Board hears KU partnership update as Jayhawk Blueprint enrollment and credits increase, but gaps persist

The USD 497 Board of Education on Nov. 10 received a presentation on Jayhawk Blueprint, the district’s concurrent-enrollment partnership with the University of Kansas, that showed substantial growth in participation and college credit earned but persistent access gaps for racially diverse and economically disadvantaged students.

Dr. Amaya presented longitudinal data from 2019 through 2024–25 showing individual student participation increased from 288 to 445 (a 34% increase) and total course enrollments rose from 560 to 1,117, meaning course enrollments more than doubled since 2019. The district reported total college credits earned through Jayhawk Blueprint rose from 1,854 to 2,633, an increase the presenters said represents significant financial savings and early academic momentum for students.

The presentation also disaggregated participation by race and economic status and identified disparities. Dr. Amaya said 17% of racially diverse students accessed blueprint courses compared with 30% of white students. Similarly, 12% of economically disadvantaged students were enrolled in blueprint compared with 33% of non-economically disadvantaged students. Presenters characterized the gaps as urgent areas for targeted recruitment and pipeline work and noted that the figures represent blueprint participation only, not other advanced-course pathways such as AP or dual enrollment conducted off-site.

Presenters described current supports and next steps: tuition for Jayhawk Blueprint courses is approximately $103 per credit hour — substantially below KU’s standard rate — and the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Truity Credit Union have provided scholarships and waivers that the district said have covered a portion of tuition for qualifying students. Since 2018, the Lawrence Schools Foundation has awarded more than $156,000 in scholarships for blueprint students, and Truity Credit Union contributed nearly $140,000 of that total. Dr. Swift said the district’s next step is to expand tuition coverage to 100% for economically impacted students and to explore extending Jayhawk Blueprint to Lawrence Virtual School to reach more students.

KU’s Dr. Melinda Fowles, who represents the university partner, said the program aligns with KU’s goals and that recent improvements include compensating district teachers who deliver KU courses. She confirmed that Jayhawk Blueprint credits are systemwide-transferable among Kansas public institutions and that about 40% of Jayhawk Blueprint participants matriculate at KU.

Student testimony underlined the personal impact: student Evan White said taking blueprint classes was “a great way to jump start your college experience” and described entering college with sophomore-level credit, noting family savings as an important benefit.

Board members pressed for follow-up data: requests included a more detailed racial breakdown of the 17% figure, separate counts by school (Free State and Lawrence High), comparisons that overlay AP and other dual-enrollment programs, and an analysis tying enrollment in advanced coursework to postsecondary outcomes. Presenters agreed to follow up on those data requests and noted limits in existing systems for tracking off-site dual enrollment and postsecondary success.

What’s next: District staff will pursue steps to increase equitable access — including pursuing 100% tuition coverage for economically impacted students, exploring virtual-school expansion and strengthening AVID pipelines — and will return with more granular participation and outcome data at future meetings.

Key quotes: "It was a blueprint for college," said student Evan White. "We'd like to ensure 100% tuition for all economically impacted students," said Dr. Swift, describing a next step to lower barriers to participation.

Provenance: Jayhawk Blueprint presentation and Q&A.