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Collegiate Academy
Scholars in college have the support of Regional College Coaches, operating from locations across the country, mentors available on campus and virtual support through a dedicated Kauffman Scholars Web site. back to top
Scholars2Leaders Academy
Scholars2Leaders Academy challenges Scholars in grades ten through twelve to explore the "four ships of success" – scholarship, leadership, mentorship, and entrepreneurship – working with the guidance and instruction of Leadership, Education and College Coaches. The goal is for Scholars to develop the ability to think critically about social issues, solve complex problems, and become a leading influence for positive action in the community at large.
Twelfth-grade Scholars meet quarterly in the Scholars2Leaders Academy, for four hours each session on a Saturday morning. The sessions begin at 8 a.m., and are preceded by a hot breakfast. Scholars receive a pre-assignment and a post-assignment for each session. A project focusing on Scholarship, for example, had a pre-assignment for Scholars to create a mock college freshman schedule, using a university web site to find course schedules, and to complete a college essay. During the actual session, Scholars participated in a mock college enrollment exercise, going through a series of scenarios as if they were college freshmen. The post assignment required them to complete three college entrance applications to their top three choices, and meet with their KSI College Coach.
The quarterly Leadership session required a pre-assignment of reviewing the bios of fellow Scholars who were running for class office, and selecting a candidate to support. During the session, Scholars heard about different styles of leadership, and the candidates debated. The post-assignment required Scholars to conduct an interview of an elected official in Kansas or Missouri, either in person or by telephone, and summarize the conversation.
Exploring Entrepreneurship requires the Scholars to read a topical book as a pre-assignment, such as Randal Pinkett's, Campus CEO. Pinkett, winner of season four "Apprentice," shared his story and strategies to become a successful entrepreneur while in college. During the session, Scholars hear from guest entrepreneurs, and explore developing a portfolio and polishing a cover letter and resume. The post-assignment requires Scholars to finalize their cover letter, resume and portfolio and submit it to their Coaches for approval; attend at least one interview for an internship, and complete a self-assessment process with feedback from their interviewers.
While studying the concept of mentorship, Scholars had a pre-assignment to read Tuesdays with Morrie, and complete assigned questions. During the session, Scholars are required to complete 25 hours of mentorship service, and write an essay about their experience.
Scholars in the tenth and eleventh grades attend Scholars2Leaders Academy once each month, from 6 to 8 p.m., and have quarterly sessions from 8 to 12 a.m. Make-up sessions are available. The younger Scholars explore the four ships of success through a range of activities, opportunities to hear from professionals, community service projects, reading materials, and practices to increase their own self-awareness and build confidence and leadership skills. Scholars2Leaders Academy employs the same pre-assignment, session, and post-assignment format for the younger Scholars. back to top
Summer Academy
KSI Summer Academy provides quality learning experiences to minimize summer "learning loss" and provide extended exposure to the college campus environment through College Residential Institutes. Summer Academy operates at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas and Westport High School in Kansas City, Missouri, for six weeks each summer for Scholars in grades seven through eleven.
The phenomenon of "learning loss" over the summer is generally more severe among low-income students, who may not have access to quality summer courses and camps to help them stay mentally sharp between school years. Summer programs often employ experiential and expeditionary learning, applying long-term project-based investigations that include individual and group projects, field studies, and presentations of student work to audiences beyond the classroom.
An example of a summer project is the "Park Project" that required Scholars to select a park in the metropolitan area to evaluate for its current validity as a community resource, and to recommend actions that could be taken to improve the park and resolve problems regarding safety, crime, maintenance, and environmental issues. Scholars received input from parks and recreation professionals, and at the culmination of the project, Scholars presented their findings to representatives of the Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas Parks and Recreation Boards.
Students who do well in Summer Academy participate in a week-long College Residential Institute at one of the regional colleges that partner with KSI. For many of these young people, the college stay is the first extended exposure to the college environment. Scholars have an opportunity to participate in classes taught by college faculty and student volunteers, and be introduced to the campus lifestyle. KSI partners with nine colleges for the visits, including Central Missouri State University, Kansas State University, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Ottawa State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri - Columbia, and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. back to top
Saturday Enrichment Academy – SEA
Saturday Enrichment Academy (SEA) provides a rigorous and robust academic and life skills curriculum suitable for Scholars in grade nine. SEA operates Saturday sessions once each month at two sites – Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas and Westport High School in Kansas City, Missouri
Scholars meet on the third Saturday of each month for both Life Skill and Academic instruction, and to participate in a KSI Community Service Project with their parents and guardians. The morning usually begins with three hours of life skill instruction, using curriculum developed by KSI Life Coaches, working with the Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction. KSI Life Coaches guide Scholars through sessions focusing on career exploration, the college preparation process, social etiquette skills, and communication skills, including interviewing and making presentations.
Simultaneously, the Scholars' parents are participating in parent workshops created by the KSI Director of Parent Engagement to improve their parenting skills and introduce them to a "tool box" of strategies and techniques they can use effectively with their Scholars during their various stages of development. Midday, the Scholars and their parent/guardians meet to have lunch together. Following lunch, the Scholars move to their respective classrooms for academic enrichment classes, using curriculum developed by KSI Academic Coaches, also working with the Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction. Scholars receive in-depth instruction to strengthen their skills in English Language Arts or Math and Science. back to top
Academic Enrichment Academy - AEA
All Kauffman Scholars begin their journey here, led by Academic and Life Coaches, studying a challenging curriculum focused on Math, Science, English Language Arts, and the development of Life Skills.
AEA operates after-school sessions four days per week at two sites – Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, and Westport High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Scholars in the seventh and eighth grades attend AEA twice each week for three hours per evening. Rather than tutoring Scholars through homework assignments, AEA provides rigorous academic instruction and enrichment, addressing the same subjects taught in their schools, from a different and more advanced approach.
KSI's instructional practices utilize project-based learning teams and themes, driven by topical real world questions. For example, seventh grade teams of Scholars have addressed the theme of hidden messages in the media, driven by the question "how has the media influenced who I am?" Seventh-grade teams have also explored the theme of the past, present and future of the Olympics, driven by the question "how is the Olympic spirit alive in me?" Eighth-grade teams of Scholars have delved into perceptions of the relationships and patterns found in music and poetry, driven by the question "what is music and poetry to me?" Examining the realm of ethics in corporate America and entrepreneurship, eighth-grade teams have tackled the question of "how to develop and market an ethical business in the field of human technology."
AEA academic curriculum is developed by KSI Academic Coaches working in tandem with the Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction. The curriculum employs research-driven instructional best practices to lead to greater student engagement and close achievement gaps. Greater academic rigor is realized in the curriculum through proven models such as project-based instruction, the workshop instructional approach, differentiated instruction, the balanced literacy and numeracy instructional strategy, and experiential and expeditionary learning.
Life skills curriculum is developed by KSI Life Coaches, working also with the Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction. The resulting curriculum focuses on personal issues and life skills, and addresses topics relating to self-esteem, decision-making, problem-solving, self-awareness and self-management. Life Coaches conduct Life Skills Assessments, concentrating on the following areas: Approach to Learning; Self-Awareness; and Leadership Development. Life skills instruction is designed to help socialize intelligence, and develop reasoning capabilities along with habits of mind that lead one to use those capabilities regularly.
Among the highlights of AEA are college visits; Scholars participate in College for a Day visits, and in College Residential Institutes, that offer extended campus experiences. KSI partners with nine colleges for the visits including Central Missouri State University, Kansas State University, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Ottawa State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri - Columbia, and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. back to top