KIPP NYC 2020-2021 Annual Update

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KIP P NYC / 2020-2021 A N N UA L U PDATE

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TOGETHER WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, WE CREATE JOYFUL, ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT SCHOOLS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO PURSUE THE PATHS THEY CHOOSE—COLLEGE, CAREER, AND BEYOND—SO THEY CAN LEAD FULFILLING LIVES AND CREATE A MORE JUST WORLD. The KIPP NYC team is grateful for our community’s understanding of any unintentional errors or omissions in this Annual Update.

TOGETHER, A FUTURE WITHOUT LIMITS.

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BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!

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hroughout last year, we had the opportunity to speak with many of our families, listening to their input and perspectives as we returned to in-person learning. We take great pride in our KIPP NYC school and family partnerships that have grown even stronger over the past year. The quote below is from one of our parents at KIPP Infinity Elementary (Leanna’s and Lauren’s mom), which speaks to our collective trust, partnership, and achievements: “Sending my girls back to school was a huge decision that I did not take lightly. I knew they needed to be in the classroom with their teachers and friends, but I also have the duty as their mom to protect and keep them safe. Through working closely with the girls’ teachers and the rest of the KIPP staff, the choice was much easier as I felt fully supported and taken care of from afar. I am so very grateful and appreciate everyone who has been there for us along the way.”

I FEEL CO N FIDE NT E ACH M OR NI NG W H E N I D RO P O FF MY GIR L S IN TO TH E HA N DS O F OUR KI PP FAM I LY. The girls are so happy to be back and are already thriving in the classroom. Thank you all so very much!”

We are astonishingly proud of our teachers and staff at KIPP NYC, who reopened our buildings with enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and a truly student-centered approach. We are enormously grateful to them for making our schools safe, welcoming, and joyous spaces that our students want to come to every day.

In this 2020-21 Annual Update, you will read about our incredible Team and Family, who in addition to all the time and effort they dedicated to ensuring our schools opened safely and resonated with rigor and joy, also continued to focus on our regional priorities through the year.

Our priorities centered around our new mission, which calls for us to work closely with our families, enhance and evolve our approach to academic and socio-emotional curricula so that all of us will learn, and to build a better tomorrow for our students by addressing and dismantling systems of oppression that exist in our communities.

Additionally, despite the pandemic, we forged ahead with our strategic growth plans, breaking ground on new state-of-the-art school buildings in the Bronx to ensure that we are able to serve 10,000 students across our network in a few years. Our extraordinary real estate team’s unwavering commitment, along with the leadership of our operations, finance, legal, and facilities teams, allowed us to open three new schools this summer under conditions we never imagined.

We are thrilled to continue our growth this upcoming year as we plan for the expansion of our high school.

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‘We are striving to forge a union with purpose To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us but what stands before us’ In January 2021, Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman lifted our country with these words from her inauguration poem. What has motivated us throughout the past year and a half is knowing that we have so many more Amandas in our classrooms and that we are committed to nurturing their greatness.

It has been energizing to have our students and educators back in person, and to be with all of our Team and Family physically, albeit socially distanced, after a year and a half apart. While we still continue to face classroom and school closures, not surprisingly, everyone across KIPP NYC consistently demonstrates enormous grace and patience in how they have responded. As we did all of last year, we will overcome these obstacles together.

Thank you for being a part of our Team and Family and for working alongside us in our commitment to KIPP NYC students, families, and our communities. Your support allows us to persevere and to demonstrate two of our most important core values: Find a Way or Make One and Whatever it Takes.

Sincerely,

ALI CI A JOH NSON, President and COO

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JIM M A N LY, Superintendent

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H E A LT H A ND SAF ET Y

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

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n March 2021, we reopened schools to students who signed up for hybrid learning. To prepare, we spoke with experts, stocked up on PPE, retooled our buildings, expanded our COVID-19 testing capacity, and launched a health and safety speaker series, all while incorporating feedback from parents and staff. With the utmost consideration for the health of our families and staff, we decided to test all students, as well as staff, before the start of in-person school.

We started COVID-19 testing with Mirimus (a lab in Brooklyn) in October 2020 at our Bronx Learning Center. Mirimus is currently being used at more than half of our schools, and has been since March 2021.

Also that March, with the support of the Pershing Square Foundation, we launched a pilot partnership with Mount Sinai. We were able to COVID-19 test 100% of school staff every week and test 100% of hybrid students every month, at a minimum. No other charter school network or public school we know of did this – only private schools.

We also rolled out the Ruvna Health screening app for families/students and staff for daily screenings of COVID-19 symptoms. Once eligible to receive the vaccine, we provided our staff with a list of vaccination sites across New York City.

With all of the safety measures we undertook, we were confident that we were operationally ready to reopen safely.

Thanks to your generous support, we successfully tested over 1,650 students prior to our schools opening in March 2021.

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A BIG THANK YOU Through our partnerships with Mount Sinai and Mirimus, we ran 15,000+ COVID-19 tests of KIPP students, teachers and staff members by June 2021.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

FOOD PANTRY BY THE NUMBERS We ran food pantries for 17 MON TH S in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem, and Washington Heights

SUSTAINING OUR COMMUNITY

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he devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was even more acute for low-income communities of color where KIPP schools operate.

