PRP Group and K20 Connect Partner to Offer Full Suite of Communications Solutions

Los Angeles, CA– October 31, 2024 – PRP Group, a Hawke Media Company, and K20 Connect today
announced a strategic partnership to provide a comprehensive range of communication solutions aimed at tackling challenges faced by educational institutions. This collaboration will address critical issues such as increasing enrollment, reducing chronic absenteeism rates, and enhancing efforts in teacher recruitment.

By combining PRP Group’s  award-winning expertise in public relations and marketing for the education
sector with K20 Connect’s senior-level educational leadership and communications strategies, the
partnership offers a full suite of services designed to improve educational outcomes.

“The challenges that school districts face today—ranging from declining enrollment due to school choice and the expiration of ESSER funding—require new, strategic approaches to district communications,” said Jacob Hanson, Managing Director, PRP Group. “This partnership allows us to identify opportunities for improvement and exploration and provide guidance to leadership as they assess and refine their overarching communications strategy to empower their brand, share their message, and strengthen their community as they work to boost enrollment, reduce absenteeism and improve teacher recruitment.”

At the heart of this partnership is the Strategic Communications Benchmark Assessment, which empowers districts to evaluate and refine their brand, messaging, and overall communication strategies. Additional services include education strategy, governance, executive coaching, and education marketing. PRP Group delivers comprehensive support through PR strategy and content, crisis communications, media relations and media coaching—each tailored to guide clients through the unique challenges of the education sector.

“In an era when educational institutions are facing unprecedented challenges, our partnership with PRP
Group is not just timely – it is essential,” said Dr. Kecia Ray, Founder and CEO of K20 Connect. “By
harnessing innovative communication strategies, we are empowering schools to engage their communities, boost enrollment, and attract top teaching talent, ultimately ensuring every student has access to a quality education.”

Addressing Key Challenges for School Districts

For District Leadership:

School districts are facing declining enrollment and increasing absenteeism, issues that directly impact their budgets and overall operations. This is compounded by the expiration of federal ESSER funding and the growing influence of school choice legislation, which allows students and their funding to follow them to competing schools. The Strategic Communications Benchmark Assessment service provided through this partnership gives district leaders a clear path to strengthening their brand, refining their messaging, and engaging their communities more effectively.

For K-20 Education and Edtech Vendors:

The partnership also offers strategic support for education vendors who are grappling with budgetary
constraints in districts. Vendors can no longer rely on past marketing tactics and must differentiate
themselves in a competitive market. The combined expertise of PRP Group and K20 Connect provides
education vendors with deep market research, strategic communications, and targeted public relations
services that help them reach the right audience at the right time.

To learn more about how we can support your organization, please visit us online www.prp.group/connect-with-us

About PRP Group

PRP Group, a Hawke Media Company, is a premier public relations, marketing intelligence, and strategic communications firm that has been serving the pre-K–12 and higher education markets for over 20 years. A multi-year winner of the EdTech Digest EdTech Leadership Awards and the Edvocate Awards for Best EdTech PR Firm, we specialize exclusively in education and have partnered with hundreds of companies, organizations, and nonprofits—from the biggest names in the market to high-growth startups—to craft compelling stories for their specific education audiences. PRP Group offers a variety of media relations and communications services for regional, national, and education media; crisis communications planning and management; and marketing intelligence. Everything we do is built around powerful, influential storytelling, authentic relationships, and a deep understanding of how to influence education buyers. Learn more at PRP.group

About K20 Connect

K20 Connect, led by Dr. Kecia Ray, is a women-owned consulting firm specializing in providing strategic
communications, change management, and market research services to school districts and education
vendors. Drawing on Dr. Ray’s experience as a former superintendent and educational leader, K20 Connect helps districts and companies navigate the complex challenges of modern education with customized, effective solutions. For more information visit www.K20connect.com.