Coffey County's excellent schools, kindergarten through senior high school, are un-paralleled by any other county in the state. Our facilities, with a variety of educational programs, services and highly trained professional staff, all provide a strong indication of community support. Educational programs are also available for pre-kindergarten children. The education resources for business/industrial training include computer classes, courses in business/management and machine training for specific equipment. All in all, this creative environment really makes the grade.

Public Schools:

Coffey County's elementary school's places strong emphasis on the mastery of basic academic skills and a competent support staff is available to assist with special needs and interests of children. The county's upper elementary/junior high school's offer a gradual transition from self-contained classrooms to departmentalized classrooms according to subject area. The county's high school's offer their students a well-balanced curriculum in both academic and vocational skill areas. Approximately 97% of the county's graduating seniors continue their education in colleges, universities and technical schools. Evening adult education courses are offered at Coffey County schools through Allen County Community College in Iola and Flint Hills Technical College at Emporia.

Day Care facilities are represented by 2 centers, 3 group day care home, 13 licensed day care homes, 12 registered day care homes and 2 pre-schools. Tax credits are offered against Kansas income tax liability for businesses providing child day care services to employees. These credits apply to taxpayers who pay for or provide child day care services for their employees or that provide facilities and necessary equipment for child day care services.

Post Secondary Schools:

Employers' needs are met with special training programs through area technical and community colleges.

ACCC Health Care Academy - New Strawn/6 miles
Allen County Community College - Iola/39 miles
Flint Hills Technical College - Emporia/45 miles
Neosho County Community College - Chanute/50 miles

Universities and Colleges:

Emporia State University - Emporia/45 miles
Kansas State University - Manhattan/120 miles
Pittsburg State University - Pittsburg/120 miles
University of Kansas - Lawrence/75 miles
Washburn University - Topeka/60 miles
Wichita State University - Wichita/130 miles

Full Time Enrollment, Number of High School
Graduates and Graduates Continuing Education

	2004/2005	2005/2006	2006/2007	2007/2008
Coffey County Enrollment	1748	1765	1742	1720
High School Enrollment	534	540	549	546
Number of High School Graduates	112	118	138	126
Percent of High School Graduates	92.6%	95.9%	98.6%	94.7%
Number of Graduates Continuing Education	90	106	134
Percent of Graduates Continuing Education	80.3%	89.8%	97.1%

Kansas Department of Education

Through the Kansas 1st initiative, educational institutions in Kansas continuously develop a growing reservoir of business-relevant training. Kansas 1st customizes these programs to meet an employer’s specific needs. Kansas’ universities, community colleges, and technical colleges can help businesses analyze jobs; design, develop, and evaluate training; screen potential employees by specific criteria; assess incumbent and potential employee skills; and recruit qualified employees.

Commerce also continues to offer its traditional workforce training programs through Kansas 1st. Companies may design training plans to meet specific skill requirements and can apply to receive financial assistance to offset training costs through the most appropriate program(s). Those companies creating new jobs may qualify for Investments in Major Projects And Comprehensive Training (IMPACT) and/or Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) assistance. Jobs created within a “Kansas Basic Industry”—that is, in manufacturing, distribution, regional or national service facilities, or another business primarily engaged in goods production or development or service provision for out-of-state sales—may qualify for these programs. Eligibility for either program depends on the number of jobs created and the corresponding wages.

Both programs offer direct financial assistance to pay a negotiated portion of the costs to train a company’s employees. Companies may apply the assistance toward such items as instructors’ salaries; meals, travel, and lodging (including out-of-state or international travel); videotape development; textbooks and training manuals; supplies and materials; temporary training facilities; and curriculum planning and development.

To participate in IMPACT or KIT, the company prepares a training plan identifying who will be trained, the types of training, who would conduct the training, and the estimated training costs. KIT training contracts typically run 12-18 months in length. IMPACT contracts run somewhat longer, allowing up to 36 months to train each new position. Trainees are free to travel to the geographic locations most appropriate to provide them with the skills the company needs.

A retraining program to help upgrade skills of an existing workforce is also available. The program, called Kansas Industrial Retraining (KIR), can be used for basic enterprises that are restructuring due to the incorporation of existing technology, new technology, product diversification, or new production activities. Retraining assistance is also available through IMPACT if it affects 250 or more jobs within metro areas or 100 or more outside the metro areas of Kansas.