What is the Step Up Program?

  • Step Up is the Olathe Public Schools’ tuition-free diploma completion program for Kansas adults (age 18 or older) whose high school classes have previously graduated. Step Up students range from teenagers to retirees!

    Step Up is a self-paced online program that is flexible for students with jobs and families. It is fully aligned with Kansas curriculum standards, and is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education or for direct job placement / advancement.

    Once Step Up students complete their required credits, they receive Olathe Public Schools diplomas at a traditional graduation ceremony in May.

    It is never too late to earn a high school diploma!

    Read our Step Up brochure (PDF)

How To Participate in Step Up

  • Step 1 – Request Records and Sign Up for Enrollment

    The link below will take interested individuals to an online signup form that authorizes Step Up to request their academic records from their previous high school(s) so the staff may know what classes / credits are needed to complete a diploma.

    At that same link, potential students will sign up for a 20-minute (or so) orientation meeting with the Step Up staff. They may meet the staff in person at the Step Up computer lab in downtown Olathe, or by teleconference over Zoom.

    Once a person signs up for orientation, the Step Up staff will email instructions for a set of pre-enrollment online tasks to complete before the orientation meeting.

    Step 2 – Enrollment and Orientation

    During the 20-minute orientation, the Step Up staff will review the potential student's academic transcript and assign the first online class.

    • Students who are age 20 and older on Sept. 20, 2024 may begin right away. They may either work remotely or in the computer lab.
    • Students who are ages 18 and 19 on Sept. 20, 2024 are required to work two 6.5-hour enrollment days in the Step Up computer lab where they will begin their assigned online class. After those two enrollment days, they may work remotely or in the computer lab.

    Step Up will enroll students in one online class at a time, which should take about one month to complete.

    Begin the online enrollment process now.

    Additional Information

    Step Up hours are 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on regular school days. See the district calendar

    The program is based at the Mill Creek Campus, 300 E. Loula Street, in downtown Olathe, Kansas, 66061.

    Program administrators are available at 913-780-7880 or by emailing StepUp@olatheschools.org.