Among the most basic unmet needs of our families and alumni in the wake of this crisis has been food security.

To address this, KIPP NYC built off our existing food program to launch a food pantry in March 2020 at KIPP NYC College Prep to support students and their families.

Led by a team of volunteers, the pantry has supported thousands of food-insecure families, including community members.

We are proud that we have expanded to provide food to all families in need. We have never turned a KIPP family away and continue to support many families from the communities where we have our schools.

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Rented 225 U-Haul trucks

Served 950,000 meals through the pantry

1M

With learning centers/ hybrid learning, we hit over

1 MILLION TOTA L MEA LS served during the pandemic

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

ADVICE FROM LEADING MEDICAL EXPERTS Throughout the 2020-21 school year, we committed to educating our community about COVID-19 and our preparations for a safe return to school buildings. We were fortunate to have the following medical professionals, who are experts and leaders in their respective fields, from pediatrics to aerosol transmission, speak to and answer questions from our staff and families.

DR . UCH É B LAC KSTO C K Dr. Blackstock, Founder & CEO of Advancing Health Equity, spoke with our staff about staying safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among Dr. Blackstock’s many accomplishments, she served as a frontline physician in Brooklyn during the pandemic, and she has been educating the broader community on the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, while caring for her own school-aged children.

DR . ANGE LA DIA Z Dr. Diaz is the Director of the Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center, as well as a KIPP NYC board member. She and her Mt. Sinai colleague, Rachel Colon, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, spoke to our staff about youth trauma and the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health. Our staff benefited from her deep experience working with children and from hearing her perspective about students’ mental health needs ahead of the 2021-22 school year.

DR . FAYE M CNEIL L Dr. McNeill is Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the McNeill Group Lab at Columbia University. Her research is focused on the chemistry and physics of atmospheric aerosol particles and ice in the environment, and their roles in atmospheric chemistry, air quality, and climate. She provided to our staff expert advice on aerosol transmission. She was part of the key group of external experts to whom we looked when developing our health and safety protocols.

DR . STE N VE R M U N D Dr. Vermund is Dean of the Yale School of Public Health and a Pediatrician. Dr. Vermund shared information with and answered questions from staff regarding health and safety in our schools, including questions around the vaccine. In December 2020, Dr. Vermund toured our facilities at KIPP NYC College Prep High School and the 133rd Street campus and reviewed our health and safety plans, providing feedback on our protocols and procedures.

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A KIPP ALUM ON THE MEDICAL FRONTLINE Caurice Wynter, KIPP NYC Alumna

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aurice Wynter knew from an early age that she wanted to be a doctor. At 10, she lost her aunt to lupus, an unexpected and tragic event that catalyzed Caurice’s desire to help others. She can still conjure up that feeling that propelled her journey to becoming a medical doctor. Caurice is now a fourth-year student at Quinnipiac University’s Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine in North Haven, CT. Caurice’s family was committed to her education, especially in middle school when they supported her hour-long commute from her home in the northern Bronx to KIPP Academy in Mott Haven.

Her family’s culture of prioritizing education has been key to her surmounting the challenges of medical school: “I had all of these friends that were pre-med and at the end, it was only me. There was no option for me to give up. I had people looking to me for inspiration. To stop – I really don’t have that option.

Sometimes I think, ‘Did I really sign up for this?’

When things get really tough, it’s easy to think, ‘Would I do this again if I had the option?’ I would; even though it’s hard.”

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Caurice’s medical training was put into practice earlier than she expected when New Rochelle became the epicenter for COVID-19 in the New York area in early 2020. While afflicted with COVID-19 herself, Caurice leaned on her medical training, advocating for her sick parents, who went to three hospitals before they were admitted.

She attributes her background in medicine and knowledge of hospital systems to her parents’ survival at a time when they were deteriorating by the day, but were told to stay home.

“My role has been to spread awareness about my experience. I could have crumbled or kept all my feelings internally. Instead of sitting in that, I felt it was my duty to help everybody in this situation. I was on Facebook saying, ‘If you feel that something is wrong, don’t let the hospital turn you away.’ I wanted to tell people that this is real. [My parents] were in the hospital for 12 days and then came home to my care. We quarantined and helped everyone get better.”

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H EA LTH A N D SAF E TY

“I WANT TO BE THE LEADER OF A PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE.” - Caurice Wynter, KIPP NYC Alumna Caurice decided to change her specialization after this experience last year. For the first two years of medical school, she wanted to do orthopedic surgery because of an influential internship she completed at NYU. However, after overcoming the COVID-19 crisis within her family and spending countless hours in an emergency room, she refocused her interests on emergency room medicine. Her intent changed again after having her first child last year. While she’s still passionate about emergency medicine, Caurice wants to set herself up for more balance between her personal life and career: “My family is more important than my job at this point. With internal medicine, I’ll get in-depth training in multiple fields. I’ll be able to help more people in my family with broad knowledge. I’m feeling secure in my decision.”

