A recent survey by HirePaths, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Education, revealed a shift in Kansas parents’ attitudes towards their children’s post-high school education, with a notable 11% drop in those favoring immediate enrollment in four-year colleges and increased openness to apprenticeships and technical schools.
Data from the Parent Perception Survey Report 2024 indicates evolving perceptions among Kansas parents. While 84.1% of parents in 2024 still expressed happiness if their child enrolled in a four-year college or university at some point, the immediate push for such a path has lessened. This change suggests a growing acceptance of non-traditional education routes, such as apprenticeships and technical schools, which are becoming more appealing to parents.
“Every single path is viable and one is not better than the other. All paths can be successful; we just want kids to have a path,” Kristin Brighton, founder of HirePaths said.
The belief that children need to leave Kansas to be successful has remained consistently low, with only a slight increase from 10.1% in 2019 to 10.4% in 2024 indicating a strong confidence in the opportunities available within the state.
The mission of HirePaths, founded in 2021 by Kristin Brighton, is to retain Kansas children by exposing them and their parents to various post-high school options. Brighton emphasizes that all career paths are viable, aiming to provide children with informed choices without dissuading them from pursuing college.
The initiative was born out of Brighton’s observations of job shortages in her role with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and her work with the New Bostonians Marketing Group. She realized many parents and children were unaware of the job opportunities in Kansas, prompting the creation of HirePaths.
HirePaths offers resources such as career exploration options, interviews with professionals in various fields, and activities for parents and children to explore potential career paths together. Brighton’s goal is to ensure that every child has a path to success, whether through traditional or non-traditional means.
