Affordable Test Prep for All Students: Kim Canning on Expanding Access
Release Date: 01/07/2026
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info_outlineIn this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, President and Founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Kim Canning, Vice President of University Partnerships at Kaplan, for a timely conversation about access, affordability, and what it really means to be student-centered in admissions preparation.
Kim shares how Kaplan’s mission of leveling the playing field through access shows up in practice, from breaking down socioeconomic barriers to rethinking how test prep is delivered at scale. The conversation explores Kaplan’s All Access License, a model designed to make high-quality admissions prep available to all students, not just those who can afford it.
Together, Lisa and Kim unpack how strong university partnerships are built by listening first: aligning with institutional priorities, supporting employability readiness through skills courses, and extending value beyond enrollment to alumni. Kim also walks through a powerful case study with Hampton University, highlighting how integrated test prep and skills development can help graduates become confident, critical thinkers.
Whether you’re an institutional leader, EdTech innovator, or university partner thinking about equity in admissions, this episode offers practical insight into how access-driven design and collaboration can open doors for students at every stage of their academic journey.
Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/
Bookmarks:
0:40: Meet Kim Canning, VP of University Partnerships at Kaplan
2:23: The DNA of Kaplan: Leveling the Playing Field and Providing Access
6:45: Breaking Socioeconomic Barriers: Making Test Prep Affordable for ALL Students
9:00: Introducing the Kaplan All Access License
12:02: Working with University Partners on Their Priorities
16:47: Fostering Employability Readiness with Skills Courses
17:30: Case Study: Hampton University Graduates Critical Thinkers
21:30: What Does It Mean to Be Student-Centered?
25:30: Endless Ways of Partnering with Schools for Test Preparation
26:57: Supporting Alumni Through University Partnerships
28:30: How Schools Get Started with Kaplan
31:06: Creative Ways Big Institutions Partner with Kaplan
Resources:
Blog: Unlocking Potential: A First-Generation College Student’s Journey to Medical School
Blog: Beyond Limits: How One Student Is Redefining Her Future & Pursuing Law School