While Caurice is excited about finishing medical school next year and starting her residency, she continues to face the challenge of a profession in which she’s often one of few, if any, Black women in the room. The fight for social justice and racial equity have been an intense backdrop to Caurice’s medical school experience, creating challenges that the majority of her classmates do not face: “I’m a big advocate for my parents and for anyone who experiences racism and hardship in medicine.

It’s very taxing to be the minority. I feel like some people overlook that race is a major factor in experience.”

Through the academic, personal, and cultural challenges, Caurice remains steadfast in her commitment to becoming a medical doctor and serving as a role model for students who will follow in her footsteps.

She tells students that no matter what happens, find a way to keep pushing and never give up on their dreams; you’re needed; life goes on. After a year marked by racial injustice and nearly losing her parents to COVID-19, one of Caurice’s career goals is to unlock opportunities in the medical profession for students like herself: “I want to be the leader of a program that encourages people from all different backgrounds to pursue a career in medicine.”

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

THROUGH IT ALL, AN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP Glenny Perdomo, KIPP Parent, KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School Hericka Jordan, Social Worker, KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School

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n a year marred by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism, the relationship between KIPP NYC families and educators reminded us of what’s most important in our school communities. Our “team and family,” is exemplified by Hericka, Glenny, and Glenny’s children. Their mutual admiration and appreciation are what make KIPP such a special place for all of us: “I’m so blessed to have Ms. Jordan. It’s like another family member who’s watching your kids; I know they are in good hands. If something isn’t working, I can text the teacher and they will respond right away. KIPP is where people love their child and really want to collaborate and work together.” – Glenny As a social worker, Hericka’s first step is to meet children where they are, helping them to identify their own goals. She coaches her students to become self-aware, identify the root of the problem, and own the solutions they develop collaboratively: “I operate from a place of love. Children are with us K-16 and beyond, so the partnership among families, teachers, and students are aligned around a mission for students to achieve maximum success. We offer workshops every month for families to implement strategies at home, such as navigating big emotions during this time and setting limits on social media and Internet usage.” – Hericka Remote instruction was no replacement for traditional school. Like all of us, Hericka and Glenny’s children missed the hugs and high fives.

Despite the physical distance, this experience actually brought Hericka, Glenny, and her family closer. Zoom therapy sessions remained intimate, and they provided Hericka with an opportunity to experience Kaylee’s (Glenny’s daughter) home life.

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Hericka was also able to “meet” other family members who were caring for students at home. Kaylee’s independence and agency grew throughout the year. She was more comfortable and open during their therapy sessions since they were in her home environment.

As far as results, Glenny is thrilled with the transformation she sees in her daughter. At the start of the pandemic, Kaylee immediately needed Hericka’s support. Instinctively, Glenny reached out, and within 24 hours Hericka and Kaylee were meeting together: “Kaylee’s more confident; she’s grown so much.

When we did the remote transition, we left on a Friday, and on Monday, my kids were in school.

Friends with kids in private school would say, ‘Your school is doing all that?!’ They are always there for you – you always have a whole team working for you.” – Glenny For any family considering KIPP, Hericka tells them that this is a place, “Where people love their child and really want to collaborate and work together. When we say ‘team and family’, we really mean team and family; we’ll be there until the end and beyond.”

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TO G ETH E R

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TOGETHER

OVERALL KIPP NYC DATA DATA FRO M 2 020 -21

99% ST U D EN TS O F CO LO R

18%

94%

STU D E N TS C L A SSIFIE D A S H AVIN G SPEC IA L E D U CATIO N N E E DS

% O F STU DE N TS STAY IN G WI T H U S Y E A R OVER YE A R

90% STUDE NTS QUALI F YI NG FO R F R E E OR R E DUC E D PR I CE LUNC H

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SC H OOL S *

7,150

ST UDENTS

2,300

A LUM NI SUPPORT ED

*As of July 2021

94%

94%

93%

SAY KIPP N YC H AS T H EIR CHIL D’S B E ST I N T ERESTS AT H E ART.

SAY TH E IR C H IL D ’S TE AC H E R (S) H AVE TH EIR C H IL D ’S BE ST I NTER E STS AT H E A RT.

SAY TH E Y K N OW W HO TO R E AC H O U T TO AT T HE I R C H IL D ’S SC H O O L I F T HE Y H AVE Q U E STIO NS OR CO N C E R N S.

Family Survey: Mid-year 20-21; 2,030 respondents % of families who agree or strongly agree

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TOGETHER

C HA L K BE AT I NCLUDED KI PP NYC IN A N A RTI CLE ABO UT REMOTE AT T ENDANCE , CI TI NG US AS A “ S U CCESS STORY” GI VE N OUR FAVO RA BLE NUM B E R S AND OUR AP PROACH .

A N EXC ERP T FRO M THE ARTI CLE A PPEA R S BE LOW.

“There have been some success stories.

At KIPP Infinity in Harlem, attendance this year has held steady around 98% every day, said Lauren Abramson, director of operations at the charter school.

KIPP Infinity has also dedicated time to teaching parents and their students how to navigate the online platforms their teachers are using, with pre-recorded videos in English and Spanish. Teachers are also working hard to give students interesting and interactive content so that they want to show up. And when students still struggle to show up, the school relies on connections with families to try to brainstorm solutions, which can be as simple as making sure a parent is aware of their child’s online schedule.

