The Kansas City Kansas Community College Elementary and Secondary Education programs were recently announced as sub-partners of the TRUST grant, awarded to the Kansas State University’s College of Education (COE).
The TRUST Grant (Training for Rural and Urban School Teachers), is designed to construct a teacher pathway to license new teachers for rural and urban schools. It focuses on helping students earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary or secondary education. Recipients of this funding source can receive 12 credit hours of tuition support in the final semester of their degree program. The grant supports students regardless of residency on campus or through the Bachelor of Science Online program (BSO).
In addition to working with teacher pathway programs at local school districts, Project TRUST coordinators collaborate with the administrator of the programs at KCKCC.
"The TRUST (Training for Rural and Urban School Teachers) grant sub-award represents a significant investment in our students and community,” said Dr. Hira Nair, co-coordinator of education at KCKCC. “It enhances our efforts in recruiting and retaining future teachers from our community, helping them gain access to quality education at KCKCC and Kansas State University's College of Education.”
KSU COE focusses its efforts on creating a teacher pathway leading directly to a Rural/Urban Yearlong Residency in districts with hard to fill positions and underserved geographic areas. Current teacher pathway students in the second semester receive scholarships for participating in the Yearlong Residency. This grant includes seamless articulation of coursework from KCKCC (AA Elementary & Secondary Education) to KSU COE.
Awarded by the Kansas Board of Regents as a Teacher Education Competitive Grant Program, the TRUST grant is currently in its fourth year, ending in December 2025. It will likely to be renewed at that time.
“By supporting teacher development, we strengthen the foundation of education, empower students to achieve their goals and foster stronger community connections,” Nair said. “It is a critical step in advancing equity and educational opportunities for all.”