Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP)
Program basics
- Charter schools with an extended school day and extended school year
- “High expectations” environment, with focus on high performance in attendance, homework, support for parents, and professional development for teachers
- Performance-based employment decisions, substantial regional autonomy in leadership practices, training, and resource allocation
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
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Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps and Social Programs That Work; the second-highest level of evidence by the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse
Target population
All school-aged children
Program cost
Estimated $12,731 per student per year
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
1994–present
Outcomes and impact
- Positive effects on mathematics and English achievement
- Potentially positive effects on science and social studies achievement for middle and high school students
- Improved mathematics achievement by an average of 12 percentile points
- Improved English achievement by 8 percentile points
- Potentially improved science achievement by 11 percentile points
- Potentially improved social studies achievement by 5 percentile points
Keys to successful implementation
- Rigorous principal selection and development
- Leadership team that consists of Principal as instructional leader, Assistant Principal of Operations responsible for all operational duties, and an Assistant Principal who is mentored to be a future Principal.
- Clear leadership pathways with the expectation that managers are mentoring their direct reports
- Performance-based teacher and leader contract renewal
- National Foundation to support learning and improvement across the entire network of KIPP schools