‘It’s a huge task - and it’s really important,’ Abramson said of keeping attendance high.

‘Obviously attendance is a huge component of learning, whether in person or remote.’”

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100 P E RC E N TAG E OF K I P P N YC STU D E N TS

The charter network is offering remote-only instruction, and made a push to get every student a device. Internet access has been a higher hurdle, but since KIPP handed out hotspots and as of last week, all but two students had managed to get connected.

R E M OTE SC H O O L ATTE N DA N C E As of June 2021 94%

93%

K-8 (SY20-21)

K-12 (SY20-21)

94%

80

60

40

20

0

K-12 (SY19-20)

BY GR A D E / SC H O O L Y E A R

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TOGETHER

SAFE AND FOCUSED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

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n the summer of 2020, KIPP NYC began planning a Learning Center for students we identified as benefiting the most from in-person learning. We surveyed families and staff to gauge interest, determined space capacity at our high school, established safety protocols including daily screenings with temperature checks and COVID-19 testing, hired staff, and selected students.

In October 2020, we launched the Bronx Learning Center for students who had the most difficult circumstances at home and students who live in temporary housing, have special education needs, or had difficulty with remote learning in the spring. The Learning Center provided a secure, supervised space for students to access our remote learning platforms. The center launched with a small group of students in a controlled setting, which also allowed us to: • Refine our ability to operate a school building with students in a socially distanced way • Build staff habits and practices that could be replicated in other spaces as we grow • Build the confidence of our staff and families that we can operate safely to eventually support a transition to hybrid learning

For four months, the Bronx Learning Center served as a space for approximately 225 students to access their remote learning platform with support from staff, receive counseling or therapy, and participate in 30 minutes of art or PE. Led by Jeff Imwold (Managing Director of Student Support Services), the Bronx Learning Center served students until February 12, 2021, as the high school began preparations to welcome back students for hybrid learning.

i Special thanks to Robin Hood for supporting our Learning Center!

GUIDANCE AND WISDOM FROM OUR FAMILIES

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amilies tell us that the next step in engaging with them should be to prioritize cross-school collaboration. They want to learn from each other and also know where they can access resources to make their schools better. Families want to be engaged consistently and over time to gain better insight on our decision making process.

With this in mind, we established the Regional Family Advisory Council (RFAC) to give family stakeholders a united voice, an opportunity to meet on a regular basis to learn from each other, and be thought partners to KIPP NYC leadership. Mariela Meza-Armenta, Director of Advocacy, leads the Council and leverages her unique perspective as a KIPP alumna, resident of the Bronx, and tireless advocate for KIPP families and students.

We received interest from nearly 100 families who wanted to join the RFAC, resulting in representation from each of our schools. During the year, the Regional Family Advisory Council came together monthly to provide recommendations to leadership around issues such as communications during remote learning, health and safety protocols for returning to school buildings, how decisions are made and communicated at KIPP NYC, and family representation in curriculum development, working groups, elected official meetings, and mission- and vision-setting.

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TOGETHER

WE ARE FAMILY AT KIPP NYC Taeva Alvarado, KIPP All Middle School Parent, Member of Regional Family Advisory Council

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hile it was Ian’s first year as a KIPP student, his mother, Taeva Alvarado, leaned in and took an active role in the future direction of KIPP NYC by joining the KIPP Regional Family Advisory Council. It is critical for KIPP leadership to receive feedback from families on a regular basis about programs, policies, and instructional practices. Taeva’s career as a Paraprofessional in the NYC Department of Education school system gives her unique insight into teaching and learning, as well as the student experience:

“I CAN SEE THINGS FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES, AS A PARENT AND AS AN EDUCATOR. I REALIZED THAT IT’S GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO’S GOING TO SPEAK UP. A LOT OF US HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS, BUT WE DON’T WANT TO BRING THEM UP. I GIVE A VOICE TO PARENTS WHO DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE – TO PARENTS WHOSE KIDS ARE STRUGGLING.

“We are family at KIPP. I’ve been so lucky with the teachers and with his advisor, Ms. Pugliese, who’s so welcoming, warm, and comforting. It’s been wonderful; my son’s advisor calls every Wednesday. She’s still far, but you can see that she cares. Any time I have an issue, I go to her and she’s on it.”

Taeva is excited that Ian will take advantage of KIPP NYC’s K-12 offering as he plans to attend a KIPP NYC high school. Ian will also receive several years of college and career support during and after high school from advisors in the KIPP Forward program. In fact, Ian is laser-focused on his career goal of becoming a paleontologist! With the support of a mom like Taeva, Ian is well on his way to pursuing the path he chooses.

I want to help kids who need a little more support than others. I put myself in the teacher’s shoes, but I’m also a parent. I put myself in both situations to work for Ian’s success.”

Taeva has important advice for other family members who seek more input into their student’s experience: “Talk to your students’ advisors; talk to the teachers. What I like about KIPP is everybody’s giving out their phone numbers and emails. It’s not just saying it; they are actually following through. And if you don’t speak the language, there’s someone at the school who speaks the language. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask questions, and ask for help.”

