KIPP Middle Schools: Addressing the Education of Low-Income Children

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) is a rapidly expanding network of public charter schools whose mission is to improve the education of low-income children. KIPP describes its approach as resting on "Five Pillars," publically available on its website: high expectations for all students to reach high academic achievement, regardless of students' backgrounds; choice and commitment on the part of students, parents, and faculty to a public, college preparatory education as well as the time and effort required to reach success; more time spent learning, both in academics and extra-curricular activities, each day, week, and year; power to lead for school principals, who are given the freedom to make budgeting, personnel, and other decisions, in exchange for heightened accountability for student results; and focus on results by regularly assessing student learning and sharing results to drive continuous improvement and accountability. KIPP was founded in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, two teachers