Early and ongoing intervention is known to be a critical element in increasing the likelihood that students in underserved communities will attend college and then thrive there and beyond. Crucially, intervention is most effective when it starts at an early age—planting the seeds in young minds that college is a realistic option for them—and continues from elementary school through high school.

The Leadership U. program provides grade-appropriate preparation scaffolded through four curriculum manuals, each tailored to a specific stage of learning, and includes a supplement to guide high school students through the college application process.

The interactive lessons of the Grades 6–8: Developing Key Life Skills curriculum incorporate differentiated learning, foster engagement in school, develop personal responsibility and teamwork, dive into healthy identity exploration, provide an opportunity to examine life interests, and encourage students to take on the role of leaders. Participants are engaged by The Leadership Program's proven-effective approach to enrichment and social and emotional learning, which has been implemented in thousands of classrooms for hundreds of thousands of students.