City Population: 2,747

District Population: 3 schools; 700 students

Norton USD 211, also known as Norton Community Schools, is a public school district located in Norton, Kansas. It serves approximately 700 students across three schools: Eisenhower Elementary School, Norton Junior High School, and Norton Community High School. The district also includes a universal preschool housed at the elementary school.

Educonomy Implementation Plan

Aspiration Statement – Our goal through the Educonomy Grant is to strengthen partnerships and relationships between USD 211 and the business community, to help recruit and retain the work force in Norton County, while providing educational opportunities and experiences for our students.

Implementation Strategies –

· Plan local field trips and guest speakers with local businesses

· Provide more post-secondary field trip opportunities

· Give juniors two and seniors three job shadow days as excused absences

· Work to update our CTE classes to build the schedule to get more funding

· Transition work-based learning classes to CTE Field Experience classes, which are funded

· Build upon our current Individual Plans of Study and create ePortfolios in Google Sites to highlight plans for future careers including coursework, CTE Pathway, job shadow, field trip experiences, and internships.

City Population: 2929

District Population: 310 students PK-12

Lincoln is in north Central Kansas. The district has a 1A high school with 100 students. Certified Nursing Assistant, Auto Tech, Welding and concurrent credit classes are offered to high school students. The auto tech and welding programs are offered in partnership with Salina Area Technical School. The district provides the building for these classes. There are students from area schools that send their students to the L-Tech building.

Educonomy Implementation Plan:

Aspiration Statement – Lincoln aspires to have more programs available that kids can get certificates for upon graduation or have the skills to enter the workforce.

Implementation Strategies –

Add an electrical program and CDL program in the future.

For the 2025-2026 school year we are offering Public Speaking, Eng. Comp I/II and Marketing in house for concurrent credit with Salina Area Technical School

City Population: 920

District Population: 364 PK3-12

Stafford USD 349 is a small, rural Kansas school district focused on preparing students for meaningful, career-aligned futures.

Educonomy Implementation Plan:

Aspiration Statement –

● to increase student employability experiences through preparation, certification, job shadowing, internships, and work-based learning opportunities.

● to increase the number of Stafford graduates who stay in Stafford as entrepreneurs or fully employed, productive members of our community.

Implementation Strategies –

● All high school students will have at least one job shadowing day during the 25-26 school year.

● Two teachers attended the CAPS Launch training and will develop a plan for implementing CAPS within our CTE classes. We have funding for three additional teachers to attend in the future.

● With the help of a grant from the Patterson Foundation, in the year 26-27, Stafford will implement the Kansas Can Competencies curriculum to increase durable employability skills in students.

● Fees for student certification tests will be covered by grant funds.

● In November, Nate Clayberg will spend a day helping us with business and community partnership development. This includes a community informational meeting and work time to develop our CAPS plan and career-connecting learning within the county.

● Stafford teachers will receive training for Debruce Foundation’s Agilities Assessment, which helps students identify their innate talents and career preferences through a self-assessment. Students will take the assessment and use the information in future planning.