About KIPP: What is the KIPP Foundation?

Founded in 2000 with the generous support of Doris and Don Fisher of Gap Inc., one of the primary functions of the KIPP Foundation is to train prospective school leaders. The year-long KIPP School Leadership Program includes intensive summer coursework in a university setting, residencies at existing KIPP schools, and support from experienced KIPP staff. Since its inception, the Foundation has recruited and trained more than 70 KIPP school leaders to open new KIPP schools or succeed founding school leaders.

Our Mission:
To create a respected, influential, and national network of public schools that are successful in helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, character and habits needed to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond.

In December 2005, Richard Barth was named CEO of the KIPP Foundation and set a goal of expanding KIPP’s network to 100 schools serving more than 25,000 students by the year 2011. To achieve this objective, Barth began focusing the KIPP Foundation's efforts on a set of distinct goals and organizational imperatives. These imperatives range from our fundamental commitment to deliver on the promises we make to KIPP students and their families, to defining smart growth strategies and governance processes, to building a world-class organization and operating model.

Learn more about how our efforts to achieve our mission are driving the ways in which we provide support to our schools.

Our Vision:
Our vision is that, one day, all public schools will help children develop the knowledge, skills, character, and habits necessary to achieve their dreams while making the world a better place.

Since our inception, KIPP has focused on helping students in under-resourced communities climb the mountain to college. With college graduates today earning twice the salary of high school graduates, obtaining a college degree has never mattered more. KIPP believes that K-12 public schools today are preparing far too few low-income and minority students for college and careers. Yet there appears to be a prevailing assumption that children in underserved communities cannot achieve at high levels, and that schools cannot empower students with life-changing opportunities.

At KIPP, we are challenging this assumption in two ways: first, by transforming the lives of the kids we serve in our growing network of schools; and second, by inspiring others to reconsider what is possible in public education.

As we continue to grow strategically and achieve density in our chosen markets, we hope to inspire other communities to consider the approach that has made KIPP successful.