Topic: Academic Performance
Target Population: Adolescents, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood
Sector: School-Based
This program is for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.
The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) is a system of college-preparatory, public charter schools that are designed to strengthen students' academic performance with the ultimate goal of setting students on a developmental trajectory that leads to future life success.
Multiple, independent quasi-experimental studies examining the effectiveness of this program with middle schoolers from predominately under-resourced communities have been conducted. Collectively, these studies demonstrate consistent, positive program impacts on students' math and reading performance that persist 1 to 2 years following program entry. The effect is more pronounced for math than reading, and there is some evidence that program gains are greater for limited English proficiency and special education students. These results, however, may not generalize to other student populations. One study examined longer-term outcomes in a group of lottery participants who were offered admission to enter a KIPP middle school and a control group that included lottery participants who were not offered admission. Results demonstrated a positive impact of KIPP on rates of enrollment in 4-year college programs. Effects on ‘persisting over time’ (i.e., enrollment in a 4-year college beginning in the fall after high school graduation and continuing without interruption for 2 years) were positive but were not statistically significant.
KIPP charter schools are a tuition free, alternative approach to traditional public-school education in the United States. KIPP schools intend to bolster students' academic achievement in order to prepare them for college or a career. KIPP schools are founded on the following Five Pillars:
KIPP schools also focus on character development with an emphasis on enthusiasm, self-regulation, resilience, thankfulness, confident expectations, emotional competencies, and exploration.
KIPP was established in 1994 and currently consists of a network of 270 public charter schools with nearly 10,000 educators and over 160,000 students and alumni.
Starting or running a school requires leadership training. Multiple training options exist depending on the leadership role one will occupy. For more information, please visit https://www.kipp.org/approach/highly-effective-teachers-and-leaders/kipp-leadership/ Training and professional development opportunities also exist for teachers, who must meet their state's certification requirements for teaching. For more information, please visit https://www.kipp.org/approach/highly-effective-teachers-and-leaders/teaching/
Considerations for implementing this program include understanding implementation will require establishing a relationship and affiliation with the KIPP school network, realizing an oversight from KIPP regional organizations and the national foundation is necessary, recruiting and retaining school staff who have a suitable educational background, gaining community support and parent buy-in, and obtaining a suitable facility for the program.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing KIPP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
The amount of time students spend in the program varies depending on when and where they enroll. KIPP schools include prekindergarten through 12th grade, so students could spend up to 14 years in the program. In addition, all KIPP schools have an extended school day (i.e., 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and involve some type of summer school.
Costs to run a school vary based on a variety of factors, such as school location and size.
To move KIPP to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted by an independent evaluation team.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact the KIPP Foundation, or a specific KIPP school, by visiting www.kipp.org/contact/
https://www.kipp.org/ and Nichols-Barrer, Bartlett, Coen and Gleason (2022)
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