Overland Park, KS – CAPS Network has received a $500,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to provide communities in Kansas with access to the equipment and supplies needed to accelerate their adoption of profession-based learning. This funding complements an investment of $750,000 provided to CAPS Network to advance professional development for rural educators in Kansas by providing high-quality training through the Rural Educator Professional Learning Fund. This fund is already supporting school districts in rural Kansas as they implement profession-based learning, design thinking, AI integration, and business partnership development.
“On behalf of the CAPS Network, I want to thank the Patterson Family Foundation for once again stepping forward to champion rural communities,” said Corey Mohn, President and Executive Director of the CAPS Network. “This investment supercharges our shared mission to level the playing field for students across Kansas—proving that talent, creativity, and opportunity are not defined by geography. Rural America is alive with entrepreneurial spirit, and thanks to this grant, we can harness that energy by equipping students with the tools and experiences they need to design their futures and lead.”
Continuing to Empower Rural Kansas
CAPS Network’s Rural Initiative aims to expand access to high-quality career exploration and hands-on learning experiences in 15-20 rural Kansas communities. An inaugural cohort of seven rural school districts were affiliated in 2024, and another six locations were added in 2025. Additional programs will have the opportunity to join the Rural Initiative in 2026 as we continue expanding access to profession-based learning across Kansas.
Through this new opportunity with the Patterson Family Foundation, CAPS Network will:
- Establish a statewide fund to help rural Kansas CAPS affiliates purchase essential equipment, materials, and technology needed to deliver authentic, profession-based learning experiences aligned with local industry sectors (e.g., health sciences, engineering, ag tech, and digital media).
- Empower schools to identify their most pressing needs while leveraging local partnerships and contributions, ensuring community ownership and long-term sustainability of rural innovation.
- Bridge the resource gap between rural and urban programs, creating pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers without leaving their hometowns.
“This funding will have an immediate and tangible impact in learning spaces across Kansas,” said Allison Koelzer Nelson, K–12 Liaison for the CAPS Network. “By providing the tools and resources educators need, we’re unlocking more hands-on, profession-based learning experiences that help students see themselves in future careers—and see those futures right in their own communities.”
About CAPS Network
Founded in 2009 in Overland Park, Kansas, CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) Network has grown into a global education movement, supporting 140 affiliate programs across 29 states and four countries. CAPS Network is a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on paving the education-to-employment path through profession-based learning. Programs that affiliate with the CAPS Network share best practices and connections with professional partners, post-secondary institutions, teachers and students.
For more information about CAPS Network and its work in rural Kansas, visit https://yourcapsnetwork.org/rural-kansas-initiative/
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Corey Mohn, President & Executive Director
Email: corey@yourcapsnetwork.org
