Board Meeting (Friday 4/20 11:30am KIPP Journey Academy)

Thank you.

Contact: Hannah Powell, hpowell@kippcentralohio.org, 614-517-0949

KIPP Journey Academy only Ohio public school to receive EPIC award

Columbus, OH – March 8, 2012 – The New Leaders’ Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) program announced today that KIPP Journey Academy in Columbus is the only school in Ohio, and one of 14 charter schools nationwide, to be honored this year with the prestigious EPIC award. 

KIPP Journey will receive approximately $50,000 to be distributed among its teachers and school staff.  EPIC selects winners based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes an examination of achievement gains from the past three years.  This year, 179 schools from 24 states and the District of Columbia competed in the EPIC National Charter School Consortium for $1.1 million in funds.  The complete list of winners can be accessed at http://www.newleaders.org/what-we-do/epic/charters/.

“We are thrilled and honored that KIPP Journey received this award,” said Hannah Powell, Executive Director of KIPP Central Ohio. “This award recognizes the dedication of our teachers and staff as they help our students climb the mountain to and through college.”

KIPP Journey, part of the national network of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) schools, currently serves 300 students in grades 5-8.  With 91% percent of its students from low-income households, KIPP Journey is proving that demographics do not define destiny.  In 2011, the sixth grade class at KIPP Journey doubled its proficiency rates in math and reading on the Ohio Achievement Assessment.

EPIC award winners were selected solely based on growth made over the previous three years in student state test scores as determined by a unique value-added model designed in partnership with Mathematica Policy Research, an independent, nationally recognized research firm.  KIPP Journey will work with the EPIC program to document and share the effective practices on the EPIC Knowledge System.   

“The power of EPIC lies in the opportunity for educators to learn from one another about the effective practices that contribute to student achievement gains,” said C. Allison Jack, Senior Program Director at EPIC.  “We are excited to work with KIPP Journey to learn more about how they have achieved their success and share those lessons with the larger community.”

About KIPP Journey Academy

Founded in 2008, KIPP Journey is an open enrollment public charter school serving students in grades 5-8.  KIPP Journey is part of the national network of KIPP charter schools.  Since its inception, 84 percent of KIPP students who completed 8^th grade four or more years ago have matriculated to college.

About EPIC

In 2006, New Leaders launched the Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) to learn what is working to transform high need public schools and use that knowledge to enhance the New Leaders program and provide professional development tools for educations nationwide.  EPIC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF), school district and charter school partners, and private philanthropic funders.

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Please take time this week to go to the link below and vote as many times as you can for our students.  Voting started Tuesday, December 13, at 8:30 AM and goes through Thursday morning, December 15, at 8:30 AM.  

Please support the KJA Chorale this week!

http://www.sunny95.com/pages/11711572.php

9am-2pm

Giving Thanks

Friends of KIPP Central Ohio,

A few weeks ago, we shared with you exciting news about our expansion as a KIPP region. We continue to be inspired everyday by the prospect of helping more Central Ohio students climb the mountain to college, and we are proud of the progress we have already made toward that goal.

Yet even as we make plans to open new KIPP schools, we know they will not be successful without great school leaders. KIPP school leaders are not only responsible for crafting a vision for their school, but also building a team of excellent KIPP teachers.

KIPP Central Ohio is currently seeking individuals to serve as founding principals for our new Elementary and Middle schools to be opened in the 2013-2014 academic year. Before opening their school, founding principals will first participate in the Fisher Fellowship, a year-long training program, during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Learn more about the Fisher Fellowship here.

What makes a successful founding principal? KIPP Central Ohio is looking for applicants who have not only shown success teaching in a disadvantaged community but who are also visionary, gritty, resourceful, inspiring, solutions-oriented, team-building, entrepreneurial, and flexible.

If you or someone you know is interested in serving as a Fisher Fellow and KIPP founding principal, applications are open and can be completed here! The first application deadline is November 6.

With more great schools, we have no doubt in our ability to help more Central Ohio students climb the mountain to college. Thanks for your support in identifying great school leaders who will help us achieve that goal!

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Respectfully,

Hannah D. Powell
Executive Director
KIPP Central Ohio
614.263.6137
hpowell@kippcentralohio.org