FRANKFORT, Ky. — A group of college and graduate students from across Kentucky got a crash course in state policy in Frankfort this week.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy wrapped up its first summer policy institute at Kentucky State University Wednesday.

Kelton Crank and his team focused on the issue of child care deserts. Crank, of Pikeville, is a graduate of Morehead State University.

“Coming from a child care desert and completing my undergraduate degree in a child care desert, folks that I’ve worked with, I’ve sat in class with, family have all experienced not being able to access child care,” Crank said. “It has prevented folks from working and tending to other obligations.”

The students met with lawmakers and policy professionals at the Kentucky State Capitol during the four-day state policy boot camp.   

Split into teams, they ended the week presenting on policies related to income tax reduction, education and incarceration.

Crank’s team proposed a pilot program for supplemental public-based early child care in five Kentucky school districts that have a child care desert. 

“When it comes to policy, everyone should be involved and so it’s really important to show our students that they matter in this space, that their voices matter and that they can understand, comprehend and make change themselves,” said Natalie Cunningham, outreach director for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Crank is entering a health care administration graduate program at the University of Kentucky and said he owed it to his community to educate himself on the key issues affecting Kentuckians.

“Ultimately, ourselves and the ones we love in our community, we’ll have to deal with the consequences,” he said. “So it only makes sense to me to put in the time now. That way, when problems arise and problems that we are currently dealing with, we’re much better equipped to confront.”