According to Taeva, Ian’s transition to KIPP All Middle School has been seamless due to the school culture: 15

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D I VERSIT Y, EQ U IT Y, AND INCLUSIO N

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D IVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Last year, we strengthened our commitments to anti-racism and launched ARC (Anti-Racist Commitment) Working Groups. The following three updates from our working groups highlight our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DEFINING A VISION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

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n January 2021, KIPP eXperience (KIPP X) was created to take a comprehensive look at what skills and resources a student should have coming out of their time at KIPP. KIPP X is an equitable, community-driven process to create a comprehensive set of college-ready and career-ready graduate aims for KIPPsters. The goal is to define a vision for student success that embodies our commitment to racial justice and equity as an institution, and to engage in a positive, productive, and equitable process that includes multiple constituencies and contributes to creating the conditions for sustained impact. Together with students, staff (teachers, school leaders, regional staff, and board members), families, alumni, higher ed staff, and community members, we developed a set of graduate aims, which we will finalize in the 2021 - 22 school year.

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i In the past year, as part of our commitment to work with BIPOC vendors, we moved our primary KIPP NY Inc. account to Carver Bank. Carver Federal Savings Bank, founded in Harlem in 1948, is the largest Blackowned financial institution in the United States. This partnership, and others we are launching on the horizon, is part of KIPP NYC’s ongoing commitment to supporting BIPOC businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities of color.

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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

REIMAGINING THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

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n the summer of 2020, we embarked on a process to re-imagine our vision for middle school and high school social studies across KIPP NYC. We engaged over 2,400 students, alumni, family members, and staff to hear perspectives on what people wanted from social studies instruction at KIPP NYC. This effort uncovered that while many alumni and families had positive views of our social studies instruction thus far, there were a few places that demanded continual effort. Nearly all our stakeholders, for example, called out the importance of teaching an honest, more inclusive history that centers the identities of our students and families and that goes beyond what is taught in the traditional American history classroom. To ensure a diversity of perspectives were included, we created a Social Studies Working Group made up of teachers, leaders, alumni, and family members to push this work forward.

WE D RAFTED A COM PR E H E NSI VE VISIO N TH AT STR IVE S TO : • Center the identities of our students and families and teach a broader and more honest history • Utilize thematic modules that draw an explicit throughline between the past and the present world we live in • Make room for student-driven, creative research projects in each middle school year • Create opportunities for students to receive high school credit in middle school, allowing for elective courses in high school - these could have an element of student choice, and be Ethnic or Women’s Studies courses, additional AP courses, research/ seminar, etc.

• Balance some shared KIPP NYC curricula with flexibility for each school/teacher to define some of their own curricula specific to each school community • Move at intentional speed over a multi-year period, allowing us space and time to continually learn and improve We created the first set of curricula in summer 2021, written by KIPP NYC teachers in our Curriculum Fellowship program, to be used across KIPP NYC for the 2021 - 22 school year.

To lead this effort, Misha Jemison assumed the role of KIPP NYC Director of Social Studies.

Misha was the Dean of Instruction at KIPP Washington Heights Middle School, and she brings teaching and school leadership experience at other schools in New York City, as well. As the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Misha has straddled two worlds: one that honors her West Indian heritage and another that grapples with the realities of growing up in a socio-political space that is influenced by factors such as race, class, and gender, as a part of systemic and systematic structures. She is excited to be the first Director of Social Studies in KIPP NYC, because she will be uniquely positioned to celebrate, honor, and uplift the voices of our greater community.

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GROWT H

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GROWTH

26 YEARS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE BRONX

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e are proud of the deep relationships and partnerships we’ve built in the Bronx. As a result of these partnerships, we’ve received support for our growth campaign from the community and families. Advocacy staff regularly attend Community Board meetings, ensuring that we are a constant presence in community affairs and that we continue building relationships with community stakeholders.

After meeting with 11 Bronx elected officials and community stakeholders, including the Jerome Avenue Revitalization Council and the Bronx Borough President’s office, KIPP was invited to present at Bronx Community Board 4 and Bronx Community Board 7 Youth and Education Committee meetings regarding growth, and subsequently received press coverage from Bronx Times and Norwood News, as well as positive praise from the community members present. In addition, Community Board 4 Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Assembly member Victor Pichardo shared letters of support for our expansion in the Bronx.

Our families enthusiastically participated in several public hearings, emphasizing the need for high-quality education facilities and applauding KIPP for developing school buildings with green spaces and for addressing the need for facilities to serve more students.

ON OUR WAY TO 10,000 STUDENTS! In 10 years, we are projected to expand the number of students who attend KIPP NYC schools by nearly 60%. This growth is a testament to the KIPP NYC Team and Family that not only includes students, families, and staff, but also our local communities, partners, supporters, and funders.

