EVERY. STUDENT. PREPARED. INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW

Every. Student. Prepared.

Aligned is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving education in Kansas and Missouri.

40% of 4th graders are not proficient in reading
Missouri is behind the national average in educational attainment
47% of Kansas graduates leave the state
Aligned aims to crack this paradox by advocating for policies that will improve K-12 education and post-secondary outcomes, strengthen our workforce, and empower a generation of learners. Together with business leaders and policymakers, we’re reforming systems to unlock the full potential of Kansas and Missouri students and create a brighter future for all learners.
Updates & News
Lottery scratch off ticket

This month's highlights: Top News—With millions of dollars flowing into the Show-Me State to fight over ballot initiatives related to gaming, we provide a deeper dive into where the proceeds go in Missouri and Kansas. Missouri Update - DESE is still playing catch-up on subsidy payments. Officials...

Professional lead classroom instruction

In this case study, we showcase the success of the Visiting Scholars Certification Pathway. In 2018, Aligned worked with the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation establishing and expanding the Visiting Scholar Certificate. This certificate is available to individuals with an academic degree...

Hearing room packed at Veto Session

This month's highlights: Top News - Lawmakers held hearings during the Veto Session to question the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the childcare subsidy payment backlog. Missouri Update - St. Louis Board of Education voted unanimously to terminate SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha...

Problems Solved
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Missouri law prohibited measuring quality in early care and education centers. We removed that ban and established the Quality Assurance Report.
School districts could not use state aid dollars to partner with quality early childhood programs. We worked to pass language to allow contracting which increased the supply of quality pre-K. .
Administrators had few ways to address staffing challenges. We wrote language to allow alternative certification pathways for hard-to-staff schools and subject areas.
Kansas lacked a way to answer questions about education and workforce policy. We supported efforts to create a state longitudinal data system.
Uncover the power of aligning business with education to prepare every student.
Success Story
Aligned Case Study
Authored on

In this case study, we showcase the success of the Visiting Scholars Certification Pathway. In 2018, Aligned worked with the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation establishing and expanding the Visiting Scholar Certificate. This certificate is available to individuals with an academic degree or related occupational experience in a secondary content area. Qualified individuals must be employed by a Missouri public school district as part of a business-education partnership initiative designed to build career pathways systems for students or employed as part of an initiative designed to fill vacant positions in hard-to-staff public schools or hard-to-fill subject areas for students in a grade or grades not lower than the ninth grade.

In this case study, we showcase the success of the Visiting Scholars Certification Pathway. In 2018, Aligned worked with the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation establishing and expanding the Visiting Scholar Certificate. This certificate is available to individuals with an academic degree or related occupational experience in a secondary content area. Qualified individuals must be employed by a Missouri public school district as part of a business-education partnership initiative designed to build career pathways systems for students or employed as part of an initiative designed to fill vacant...

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Professional lead classroom instruction
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Students work on electronics with teacher
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Students work on electronics with teacher