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 By 2018, the U.S. will need 22 million new workers with college degrees—and will fall short of that number by at least 3 million degrees—according to a 2010 study.* With the demand for a college-educated workforce outstripping supply, PREP-KC is making strategic investments in Kansas City's urban school districts to maximize after-school and summer learning opportunities. These unique strategies are specially designed to connect to what students are doing in classrooms during school and prepare more students for success in post-secondary education.
 PREP-KC's summer learning initiatives were designed in partnership with the Kansas City Missouri School District, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and Kansas City Kansas Community College. These innovative summer learning experiences bear little resemblance to the "summer school" of the past. Instead, they focus intensively on college and career preparation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) by including:
- Initial coursework in engineering, health sciences or biotechnology.
- A multi-year course sequence (using after-school and summer learning time) where students take college courses to prepare for STEM-based post-secondary degree programs and STEM-based employment opportunities.
- Relevant career readiness credentials that prepare students for entry level jobs in STEM fields.
- A hands-on, project-based curriculum that prepares students to work in teams to solve industry-based problems.
- Work-based-learning experiences that expose students to careers in each industry area and to the post-secondary education requirements associated with various other career pathways.
With only 52% of students from low-income families graduating high school and entering college,** PREP-KC has designed and launched focused  strategies for improving post-secondary-going rates—particularly for first generation college-goers. The PREP-KC STEM programs include:
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College course-taking on a post-secondary campus. The on-campus experience is vital to helping low-income students see themselves as college-goers.
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Support in completing key college-going milestones, such as successfully passing community college placement exams, which indicates no need for remedial coursework.
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Mentoring experiences designed to support students in understanding post-secondary and career pathways.
By making innovative use of summer and after-school time, PREP-KC and its partner school districts and community colleges are providing important opportunities for urban high school students to raise their aspirations and prepare for college and/or employment. Through these new summer learning opportunities, local and regional employers and educators will soon see an increase in urban students enrolling in post-secondary education, a decreased need for remedial courses in college and a better-prepared workforce for Kansas City.
*Seltzer, M., Smith, N., and Strohl, J. (2010) "Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018," Georgetown University - Center on Education and the Workforce.
** Seltzer, M. (2010) "Early College High Schools Beat the Odds," Education Week.
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