Innovation Across Kansas

CAPS Rural Initiative

Empowering Communities with Profession Based Learning

In 2024 CAPS Network launched a major support initiative to increase profession-based learning across school districts in Kansas! 

CAPS Network’s mission is to develop robust relationships between K-12 education and business and community partners to generate meaningful, profession-based experiences for students.

Join an international network of over 100 affiliate programs with access to over 250 curricular and experience-based resources! Receive mentoring, networking, professional development and more! Your community could be the next to join in revolutionizing education. CAPS young professionals launch into early career experiences, gaining transferable professional skills, technical know-how and the confidence to embrace a future in the industry of their choosing.

Seven school districts across Kansas were selected for the inaugural cohort in 2024. We are excited to announce 6 new Kansas programs have been selected to join the 2025 cohort. One additional cohort for the CAPS Kansas Rural Initiative will be accepted.

 

Why Join the CAPS Rural Initiative Cohort?

  • Join A Transformative Community

    Join an international network of over 100 affiliate programs in which educators and thought leaders support, encourage and lend resources to one another. CAPS Network’s community of innovators also includes local, national and international businesses ready to partner with you!

  • Resources To Get Started

    With the CAPS CoLab you’ll have access to hundreds of resources and best practices to bring Profession-Based Learning (Pro-BL) to your community. CoLab has lesson plans, marketing materials, support documents and more!

  • Get 1:1 Coaching

    The CAPS Network has a team dedicated to coaching you as you and your community bring your CAPS program vision to life. We have experts in Pro-BL instruction and design, innovation, business partnerships and more ready to help you through each step of the process.

  • Professional Development

    Rural Initiative Cohort members receive dedicated professional development workshops designed around your community’s needs. Educators also have the opportunity to become credentialed CAPS Educators.

  • Special Events and Location Visits

    As a CAPS Network member your community is invited to special events hosted only for CAPS Network schools, educators and students. These include local and virtual challenge events as well as Summer Huddle – our summer gathering for collaboration and celebration. Plus the CAPS Network team make a personal visits to you!

  • First Two Years Are Grant Supported!

    CAPS Network has received a grant that allows us to support our Kansas cohort through the first two years of program development. This means that licensing fees and first and second year affiliation fees are waived for cohort members who meet grant requirements.

Updates from the 2024 Cohort

Since launching, this initiative has showcased the incredible innovation, resilience, and passion of rural students. By joining the 2025 cohort, your school and community will access resources, industry partnerships, and mentorship to ensure students thrive and rural economies grow.

Design Challenge Events: Innovation in Action

This fall, two CAPS Network Design Challenge Events brought students face-to-face with professional challenges, pushing them out of their comfort zones and unlocking their potential. Joining the 2025 cohort will give you access to events like these in your region. 

On November 8th in Russell, KS, students from Victoria, Osborne, and Russell CAPS tackled a social media marketing challenge for the Kansas Department of Commerce’s “Love, Kansas” campaign. The day was full of excitement and collaboration as students embraced the opportunity to craft innovative strategies. One student reflected, “Being let loose with our own resources felt exhilarating.”

Then, on November 13th in Dodge City, KS, students from Spearville and Dodge City stepped up to solve two unique challenges: how to help Flex Fitness engage immigrant populations and how to boost foot traffic at Vintage Belle Boutique despite downtown construction. The experience left students feeling accomplished and empowered, with one commenting, “It made me feel like I was preparing to present to important people.”

These events proved that rural students have the creativity, drive, and talent to tackle complex problems and make meaningful contributions. Joining CAPS Network provides opportunities like these to your students, administrators and business partners the powerful impact Profession Based Learning can have on your community.

“The CAPS model is beneficial to both school systems and business/industry in rural communities.  By having students work on real-world projects while still in high school, they are able to build career readiness skills needed for their future careers while also building a network of individuals in their respective career interests.” – Ashely Borer, Nebraska CAPS

Professional Development Opportunities for Rural Initiative Cohorts

Rural Educator Professional Learning Fund

Summer Huddle 2025 in Kansas City

LaunchPAD

Apply Now for the 2025 CAPS Rural Initiative Cohort!

The CAPS Network is thrilled to announce recruitment for our 2025 cohort of rural communities! If you represent a rural Kansas school district and want to transform education in your community, this is your moment. The CAPS model empowers students with hands-on, profession-based learning, helping them gain valuable skills and explore real-world careers while remaining connected to their roots. 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CAPS 5 Core Values?

What is the difference between center-based, industry embedded, and classroom by classroom approaches to CAPS.

Why is CAPS Network working in Rural Kansas?

Does my school district have to engage in a long-term relationship with CAPS Network?

What will participation in the CAPS Network Rural Initiative cohort cost?

What will my district be expected to do?

What if my district is not ready to commit to the ’24-’25 cohort?

I have questions and/or need help completing an application for my district.