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INDIANAPOLIS – Today the Mind Trust announced that KIPP Indianapolis has been awarded a $1 million grant to expand its public charter school offerings in the city. KIPP Indianapolis, which is part of the national KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) network of public charter schools, will use the funds to grow to five schools by 2020.

The grant to KIPP Indianapolis is part of the Mind Trust’s Charter School Incubator program, which aims to entice top charter school organizations to start or expand networks of public charter schools in Indianapolis. Of the 30 applicants, KIPP Indianapolis was one of only two organizations selected to receive $1 million grants.

“This Mind Trust grant is a vote of confidence in KIPP Indy, and we are thrilled to have been chosen,” said Emily Pelino, Executive Director of KIPP Indianapolis. “Our mission has always been to get educationally underserved students to and through college. This grant will help us fulfill that mission for even more Indianapolis students.”

KIPP Indianapolis’s flagship school, KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory, was founded in 2004. Currently, KIPP Indianapolis College Prep serves 290 students in grades 5-8 at its campus in the Meadows, on Indianapolis’s northeast side. Ninety-three percent of KIPP Indianapolis’s students qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program. Over the past three years, KIPP Indianapolis College Prep has increased student proficiency on the ISTEP+ by 30 points in English and 39 points in math; the school also earned an A on the state’s most recent Accountability Grade Report, released by the Indiana Department of Education in the fall of 2012.

Last year, KIPP Indianapolis’s leadership team and Board of Directors launched a strategic plan to expand KIPP Indy’s reach, opening more schools to educate more Indianapolis students. They then sought support from the Mind Trust to help fund the expansion.

“Earning the confidence and support of The Mind Trust is a tremendous accomplishment for our students, staff and teachers,” said David Mann, Chairman of the KIPP Indy Board of Directors and Managing Partner, Spring Mill Venture Partners. “Now, with their support, we can move forward toward our goal of increasing high-quality educational options for underserved students in Indianapolis.”

As part of the first phase of expansion, KIPP Indianapolis is preparing to open its first elementary school in fall 2014. The school will start with founding classes of kindergarteners and first graders, and add a grade each year until reaching full K-4 enrollment.

“Having observed the early success across the national KIPP network, we know that providing rigorous academic instruction and focusing on character will help our students to reach college-ready levels,” said Pelino. “By reaching students starting in elementary school, we have the opportunity to get them earlier and serve them longer; giving us the best chance to ensure their success up to and through college.”

KIPP Indianapolis is part of the national KIPP network of public charter schools. A report released this year by independent research firm Mathematica showed that KIPP middle schools nationwide are producing positive, significant and substantial achievement gains for students across all grades in math, reading, science, and social studies. Mathematica found that KIPP achieves these gains while serving a student population that is demographically similar but lower-performing than their peers in neighboring district schools.

“We are grateful that The Mind Trust recognizes KIPP Indy as an important partner in the community’s overall efforts to address the problem of low attainment,” said Mann. “With their help, we can provide more high-quality school options for students in Indianapolis.”

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About KIPP Indianapolis

KIPP Indianapolis College Prep, founded in 2004, is a public charter school serving students in grades 5-8. KIPP Indianapolis is part of the national KIPP network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. Nationwide, the KIPP network has 125 schools serving more than 41,000 students in 20 states and the District of Columbia. To date, more than 80 percent of students who graduated from KIPP middle schools have matriculated to college.

About The Mind Trust

The Mind Trust is a nonprofit striving to ensure that every student in Indianapolis has the opportunity to receive an excellent education. The Mind Trust is building a network of the nation’s highest-impact education initiatives, helping to launch life-changing schools, and advancing bold plans for transforming the city’s education system. Since its founding in 2006, The Mind Trust has impacted more than 77,400 students through its work and has raised close to $30 million.  The Mind Trust launched its Charter School Incubator in October 2011 and made its first two, $1 million awards in June 2012. This is the second round of incubator awards.  Funding for the Charter School Incubator has been provided by the City of Indianapolis, the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, The Mind Trust’s board member, Jane Pauley, and Pauley’s husband, Garry Trudeau.

INDIANAPOLIS—KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory (KIPP Indy) earned 3.75 out of 4 points, an “A” on the state’s Accountability Grade Report released today by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE).

Its “A” grade was based on student performance, improvement, year-to-year growth in individual student learning and closing the achievement gap.

“Earning the top grade on the state’s accountability report is a tremendous accomplishment for our students, staff and teachers.  It validates our hard work especially over the past two years,” said KIPP Indy Executive Director Emily Pelino.

“Our mission has always been to get educationally underserved students to and through college, and this affirms that we’re on the right track.”

According to Pelino, KIPP Indy student proficiency levels have increased considerably over the past few years growing by approximately 30 percent in English/language arts and 39 percent in mathematics over the past three years. In 2012, 79.8 percent of students passed the mathematics ISTEP and 64.9 percent passed the English/language arts ISTEP.

The growth achieved by KIPP Indy students was also significant, and a major factor in the school receiving an A grade, according to Pelino.  In 2012, 69.2 percent of students achieved average or high growth in English/language arts and 90.8 percent of students achieved average or high growth in mathematics.

KIPP Indy serves 290 students in grades 5-8 and is located in the Meadows on Indianapolis’ northeast side.   KIPP currently serves students across Indianapolis, offering bus service from as far east as German Church Road to as far west as High School Road.  Ninety-four (94) percent of KIPP students qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am thrilled and excited for KIPP Indy to achieve an A on this important report card,” said David Mann, Chair of the KIPP Indy Board of Directors and President of Springmill Venture Capital.

“This is a testament to the leadership of Executive Director Emily Pelino and the excellent work of her staff.  They continue to prove that all children, regardless of their backgrounds, can and will learn.”

KIPP Indy provides a college-preparatory curriculum to middle school students, grade 5-8. We believe that all students can learn. As part of the college-prep curriculum, our students have the opportunity to learn from highly qualified educators in English/Language Arts, Math, Journalism, Science, Social Studies, Art, and PE. To learn more about our academic program, click the link below.

Learn about us

KIPP Indy seeks highly qualified educators dedicated to providing an excellent education to every child. KIPP is a collaborative teaching environment where teachers can be a part of content teams, grade level teams, and serve in leadership roles. Our teachers form critical relationships with the students, parents, and staff at KIPP to form a powerful bond in affecting the educational opportunities for KIPP students. To see what opportunities are currently available, click the link below.

Teach at KIPP

Becoming a student at KIPP Indy means expanding your options for the future. It means becoming a part of our Team and Family and accepting the opportunity to obtain an excellent education. KIPP Indy is a tuition-free public charter school, and we are currently accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year. To submit an application, click the link below.

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