As any teacher can attest, some of the best learning happens outside the classroom. But without a strong foundation of physical and emotional safety and health for students at home and in the broader community, lessons learned at school can only go so far. According to the CDC, research consistently shows a strong link between healthy behaviors and academic achievement.
A National Model for Holistic Education
KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools dedicated to preparing students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and society at large. Across 278 K-12 schools and 28 regional support organizations, KIPP serves more than 120,000 students nationwide.
At the core of this national effort is the KIPP Foundation, which sets standards of excellence for the network, builds capacity to support those standards, and drives accountability. Each KIPP regional organization operates independently as a nonprofit, overseeing local schools and adapting KIPP’s educational model to meet the needs of their communities.
An exceptional example of this localized impact is KIPP Chicago, which has pioneered an innovative approach to education that extends beyond the classroom to address broader systemic challenges. Through its Whole Child Initiative (WCI), KIPP Chicago has become a leader in reimagining how schools can support not just students but entire families.
KIPP Chicago: A Community-Driven Approach
KIPP Chicago Public Schools has expanded beyond traditional academics to confront the social and economic barriers that affect student success. KIPP is the leading charter network in Chicago, comprised of tuition-free schools for students in four of the city’s most underserved communities: Austin, Englewood, North Lawndale, and West Humboldt Park. KIPP educates 3,500 students in Chicago Public Schools on the South and West Sides.
Disproportionate rates of poverty and violence, as well as barriers to access to services in these communities, significantly impact students’ ability to learn and thrive. In fact, children living in poverty are more likely to live in neighborhoods subjected to chronic disinvestment, experience adverse health outcomes, face housing instability, and become involved in the child welfare and criminal justice systems. Recognizing these systemic challenges, KIPP Chicago conducted a formal needs assessment, leading to the development of the Whole Child Initiative — a comprehensive program designed to provide critical resources and programming for students and their families.
The WCI centers on seven key priorities to support student success:
Social-Emotional Learning
Research shows that social-emotional learning (SEL) is a strong predictor of educational and career achievement. One study found that fostering a growth mindset, was the strongest predictor of math and English Language Arts (ELA) performance. KIPP Chicago integrates RULER, a research-backed SEL program developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, into its curriculum. RULER helps students develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills through the core pillars of recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions. To ensure seamless implementation, all KIPP Chicago educators undergo RULER training, embedding SEL into daily instruction.
Family and Community Engagement
Data from the Chicago Data Online Portal revealed that 25% of adults in the communities KIPP Chicago serves do not have a high school diploma. To help address this educational gap, KIPP Chicago launched the Penn Foster High School Diploma Program, offering parents of the students it serves the opportunity to complete their high school education and transition to vocational careers, strengthening the entire family system.
Food Justice
Food insecurity is a major public health crisis, with children in food-insecure households more likely to have poor overall health, more communicable diseases, and behavioral challenges. These effects were found even when controlling for other factors, such as income level and neighborhood safety. The WCI addresses this challenge through a community food pantry, ensuring families have consistent access to nutritious food.
Children’s Museum of Art and Social Justice
KIPP Chicago established a Children’s Museum of Art and Social Justice to provide a platform for students to share their voices and infuse a social justice curriculum into the arts. The museum exhibits student work alongside professional artists, fostering creativity and dialogue around social change.
Enhanced Teacher Well Being
Recognizing that teacher well being directly impacts student success, KIPP piloted a lifestyle and benefits platform offering wellness classes, personal development opportunities, and family-oriented resources.
Inclusive and Challenging Curriculum
KIPP Chicago partners with the Pulitzer Center to incorporate the 1619 curriculum, which highlights African Americans’ contributions to society and the power of underreported stories. The WCI also leverages Facing History & Ourselves resources to educate students about the impacts of racism, antisemitism, and prejudice at pivotal moments throughout history.
Identity Development Practices
Inspired by the McNair Scholars Program, a U.S. Department of Education initiative to increase Ph.D. attainment for students from underrepresented backgrounds, KIPP Chicago offers the the McNair Fellowship to support emerging leaders of color to address disproportionate gaps in school leadership.
Guided by these values, the WCI offers three essential components:
- Adult Education Center: In collaboration with Penn Foster and City Colleges of Chicago, the center provides educational and employment opportunities to parents, improving family stability and a supportive home environment for student learning.
- Before and After School Programming: Despite local budget cuts, KIPP determined that sustaining before and after school programs is vital to student safety and development.
- Schools-Based Food Pantry: In partnership with Rush University Hospital, the pantry provides families facing food insecurity with regular access to nutritious food.
A Model for Innovation and Adaptation
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, the challenges faced by KIPP Chicago families intensified. In response, the Whole Child Initiative expanded, increasing its support for financial, educational, and social needs.
“Through the pantry program, we hope to support improved life expectancy and better health for families and positively impact education outcomes for our students,” said Jennifer Hodges, Vice President of Whole Child Initiative & Community Impact at KIPP Chicago.
After a successful pilot run in spring 2022, with the support of funding from A Better Chicago, the pantry opened permanently at KIPP Academy Chicago in Austin. It supports 25 families weekly with curated boxes of food, including nonperishables, fresh fruits and vegetables, and various proteins.
Continued Progress
This year, the WCI introduced Wellness Champions, a group of leaders representing seven of eight KIPP Chicago campuses who will conduct approximately 25 wellness events across the region.
At KIPP Ascend Middle School, Wellness Champion Narissa Wood led students on a fun scavenger hunt throughout the school. Participants won exciting prizes, including a grand prize of a Sony speaker. Through June, Wellness Champions will host a range of experiences, including yoga, Zumba, meditation, painting, reading, and sports.
In December 2024, students in 5th through 8th grade from all four KIPP Chicago Schools participated in a Model United Nations conference at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. Students worked in pairs to represent 24 countries and address the important topic of “Increasing Access to Equitable Education.” Students also received a tour of the school, learning about the high school experience and what their future educational journeys may look like.
National Vision with Local Impact
KIPP’s Whole Child Initiative in Chicago is just one example of how the national KIPP network is reshaping education to serve the whole child. By addressing social, emotional, and economic barriers, KIPP Chicago is proving that when schools invest in communities, students thrive not just academically, but in every aspect of their lives.
How to Help
KIPP works to build joyful, academically excellent schools throughout Chicago. Your donation to KIPP and the Whole Child Initiative can help prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue their chosen paths and lead fulfilling lives.
For more information, visit KIPPChicago.org.
