KIPP (network)

KIPP (network)
Name	KIPP
Formation	1994
Founder	David Levin, Michael Feinberg
Type	Charter school network
Headquarters	San Francisco, New York City
Region served	United States

KIPP (network) is a nationwide network of public charter schools operating primarily in urban areas across the United States. Founded in 1994 by educators who emerged from the Teach For America corps, the network expanded through partnerships with local school districts, philanthropic organizations, and state charter authorizers to serve predominantly low-income communities. KIPP schools emphasize extended school time, college-preparatory curricula, and a set of behavioral expectations known as the KIPP "character strengths."

History

KIPP traces its roots to a pair of middle schools established by David Levin and Michael Feinberg in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1990s, drawing influence from Teach For America, Ronald Edmonds-style school improvement models, and urban reform efforts associated with figures like Rudolf Flesch and organizations such as the Annenberg Foundation. The model gained national attention after coverage in outlets like the New York Times and advocacy from charter proponents including Michelle Rhee and Wendy Kopp, catalyzing expansion into cities such as New York City, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.. Growth accelerated in the 2000s through backing from philanthropies including the Walton Family Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Doris & Donald Fisher Foundation, as well as through federal charter law frameworks under the No Child Left Behind Act and later the Every Student Succeeds Act. The network formed the non-profit umbrella organization Knowledge Is Power Program, Inc., coordinating replication, training, and advocacy amid debate with district leaders, state legislators, and labor unions such as the American Federation of Teachers.

Structure and Governance

KIPP operates as a federation of affiliated nonprofit local entities overseen by regional and national offices. Local KIPP boards incorporate leaders from civic institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and municipal officials from cities including New Orleans and Baltimore; regional support organizations provide teacher recruitment, professional development, and facilities guidance. The national organization negotiates authorizer relationships with bodies like the New York State Education Department and the Texas Education Agency while coordinating with accreditation agencies and legal counsel affiliated with firms experienced in charter litigation, and interacts with statewide charter associations such as the California Charter Schools Association and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Governance has involved partnerships with municipal mayors' offices, philanthropic funders, and higher-education partners like Georgetown University, Columbia University, and University of Michigan for research and teacher pipelines.

Curriculum and Educational Model

KIPP schools implement a college-preparatory curriculum emphasizing literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies aligned with state standards and assessments like the SAT and statewide standardized tests administered by agencies such as the Florida Department of Education. KIPP adopted extended instructional time modeled after programs highlighted by researchers at Harvard Graduate School of Education and curriculum designers associated with organizations like The CORE Districts and Achievement First. The KIPP approach includes a character-development framework influenced by Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and elements reminiscent of programs studied by scholars at Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins University. Teacher professional development draws on mentorship systems similar to those promoted by Teach For America, residency models tested at Boston Teachers Union-partnered sites, and curricular resources used by networks such as Success Academy Charter Schools.

Performance and Accountability

KIPP’s academic outcomes have been evaluated in studies by institutions including Harvard University, MDRC, University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, and Stanford University. Research often compares KIPP cohorts to students in district public schools and charter peers such as Uncommon Schools and Achievement First, reporting gains in test scores, middle-school promotion rates, and college matriculation in many locales. Accountability is mediated through charter authorizers, state report cards, and federal provisions in laws like the Every Student Succeeds Act, with periodic oversight by bodies such as the U.S. Department of Education and state legislatures. KIPP also partners with higher-education institutions including University of California, Los Angeles for longitudinal tracking of college persistence and completion.

Funding and Partnerships

KIPP finances operations through a mix of public per-pupil revenue, facility financing, philanthropic grants, and bond transactions facilitated by municipal authorities and community development entities. Major philanthropic partners have included the Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and local foundations tied to corporations such as Google and Microsoft. KIPP has collaborated with municipal governments, charter authorizers, and healthcare partners like Kaiser Permanente for student supports, and with universities including Yale University and Princeton University for research, teacher pipelines, and scholarship programs. Facility acquisition and capital projects have been funded through community development financial institutions and programs connected to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local housing authorities.

Criticisms and Controversies

KIPP has faced criticism and controversy from education researchers, labor advocates, and community groups over issues including student attrition, selection practices, expansion impacts on traditional district schools, staff labor practices, and discipline policies. Critics from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, union-affiliated educators, and scholars at Teachers College, Columbia University have challenged attrition analyses and called for greater transparency in enrollment and suspension data. Legal disputes have arisen in jurisdictions like New York and Nevada over charter renewals and facilities, while debates involving municipal leaders and state legislators have centered on public funding formulas and authorizer accountability. Proponents and skeptics frequently engage through policy forums at institutions including Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, and Center for American Progress to debate KIPP’s role in broader urban school reform.

Category:Charter school networks in the United States