KIPP Sets Clear Expectations with New Principles and Tagline

The KIPP Five and new tagline—Work Hard. Be Bold.—affirm shared beliefs and behaviors across the nation’s largest public charter school network.

Contact: Debra Wexler, dwexler@kipp.org, 929-729-0375

New York, NY (May 14, 2026)— KIPP Foundation today announced The KIPP Five—five core principles that define what it means to be part of KIPP as a team member, student, or family—alongside a new tagline, Work Hard. Be Bold. Grounded in KIPP’s mission to deliver an education that transforms the lives of young people, this language reflects a deeply held conviction that every child is capable of extraordinary achievement and clarifies what it will take to deliver on that promise.

Today, KIPP serves nearly 125,000 students across the United States—a testament to the organization’s legacy of impact. KIPP’s 2030 strategic planning is focused on building One KIPP—harnessing the strength of a unified KIPP network to benefit every student, regardless of location. Through that process, KIPP Foundation engaged families, alumni, staff, leaders, and partners who raised the need for a consistent, shared answer to “what makes KIPP, uniquely KIPP” in every community.

Beginning late last year, the Foundation led a focused effort to answer this question with authenticity and specificity. More than 1,000 KIPPsters—including a 13-member Advisory Committee of school leaders and educators—participated through surveys, interviews, and working sessions.

“KIPP was built on a conviction that is as urgent today as ever: our students have boundless potential, and they deserve a community of adults who refuse to place limits on what they can achieve,” said Shavar Jeffries, CEO of the KIPP Foundation. “The KIPP Five are a declaration of that belief — not as aspiration, but as expectation. They name the commitments that bind us together: the rigor to deliver results and the character to do so with integrity, because excellence without integrity is incomplete. Together, these principles define what it means to be part of this network, and they belong to every child we serve.

THE KIPP FIVE

Expect Greatness. All KIPPsters have boundless potential. We reject excuses that place limits on what our students can achieve. While good intentions matter, results matter most. We expect to prepare our students to excel in the nation’s most competitive colleges and careers and hold ourselves accountable to deliver outcomes reflecting that expectation.

Bring Joy. Joy and rigor go hand in hand—and we pursue both. Our schools are vibrant, demanding places—alive with discussion, laughter, and deep thinking. Rooted in love for and belief in our children, our schools are places students and adults run to—where joy fuels excellence.

Do the Right Thing. We pursue not only extraordinary achievement, but extraordinary character. Without character, achievement fails. We act with honesty, integrity, and respect for one another—because our character ultimately defines who we are, individually and collectively. We strive to embody the best version of ourselves, and to bring out the best in others.

Lead Together. Leadership lives at every level of our KIPP community. United by a shared vision, we bring the best of KIPP to all of KIPP. We learn from one another, support one another, and scale what works. We are stronger together, and we use that strength to deliver more consistent outcomes for students and communities nationwide.

Fully Commit. Joining KIPP means committing fully to one another and to our mission. Our work is hard, and that’s what makes it purposeful. It calls for perseverance in the face of adversity. We show up every day and do the hard work required to achieve our high expectations – knowing our community will be there to support every step of the way.

WORK HARD. BE BOLD.

The new tagline—Work Hard. Be Bold.— connects KIPP’s history to its future, capturing the effort and mindset that define the organization today. “Work Hard” reflects a core truth: delivering transformational results for students requires extraordinary, purposeful effort from every KIPPster, big and small. “Be Bold” reflects KIPP’s courage to set standards that defy conventional expectations and act on the belief that every student can achieve at the highest levels. For students, it shows up as confidence to take risks, speak up, and persist through challenges. For adults, it shapes the decisions they make and the accountability they hold—for themselves and one another.

“Work Hard. Be Bold. captures something essential about who we are,” Jeffries said. “Doing hard things is not something we shy away from at KIPP—it is the point. And boldness is what we ask of every student, every family, and every adult in our buildings: the courage to hold high expectations and show up every day knowing our children are born brilliant and capable of doing extraordinary things, especially in a world that doesn’t always recognize that reality.”

VOICES FROM THE NETWORK

Sebha Ali, Chief Executive Officer, KIPP Texas: “For two decades, I have watched KIPP educators show up with extraordinary dedication to students who deserve nothing less. This work builds on that commitment by helping us more clearly define who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe must be true to educate our students in the way they deserve.””

Nikki Barnes, Executive Director, KIPP Massachusetts: “What moves me about this moment is that KIPP is being unapologetic about what it stands for. Our students deserve adults who believe in them completely and hold themselves accountable to making that promise real every single day. This identity makes that expectation clear.”

Angella Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, KIPP SoCal Public: “The KIPP Five give us a common language for what we have always known to be true about our schools. With that foundation clearly defined across our network, every family and team member in Southern California knows exactly what KIPP stands for—Knowledge Is Power!”

Dr. Fabby Williams, Executive Director, KIPP North Carolina: “This work puts the focus back where it belongs—on what students experience inside our classrooms every day. Work Hard. Be Bold. is something our students can feel and understand. It speaks directly to what we ask of them, and what we owe them in return.”

About KIPP

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 279 public charter schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and life. KIPP Public Schools are tuition-free, and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle-school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll nearly 125,000 students in pre-K through high school, and it operates schools in 21 states and Washington, D.C.