ST U D EN T G ROW T H BY POPU LAT ION

10,130

STUDENTS

8,742

STUDENTS

6,430

STUDENTS

4,966

STUDENTS SY 17-18 20

SY 23-24

SY 29-30

SY 20-21

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GROWTH

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE IN THE BRONX

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n August 26, 2021, KIPP NYC closed on an inaugural public bond issuance for $238M of debt that will support the execution of KIPP NYC’s planned growth and the related construction of three facilities in the Bronx. KIPP NYC is proud to share that the organization received an investment grade rating from S&P as part of the debt issuance process and that the bonds achieved a Social Bonds designation, a marker in the investment field of KIPP NYC’s track record and ongoing commitment to providing exceptional educational and other life-changing outcomes for our students and alumni. The bond issuance was primarily comprised of taxexempt debt, and there was high demand for the bonds among investors. These outcomes are the direct result of the sustained investment of the entire KIPP NYC family over the organization’s 26-year history.

KIPP NYC currently has 7,150 students in grades K-12. KIPP NYC is in progress to serve an additional 3,000 students, totaling approximately 10,000 students.

Of our current student body, 99% are students of color, and 90% qualify for free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL). Proudly, 79% of KIPP NYC high school students have matriculated to two- or four-year colleges, and they have earned a B.A. at nearly four times the rate of students from similar backgrounds.

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To deliver on its growth plan, KIPP NYC is developing four unique facilities in the Bronx. Three facilities will be financed with the proceeds from the August 2021 social bonds: two new K-8 facilities to be opened in Fall 2023 (2720 Jerome Avenue and 1504 Macombs Road), and a third facility that provides bridge / swing space for ~1,000 students during construction and growth (501 Gerard Avenue). The fourth facility, which will be developed over the coming years and is not connected to the August 2021 public offering, will be for an additional high school facility for 1,400 students as our second KIPP NYC high school.

These four facilities will be transformative for our students and communities. The permanent facilities (2720 Jerome Avenue and 1504 Macombs Road), which will be home to KIPP Elements Primary, KIPP All Middle, KIPP Inquire Elementary, and KIPP Affirm Middle Schools, were designed with highquality and long-lasting features aligned with district and private school facilities, like full gymnasiums, outdoor space, full cafeterias, and performance stages; all with the goal of creating opportunities for our students to learn and grow for decades to come. The Gerard Avenue location offers amazing spaces in a small footprint, including performing arts studios, a cafeteria, and a working kitchen for healthy food prep, all with an environmentally friendly design.

To support the execution of these facilities, KIPP NYC is engaged in a significant capital and growth campaign - to retain resources for academics, and to deliver on the best possible outcomes for students and families.

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GROWTH

INTRODUCING OUR FOUNDING SCHOOL LEADERS DOM I NI QUE M E JI A, K IPP A LU M N A , K IPP A FFIR M M ID D L E SC H OOL Born in the Bronx, Dominique was one of KIPP NYC’s first students back in the ‘90s.

She is also the first KIPP alum to open and lead a KIPP school.

“At KIPP Affirm, students will be at the center. Our students’ identities, cultures, and communities will be celebrated, explored, and of course, affirmed. Together, we will uplift our students – always with love. We will ensure that they have the knowledge, and the skills and tools needed to have strength, power, and pride in themselves and in their education. Our students will have dedicated time to engage in powerful individual, relationship-building, and community-building experiences, which emphasize self-reflection, identity development, and character growth. This will take place in Affirmation Circles, in which students will gather in small groups to collectively reflect on those experiences.”

JOSE PH NEGRON, K IPP BE YO N D M ID D L E SC H O O L In 2005, Joe was the Founding Principal of KIPP Infinity Middle School. Joe has also been a 6th grade math teacher, Co-Principal of KIPP STAR Middle School, and Managing Director of KIPP NYC Middle Schools.

“James Baldwin once said, ‘Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.’ I have taken that ethos and translated that for what it means to be a school leader. Every year that I was a school leader, I also taught math. I did this because I love teaching. At the same time, it helped ground decisions that were made in the school: Whatever I’m asking of the teachers, I must be willing to do in the classroom. And it always reminded me how humbling, difficult, and rewarding the job of a teacher is. I think it has made me a better school leader.”

JOH N CARTE R , KI PP IN Q U IR E E L E M E N TA RY SC H O O L Prior to founding KIPP Inquire Elementary School, John had been leading and teaching at KIPP STAR Harlem Elementary School, where his third and fourth graders became the first cohorts at KIPP NYC to score above 75% proficiency on the ELA and math state exams in the same year.

“Inquiry is the idea of investigating the truth or knowledge by asking questions. Each day, KIPP Inquire students will go for that pursuit of knowledge. They’ll start the day in Morning Meeting, exploring their own feelings and identities through social-emotional learning. In math and science, students will have a chance to explore before we teach the new content. We’ll propose a task and then we’ll discuss it after [students have] had a chance to dive in. It gives kids a chance to really investigate without so much teacher direction, helping them strengthen their problem-solving skills and to self-reflect.”

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K IPP FO RWAR D

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K IPP FO RWAR D

EVOLVING OUR COLLEGE & CAREER PROGRAM

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e elevated the name of KIPP Through College and Career to KIPP Forward to affirm the full range of choices and achievements available to our students through rigorous, purposeful preparation. KIPP schools ensure each student has the skills and confidence to pursue any path that leads to their highest aspirations. Our evolution comes from listening to and observing our alumni who have found fulfillment in their careers, whether they pursued a Bachelor’s degree directly after high school or pursued many other pathways leading to meaningful lives.

