Based on its successful track record, KIPP Philadelphia has been awarded a $4.6 million grant from a national investment fund to help reach its goal of expanding to a network of 10 charter schools in the city over the next decade…

1. May 28, 2009
KIPP Phila. gets grant to expand The first KIPP Philadelphia charter school opened in
North Philadelphia in 2003 and now enrolls 340
charter schools students in fifth through eighth grades.
By Martha Woodall
The school's eighth graders scored higher than
district students on state tests in reading and math in
Based on its successful track record, KIPP both 2007 and 2008. And all members of the school's
Philadelphia has been awarded a $4.6 million grant first graduating class in 2007 were accepted at
from a national investment fund to help reach its college-preparatory schools in Philadelphia and
goal of expanding to a network of 10 charter schools
elsewhere.
in the city over the next decade.
The KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter
Officials from KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) School is scheduled to open this summer with 90
are scheduled to announce the award from the fifth graders in leased space at the district's former
Charter School Growth Fund Turner Middle School.
today.
William Schultz, spokesman for William Schultz, spokesman John Lock, CEO of the Charter
for the National Alliance for School Growth Fund, said fund
the National Alliance for Public
Public Charter Schools, called officials were impressed not
Charter Schools in Washington, only by KIPP Philadelphia's
called the award "the largest the award ‘the largest private
academic performance but also
private grant to expand charter grant to expand charter
by Mannella's detailed business
schools in Pennsylvania." schools in Pennsylvania.’
plans for opening more charter
schools in the city.
"We think we are uniquely
positioned to do some great things in Philadelphia," KIPP Philadelphia, Lock added, met the fund's
Marc Mannella, chief executive officer of KIPP rigorous requirements and demonstrated that
Philadelphia, said yesterday. Mannella and his team had the leadership skills and
the business acumen to successfully expand their
KIPP officials are talking with the Philadelphia educational model.
School District about playing a possible role in
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's academic-reform "Marc and his team fit that bill perfectly," Lock said.
initiative, Imagine 2014. Her plan includes the
option of converting more troubled district schools
The money, which will be used to help cover
into charter schools with successful operators such as
operating and administrative costs related to the
KIPP.
expansion, will be distributed over the next five
years.
"We look forward to working with KIPP to see how
its commitment to expanding in Philadelphia can be
Mannella said KIPP estimates that its expansion will
aligned with our strategic plan's emphasis on
cost about $11 million and is seeking additional
providing a range of quality school choices across
financial support.
our city," Ackerman said in a statement about KIPP's
grant.

2. The Charter School Growth Fund, which is based
outside Denver, was created in 2005 to help
successful charter school networks expand.
Several large national foundations contribute to fund,
including the Walton Family Foundation, the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Don and Doris
Fisher Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad
Foundation.
The grants awarded to expand charters have ranged
from $740,000 to $7.9 million. The average award
has been $2.9 million paid out over four to seven
years.
KIPP Philadelphia is the first charter school in
Pennsylvania selected for a grant from the fund.
TEAM Academy, a KIPP network in Newark, N.J.,
has received a $3 million grant to support its
expansion plans.
KIPP, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, has 66
charter schools in 19 states and the District of
Columbia.
It is among the best-known charter organizations in
the country. KIPP's successes preparing low-income
children for college have been detailed in magazine
and newspaper articles and on 60 Minutes.