The State of Kansas has set aside funding to provide for educational enrichment
for students! See the flyer shown for details. For more information go to KEEP.
The Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) provides awards to a student’s parent or guardian to use on various enrichment and educational activities. The program is being offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Kansas Office of Recovery.
Here's how it works for parents, guardians, students, and service providers.
STEP 1
Parents and guardians can apply for a $1,000 award per eligible child to pay for a variety of goods and services that promote educational learning recovery and facilitate academic enrichment opportunities. Income verification is required.
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:
STEP 2
Qualifying parents and guardians will receive an email from Merit International, Inc. notifying them of their $1,000 award and their status as a "beneficiary." Beneficiaries will be invited to accept their digital access credential, or “merit.” This credential will be used as the login for the KEEP Claims app.
STEP 3
Organizations offering approved programs or services can apply to become a Qualified Educational Service Provider. Once verified by Merit, the organization will be listed in the KEEP Marketplace.
STEP 4
Beneficiaries can browse the KEEP Marketplace to see service providers that offer a variety of approved educational goods and services where they can utilize their award funds.
STEP 5
Parents and guardians use Merit’s KEEP Claims app on the web, or for Android or iOS to submit claims* and check the balance of their award accounts.
STEP 6
Parents will receive an email notifying them when a claim has been approved or rejected.
STEP 7
Once a claim is approved, payment will be made either to the parent/guardian or the Qualified Educational Service Provider, depending on what payor the parent/guardian selects during the submission of the claim. Claims submitted through the app may take 6-8 weeks for payment to be issued.
STEP 8
The beneficiary's award account balance will reflect the reimbursement.
* Please note: All claims must include a valid, educational reason for the service/good purchased and the service or activity must have started on/after the beginning of the program.