Brown to Partner with KIPP to Improve College Completion Rates

Brown University and KIPP announced Wednesday that they will be collaborating together to help KIPP alumni complete college education.

The Ivy League School has announced that through this partnership, it will work with KIPP to recruit and enroll qualified KIPP alumni each year, providing them with on-campus academic and social support, as well as addressing their full financial needs.

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) is a national network of 125 open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools that serve underserved students. Currently, KIPP operates in 20 states, serving more than 39,000 students. More than 95 percent of KIPP students are African-American or Latino / Hispanic and more than 87 percent are eligible for the federally-subsidized meal program. Students are accepted regardless of prior academic record, conduct or socioeconomic background.

Through this partnership, Brown will also provide a range of opportunities and services for KIPP alumni, including pre-college educational programs, targeted recruiting, research project support and waiving application fees.

According to Go Local Prov, Brown hopes to recruit and enroll 6 to 8 qualified KIPP alumni each year. KIPP's four-year college completion rate is above the national average for all students and more than three times the rate for students from low-income families nationwide. KIPP's goal is to reach a college completion rate that is comparable to that of the nation's highest-income students.

A $2.5-million gift from Brown parents Martha Karsh, a KIPP board member, and Bruce Karsh will support this effort, with funds allocated to provide additional support to KIPP students at Brown for needs that would not be covered by financial aid, such as emergency expenses.

"The students we attract to Brown through this important partnership will contribute in meaningful ways to our community of talented and high-achieving students," said Brown president Christina Paxson.

"The generous gift from the Karshes, combined with Brown's commitment to addressing the full financial need of all admitted students, ensures that costs will not be a barrier to the KIPP students who come to Brown."

With the addition of Brown, KIPP now has partnerships with 18 other colleges and universities around the country, including University of Pennsylvania, Duke and Georgetown.