Up asked the committee to fund the program at the current $2.5 million level to maintain navigator capacity and statewide service; committee members said they would review the program in budget work sessions.
