Founded | 1994 |
---|---|
Focus | Preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. |
Key people
|
Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder Dave Levin, Co-Founder Richard Barth, CEO |
Slogan | Work hard. Be nice. |
Website | www.kipp.org |
Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder
Dave Levin, Co-Founder
The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) is a nationwide network of free open-enrollment college-preparatory schools in under-resourced communities throughout the United States. KIPP schools are usually established under state charter school laws and KIPP is America's largest network of charter schools. The head offices are in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C..
KIPP was founded in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, two Teach For America corps members. In 1995, they opened two KIPP middle schools, one in Houston and one in New York City. Both schools were among the highest-performing schools in their communities by 1999. KIPP was one of the charter school organizations to help produce the Relay Graduate School of Education for teacher training.
KIPP began in 1994 after co-founders Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg completed their two-year commitment to Teach For America. A year later, Feinberg and Levin launched a program for fifth graders in a public school in inner-city Houston, Texas. Feinberg developed KIPP Academy Houston into a charter school, while Levin went on to establish KIPP Academy New York in the South Bronx. The original KIPP Academies have a sustained record of high student achievement.