Jacksonville-based charter school network forges partnership with FAMU

ByRyan Dailey

Read the full article at Tallahassee.com >

KIPP, a network of public charter schools with three schools in Jacksonville, announced today, during a kick-off event a new partnership with Florida A&M University in an effort to increase college completion rates for KIPP alumni from educationally underserved communities.

FAMU leaders, including Interim Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Rodner Wright and Kelvin Lawson, Chairman of FAMU’s Board of Trustees and a Jacksonville resident, joined KIPP Jacksonville leaders, students and staff this morning at the KIPP Impact Middle School campus to celebrate the signing.

“At FAMU, we truly believe that the youth are our future and we are proud to partner with KIPP to help cultivate these dynamic students not only into future Rattlers, but more importantly successful graduates,” said Wright, who addressed KIPP students during a recent event announcing the MOU.

“We are confident that this partnership will also yield positive opportunities for our current students preparing to teach the next generation of scholars as education professionals.”

As a KIPP college partner, FAMU is committing to developing programs and support structures to address the college persistence challenges students from underserved communities often face on their path to earning college degrees. FAMU and KIPP will work together to develop systems and processes to assist KIPP students with FAMU’s college application and recruitment process, including assistance with financial aid paperwork and scholarship identification

“We are honored to partner with FAMU, a historic institution that like KIPP, values diversity in thought, perspective and culture,” said Dr. Jennifer Brown, KIPP Jacksonville Executive Director.

Founded in 2010, KIPP Jacksonville educates 1,080 students across three public charter schools in Jacksonville. Ninety-eight percent of KIPP Jacksonville’s students are African American or Latino. KIPP Impact Middle School, which received a B grade last year, has consistently ranked among the highest performing middle schools in Northwest Jacksonville.