Kentucky Advising Academy awards grants up to $10,000 to six schools to support postsecondary advising

May 14, 2025

Six Kentucky K-12 public high schools and area technology centers were named the recipients of grants to support postsecondary readiness advising. The grants, reimbursable up to $10,000, were awarded by the Kentucky Advising Academy (KAA), an initiative of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) in its efforts to support postsecondary advising and improve access to postsecondary opportunities in the state.

Schools and districts receiving grants are:

• Adair County High School
• Christian County School District
• Hart County High School
• iLead Academy (Carrollton)
• McCracken County High School
• Paducah Innovation Hub

Recipients identified a collaborative partner, such as a postsecondary institution, business and industry or community-based organization. As part of the collaboration effort, students engaged in campus tours, participated in live interview sessions, strengthened their financial literacy and developed professional communication skills. 

Each grant recipient prioritized one of the following four main categories of the Kentucky Postsecondary Advising Framework:

• College and Career Exploration
• Postsecondary Opportunities
• Essential Skills
• Financial Aid and Literacy

“Our research has shown that when students and their families have proper guidance and resources to prepare them in their postsecondary journey, they are more likely to succeed in both education and career,” said Amanda Ellis, CPE’s vice president for student access and success. “We hope, by funding these programs, students will be able to learn beyond a traditional classroom setting and gain real-world experience that will have a lasting positive impact on them for years to come.”

For more information regarding the KAA, please contact Mitzi Holland at mitzi.holland@ky.gov.