Kids in a classroom

College For Kids

2024 College For Kids

Summer Enrichment Program

2024 Registration Opens March 1, 2024 at noon.

2024 Program Dates

  • Monday, June 17 - Thursday June 27 (Session A)
  • Monday, July 8 - Thursday, July 18 (Session B)

All sessions to be held at Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, IA and to run 8:30 a.m. - 12:07 p.m. There is an optional daily Early Bird Class 7:45 - 8:20 a.m. Sessions will run nine days each. For further information regarding dates and times see the Registration Guide.

2024 Program Fees

For further information regarding fees and payment see the Registration Guide.

Looking for more information?

Here are some past blog posts about our program. For additional needs, concerns or questions, please email Susie Green or call 319-399-6775.


About College for Kids

Founded in 1987, the College for Kids Summer Enrichment Program is offered to nominated high-ability middle school students who enjoy being academically and/or creatively challenged and who wish to expand on their advanced talents and abilities by taking faster-paced, topic-specific courses on a college campus.

College for Kids:
• Is a Grant Wood AEA program held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.
• Offers more than 50 courses taught by talented area educators and professionals.
• Provides opportunities for inquiry-based learning, independent study, group & individual projects, cooperative learning, and various other hands-on activities.
• Is attended by over 900 students each summer, representing schools in the seven-county region.


Student Nomination & Eligibility Requirements

Students may be nominated for College for Kids based on:

  1. Academic Eligibility
  2. Fine Arts Eligibility
  3. Academic & Fine Arts Eligibility
  4. Other Eligibility Considerations (see list)

Eligible students will have completed 6th, 7th or 8th grade by summer 2024 and are enrolled in a school or homeschool in the Grant Wood AEA service area. Eligible students are capable learners who demonstrate the following:
• The ability to work cooperatively to solve problems and apply concepts
• The ability to exhibit independence, perseverance and flexibility in their work
• The ability to keep pace with advanced learning opportunities
• A curiosity in a wide range of interests with the ability to create and invent

Academic Eligibility

Have met at least one of the following criteria:

  • Have been identified for/participate in a gifted education program at school.
  • Have achieved at least one of the following testing criteria:
    • ISAP: Advanced category in English language arts (ELA): reading and/or language/writing, mathematics, and/or science
    • Cog/AT: Above average or very high category in verbal, quantitative, non-verbal, or composite
    • NWEA MAP: High category RIT score in reading, language, math, and/or science

Fine Arts Eligibility

Have met at least one of the following criteria:

  • Have demonstrated exemplary fine arts ability or performance at school.
  • Have enthusiastically participated in school and/or community-based fine arts programming.

Other Eligibility Considerations

Eligible College for Kids students may exhibit several of the following traits:

  • Intellectual curiosity in school-related and/or personal interests
  • Critical thinking skills (toward concepts and self)
  • Goal-directed behavior
  • High expectations for self and others
  • Outward empathy, eagerness, and passion (service focused)
  • Focused and determined behaviors or personality