In the 21st century, a rigorous academic experience is not enough. Our community realized this when successful students graduated, only to lack the professional skills to deliver early value in high skill, high demand professions. Organizations needed more, and a partnership was born to co-create experiences, exposing students to authentic learning as "student consultants" to business clients.
At CAPS, students are placed in a culture where they are treated as adults, own their learning, and make mistakes without punishment. Nearly all students come from learning environments that place the teacher in the front of the room as the ultimate authority figure. CAPS works to tear down that hierarchical culture and rebuild the learning experience as one that is collaborative, purposeful, active and authentic. Students drive the experience, with adults a coach and guide, going where the students lead.
Students work in a professional area of interest. Examples include bioscience, engineering, healthcare, innovation and technology. The curriculum adjusts to meet the passions of the students. Recent examples of student-client projects include the construction of a sensory chair for children with autism that was licensed internationally, a data analytics solution that saved Fortune 500 company over $2 million, and an app created to connect those with mental illness with supports.
The CAPS framework has been spreading rapidly through our affiliation model. The original Blue Valley CAPS program launched in 2009, and a few pilot affiliates started between 2012-2014. In 2015, the Blue Valley School District created the CAPS Network to connect nodes of educational innovation. As a result, there are currently 8,000 students and nearly 20,000 alumni of CAPS programs. The network includes 69 affiliate programs and spans 19 states in the U.S. and two additional countries, India and Canada. In total, 125 school systems provide students the CAPS experience.
We love connecting with others that share common purpose with us. We believe that every student deserves to discover their calling. Anyone interested in partnering should reach out directly by emailing Corey Mohn, Executive Director of CAPS Network, at cmohn@bluevalleyk12.org.
Additional information on CAPS can be found in our playbooks, available here: https://tinyurl.com/y3znnmkn
