The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP): An Analysis of One Model's Efforts to Promote Achievement in Underserved Communities

Many claim that the Knowledge is Power Program has experienced success in closing the achievement gap in urban and rural communities across America. Studies suggest that KIPP charter schools enroll an overwhelming proportion of poor and minority students and often outperform their district peers. However, the purpose of this study is not to evaluate whether KIPP schools are closing the achievement gap, but instead to assess the strategies KIPP charter schools use to promote student achievement. Describing and evaluating these approaches may offer new insights into the ways we can improve instruction and possibly increase student achievement levels for students in underserved communities.