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KIPP charter school group aims to double enrollment in Los Angeles

Students participate in an assembly at Kipp Academy of Opportunity, which is part of a group of charter schools that plans a major expansion in Los Angeles.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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One of the nation’s largest charter school organizations is announcing on Wednesday an ambitious expansion plan to more than double its enrollment in the Los Angeles area over the next six years.

KIPP LA currently operates 11 schools that serve about 4,000 students; by 2020, the organization wants to grow to 9,000 students in 20 schools.

The nonprofit is associated with a national umbrella organization called KIPP Schools, which oversees 162 campuses that enroll 58,000 students in 31 regions.

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KIPP schools generally perform well when compared by test scores. None more so than the local KIPP Empower. It earned a stratospheric 991 on a scale of 1,000 on California’s Academic Performance Index in the spring of 2013, the most recent year the index was calculated. The score is based on state standardized tests. A new test will be used next spring.

“What we really pride ourselves on is focusing on the academics and character, to empower students to be strong in body, mind and spirit,” said Neela Parasnis, the principal — or “school leader” in KIPP terminology.

It should be noted that KIPP Empower offered only three grades — kindergarten, first and second grade — and second grade is the earliest year of testing, so the scores reflect only that grade.

Charters are independently managed and free from some rules that govern traditional schools. Critics insist that KIPP, and other charters, draw from a pool of more motivated families: the ones who would make an effort to apply to a charter. And they say that KIPP’s results do not fully account for students who leave a KIPP school early.

Nonetheless, the data suggest that many, if not most, KIPP LA students are achieving higher scores than they likely would at many traditional schools. KIPP operates only elementary and middle schools, but it’s begun extended counseling efforts to help its students get to and through college.

KIPP Empower achieved its results despite operating out of two locations for lack of space. That problem was remedied in March with the opening of an $8-million campus at 8466 S. Figueroa St. in Vermont Knolls, south of downtown L.A.

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This campus offers students “blended learning,” in which teachers use digital curriculum in addition to more traditional approaches. A typical classroom has about 15 laptops and a few iPads. Each fourth-grader gets a Chromebook to use. Students do not take the devices home.

KIPP schools also provide both a longer school day and a longer school year. Like many other KIPP campuses, KIPP Empower typically has a waiting list of families wanting to enroll.

As the local education agency, the L.A. Unified School District has the role of making sure KIPP maintains its performance standards. The district also will have to compete with KIPP for students.

Enrollment is dropping in many parts of L.A. Unified and the growth of charters has resulted in fewer union teaching jobs within the district. Charter growth also could create pressure to close some traditional campuses or share them with a charter. Independent charters account for about 15% of district enrollment, according to data posted on the district’s website.

KIPP stands for Knowledge is Power Program.

Twitter: @howardblume

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