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New Learning Models Library

Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS)

Inspiring students to do meaningful work is the goal of Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS). Supporting five suburban high schools in Kansas City, MO, Blue Valley CAPS is a career center that allows students to be immersed in professions-based learning. Students are able to transfer their core academic knowledge to industry problems while working with mentors and using industry standard tools. Born out of a need to connect students to meaningful work, what started as one site has now blossomed into an international CAPS Network of more than 60 school districts. Utilizing an ecosystem approach, Blue Valley CAPS understands how to bring education, business, and community together to create a new way of learning. The CAPS approach creates a pipeline for today’s careers and the ones of the future.

School Type

Part-time/Program

School Context

Multi-District Partnership

Dimensions

  • Outcomes: Development of the education to employment pipeline
  • Learner Experience: Professions-based learning
  • Competency & Credentialing: Professionalism-based assessments; Course/industry strand credentials
  • Wellness: Teachers as guides and coaches; Focus on professional skills; Wellness projects
  • Equity: Open for all model; Personalized learning; Connection to social networks
  • Professional Learning: Industry experiences; Professional learning; Adaptive leadership training
  • Strategy: Professional culture; Scale to in-school model
  • Partnerships: Industry partners; Mentoring; Advisory; Postsecondary; CAPS Network
  • Technology: Basecamp; Canvas; Zoom

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Submit Your Feedback and Recommendations

These resources have been vetted by the project’s partner organizations. While this list highlights a diverse set of models, we know there are more innovative models around the nation. We’d love to hear about yours!

Email info@txlx.org with your suggestions!

"Texas Rural Education Association supports and collaborates with school districts in order to promote positive public education efforts. We are appreciative for these services that benefit and advocate for rural schools."

Bill Tarleton, Executive Director, Texas Rural Education Association

"Friends of Texas Public Schools know that great things happen in Texas public schools, every single day; even in a pandemic! We are thankful for resources like this that help public schools prepare for whatever the future holds."

Jennifer Storm, Executive Director, Friends of Texas Public Schools

"TABSE supports the TxLx initiative which focuses on equity and provides access to all learners."

Dr. David Harris, President of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators