Venture Philanthropy Partners Supports Business Planning Effort for KIPP DC
Venture Philanthropy Partners is very pleased to announce that it will support the business planning efforts for KIPP DC. KIPP DC is part of a national network of high-performing, college-preparatory charter schools that serve under-resourced communities. KIPP DC's seven schools, which span from early childhood programs to high school, have achieved outstanding results in student performance and achievement. The support from VPP will help KIPP DC develop and implement a strategic plan to further its expansion, and to continue in its work of raising both expectations and performance of public education.
KIPP, or the Knowledge is Power Program, is based on the "Five Pillars": high expectations; choice and commitment; more time; power to lead; and focus on results. Students who enter a KIPP DC school commit to a longer and more intensive school day and year, which results in roughly 45% more time spent in class than a regular public school student. KIPP DC has demonstrated that large numbers of students from some of the most under-resourced communities in D.C. can thrive and perform well in public charter schools characterized by strong leaders; well trained, motivated, and energetic teachers and staff; high standards and expectations; an orderly environment; good facilities; high levels of commitment and motivation from students and parents; and an unrelenting focus on data collection and the use of that data to drive change and improvements.
KIPP DC is committed to closing the gap in educational opportunity for children in under-resourced areas and is on track to doing so: 90% of students in the Pre-K program are reading at or above kindergarten level by the end of one year with KIPP DC, and KIPP DC has the highest performing middle school students in the entire District.
KIPP DC plans to expand from serving 1,500 students to serving over 3,400 students in ten schools by 2015. Extending the KIPP approach of high expectations, no excuses, and extended school time to over 1,900 more students using proven models will greatly enhance educational opportunities for a considerable percentage of District children from under-resourced communities.
"We are pleased to work with KIPP DC on their plan to expand and serve more children in the District. KIPP DC's record of excellence in educating underserved students makes them a natural fit for a VPP investment. We believe that our experience with charter schools and our network in the region will be helpful to the outstanding KIPP DC schools, and we look forward to working with them as they grow and deepen their engagement with the communities in which they work," said Carol Thompson Cole, President and CEO of VPP.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Venture Philanthropy Partners, and are confident that their business planning support and expertise will enable KIPP DC to address some key strategic questions and ensure that we have developed the infrastructure to support the highest quality schools and serve more of the District's children. VPP's support as we grow to scale provides an unparalleled opportunity for reflection and thoughtful planning regarding our future. Our Board and staff are looking forward to the learning and momentum that will undoubtedly take place throughout this process," said KIPP DC's Executive Director, Susan Schaeffler.
VPP selected KIPP DC because of its outstanding, sustained academic results and its demonstrated ability to both grow and sustain the highest-performing schools for the most under-served children in Washington, D.C.
Key factors that led to the selection of KIPP DC are:
1. Proven Results: KIPP DC students are some of the highest-performing in the District, and KIPP DC is on track in 2009-2010 to post a high school graduation rate of 95% - double that of DCPS, which is 43%. KIPP DC places heavy emphasis on constant evaluation of programs, curricula, and instructional skills, and is always willing to determine improvements that need to be made, and how to implement them.
2. Committed Teachers and Staff: KIPP DC boasts an extremely dedicated teacher core that has accepted the challenges of a "no excuses" operating model and is committed to work the necessary hours each day and week to get the results desired. Many work a 12 hour day during the regular school week and half a day on Saturdays.
3. Strong Leadership: Founder and Executive Director, Susan Schaeffler, is an exceptional and focused educational leader who has long been a leading advocate and notable figure in the Pre-K through 12 education sector in Washington, D.C. She is an effective and sought-after voice on behalf of improving educational performance for students from the most under-resourced communities in the District and beyond. Schaeffler has also been active in promoting the KIPP model to national and local leaders. The senior management team is also quite strong, including President and COO Allison Fansler who is an experienced leader with complementary expertise in policy and business. Finally, KIPP DC benefits from very engaged and powerful board leadership.
KIPP DC has identified several areas to explore during business planning: strengthening its ability to identify, hire, and retain the very best teachers and staff; enhancing its outcomes framework; refining the model to serve a larger number of students with a broad range of academic skills; and strengthening its engagement with the communities it serves.
About Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP)
Venture Philanthropy Partners is a philanthropic investment organization that concentrates investments of money, expertise, and personal contacts to improve the lives and boost the opportunities of children and youth of low-income families in the National Capital Region. VPP does so by helping effective leaders build strong nonprofit institutions and by cultivating an engaged donor community to generate funding and influence in support of these institutions and of social change.
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