OUR KIPP FORWARD COUNSELORS SUPPORT STUDENTS TO CHOOSE AND PREPARE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHS THAT FIT THEIR GOALS AND SENSE OF PURPOSE. Once on their way, KIPP Forward advisors help alumni keep moving forward, tackling academic, social, and financial challenges they might encounter while pursuing their dreams.

Our permanent commitment is 100% college preparation so that KIPPsters have true choice. Research and our own student results continue to show that a Bachelor’s degree is the surest stepping stone to career success, and we want as many students as possible to achieve that goal – and that begins with being not just eligible, but competitive for admission. At the same time, we also know that students who don’t pursue a college degree can pursue many additional pathways to career success and fulfilling lives.

That’s why there shouldn’t be an either/or debate at all. We can embrace the promise and potential of college, while recognizing that colleges need to evolve. And rather than arguing the merits of college versus technical education, we need to make sure that all high school students have the preparation and opportunities necessary to pursue the education pathway that will lead to their goals.

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SOCIALLY DISTANCED COLLEGE COUNSELING Stacey Lopez, KIPP NYC College Prep High School Class of 2021; Yale University Class of 2025 Carlosluis Perez, College Counselor, KIPP NYC College Prep High School

n a school year that was drastically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, college counseling was no exception. Campus tours and info sessions moved online. Many students stepped foot on campus this fall without ever having visited their college.

I

I hope to go into the medical field in the future.”

“Yale has a unique residential system where you meet people from all over the world who have different cultures than you. Yale was a really good financial match for me – I got a full scholarship. Yale has a major called the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health.

“Take advantage of every opportunity. KIPP has amazing programs that are aimed to help students succeed. One of the reasons why I’m here today is because of all of these opportunities; I’m so grateful for that.”

The strategy around matching a student with a college is a critical element of the admissions process. Carlosluis Perez, College Counselor at KIPP NYC College Prep High School, shared the following in terms of matching students Despite these “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY. KIPP for early decision limitations, members HAS AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT ARE AIMED TO (ED): of KIPP NYC College Prep High School’s HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED. ONE OF THE REASONS Class of 2021 were “We work with a WHY I’M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE admitted to their list of ED schools OPPORTUNITIES; I’M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.” first-choice schools. that meet full need Seventeen students and that are very (out of 22 who applied) were accepted early to supportive of our students. We then look at what schools such as Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, students want to do and the environments they Dickinson, Duke, Gettysburg, Harvard, Lehigh, are looking for. It starts prior to senior year – we Rochester, Skidmore, and Yale. want students to apply to schools that have precollege programs.”

Stacey Lopez, who was admitted early to Yale, had not been to New Haven since her freshman While Stacey laments what she missed as a year in high school. Nevertheless, Stacey was senior during the pandemic, she is optimistic and able to make an informed choice, because Yale’s thankful for the path that she has traveled to get programs and financial aid were a great fit: to this point. She has this advice for students:

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K IPP FO RWAR D

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021

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ationwide, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, the high school Class of 2020 (data not yet available for 2021) experienced a 7% decline in fall college enrollments. And, consistent with other health, economic, and educational impacts of COVID-19, there was a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and communities of color. High schools where more than 75% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL) experienced an 11% decline in college enrollment from the previous year, while high schools where fewer than 25% of students are FRPL-eligible experienced a 3% decline. When we look nationwide at all KIPP alumni, 72% of the KIPP high school Class of 2020 enrolled in college, compared to 85% of the Class of 2019.

We have deep admiration for and an unwavering commitment to our alumni, whom we support through KIPP Forward College Success Advisors. We are excited about what lies ahead for KIPP NYC alumni as they progress on their college and career journeys. In light of the challenges of the past two years, we greatly appreciate the KIPP NYC team and family who support all students and alumni as they pursue their chosen paths and make the world a better place for themselves and all of us.

KIPP NYC COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2021

91%

graduated by August 2021 The overall New York City graduation rate from 2020 was 79%.

79%

matriculated to a two- or four-year college or university

10%

are participating in a career and technical education (CTE) program or the military COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES:

46% at KIPP NYC* 42% among all U.S. students *Six-year college graduation rate for KIPP NYC students (includes BA and AA)

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GRATITUDE AND GIVING BACK Mykel Agyenim-Boateng, KIPP NYC College Prep High School, Class of 2017; New York University, Class of 2021

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rom any angle, Mykel Agyenim-Boateng is an exceptional young man. His accomplishments range from being a published musical artist who plays guitar, bass, saxophone, piano, and drums, to securing a full-time job on Wall Street before his senior year of college. However, what is most striking about Mykel is his deep gratitude for the influence his parents and his education have had on his life.

Mykel’s father moved his family from Ghana to the Bronx when Mykel was a child. His father drove a cab to support the family while he also went to Lehman College to get his Masters in math; he now teaches that subject at a local middle school. Mykel’s mother, who had a high-profile job in the office of the late former President of Ghana, H.E. Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, had to start over when she came to New York. She is now getting her undergraduate degree at Lehman College with the goal of becoming a business intelligence analyst after graduation. Mykel reflects on his family’s impact:

“SEEING [MY FATHER’S] TRANSITION FROM STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET TO PUSHING HIMSELF THROUGH UNDERGRAD AND A MASTERS AT LEHMAN HAS BEEN A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR ME. I get my drive and motivation from my

parents. Despite their circumstances, they never failed to push themselves.”

Mykel’s determination to make the most of his situation is now paying off. He started his career in finance after NYU sophomore year as a summer intern at Glenview Capital

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Management. Before his senior year, he was a Summer Analyst in sales and trading at UBS. Following the internship, he received a full-time offer from UBS. How did he turn a Wall Street summer internship into a full-time offer while working remotely during a pandemic?

“I knew no matter what, connecting with people was the most important. I would introduce myself and set up a Skype meeting. They were able to put a face to my name and make a connection immediately. We had to be creative about the work we could do. I found little ways to add value and make things easier.”

Mykel’s first role at UBS after NYU graduation is in Global Franchise Sales, selling proprietary research and trading solutions to hedge funds and family offices. Mykel attributes his career success to the effort and care he has put into his studies, relationships, and previous jobs.

Along with his UBS career, he is looking forward to continuing to perform. He recently selfpublished an album, and he is a member of his church band.

Mykel shares the effect that his family and McClenty Hunter, KIPP Academy’s music teacher, orchestra leader, and renowned jazz musician, have had on his music career: “I first got interested in the church when I was seven years old. They were trying to build their ministry, but didn’t have resources to pay musicians. But we didn’t have drums at home, so I played for 30 minutes after church so as not to bother my neighbors at home. I’d make a drum set with pillows every night. I knew from then on I needed to make this music a part of me. When I heard there was an orchestra at KIPP Academy Middle School, I was so excited.”

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Looking back on his journey from Ghana to the Bronx to Wall Street, Mykel cites KIPP as a major influence on his success:

“I can’t emphasize enough how influential KIPP’s support has been throughout my journey. I’ve made sure to take advantage of every opportunity that has been presented to me by KIPP, whether it is the SAT prep, career fairs, resume building, working on elevator pitches, or all the various alumni networking events. Knowing that I have a strong network of people from KIPP is such a valuable thing for me. It’s imperative that I, or anyone else that comes across a network like KIPP, leverage the resources available to ensure success, give back, and help others succeed, as well.”

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LEA DERSHIP

KI PP N YC BOA R D

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Elias Alcantara

David Levin

Lisa Blau

Rafael Mayer

Gwendolyn Brunson

Joe Negron

Erica Dewan

Larry Robbins

Angela Diaz

Fred Scott

Kange Kaneene

Randy Simpson

Adaobi Kanu

Marva Smalls

Abigail Klem Spector

Richard Taft

Valerie Lancaster-Beal

Whitney Tilson

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L E AD ERS HIP

THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

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IPP NYC’s Leadership Council is a diverse group of mid-career professionals whose initiatives support KIPP NYC’s mission for a better tomorrow. The Leadership Council promotes and supports KIPP NYC teachers and students by coordinating meaningful volunteer events and activities, fundraising on behalf of such efforts, and raising public awareness of KIPP NYC. Last year, the Leadership Council hosted their signature event (SIP for KIPP) virtually and raised $72,000 overall for KIPP NYC!

KI PP NYC’S LEA D E R SH IP CO U N C IL M E M BE R S Mark Abdelnour

Sharlene Disla

Alison Lyness

Anna Thomas

Jessica Boddy

Ernest Esparza

Marissa Moskowitz

Rohan Wadhwa

Brian Brauntuch

Stephanie Hummel

Mary Myles

Jenny Ward

Christiana Carroll

Kange Kaneene

William Romney

Nathan Wolman

Joe Cornell

Caroline Leonar

Alexandra Satine

Deep Dheri

Max Lipscomb

Danny Schuster

MEET KANGE KANEENE Board Member and Chair of the Leadership Council

K

ange is the Vice President of SAP.iO Foundries North America, SAP’s startup accelerator. She has spent her career in enterprise software and over the last 10 years has focused on expanding SAP’s ecosystem. She has a passion for diversity and creating equally distributed access to opportunity. In addition to her participation on KIPP NYC’s board and leadership council, she is an angel investor with Pipeline Angels group, a group of female and non-binary investors who invest in female and non-binary founders. She is also a volunteer mentor for entrepreneurs as a volunteer for Defy Ventures, a non-profit organization that invests in founders who are currently or formerly incarcerated. Kange has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from New York University Stern School of Business.

WHAT IN SPI R E S YOU TO CONTR I B U TE TO K IPP N YC ?

“I am inspired by KIPP NYC not only because the students outperform on academic metrics, but also because KIPP NYC prioritizes building good people who have strong character with seven guiding dimensions: zest, grit, optimism, self-control, social intelligence, gratitude, and curiosity. With so much uncertainty and craziness in the world, it is comforting to know KIPP NYC students are positive contributors to the community and are the next generation of leaders.”

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L EA D ERSHIP COUNCI L

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1501 Broadway, Suite 1000 New York, NY 10036 @kippnyc @kippnycschools @kippnyc @kipp-nyc www.kippnyc.org/giving

giving@kippnyc.org