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Question 6

Providing underserved students the knowledge, skills, habits, and character to help them succeed in life depends on operating financially healthy and sustainable schools and regions. The revenue that allows us to do this critical work comes from several sources, including local, state, and federal funds. State and local funding varies greatly across the KIPP network, from $5,000 per student in California to as much as $14,000 per student in some East Coast schools.

KIPP schools receive less public funding on average than their neighboring district schools, so philanthropic support can help make up the difference. An average of 85 percent of KIPP schools’ annual operating expenditures come from public funds, with 15 percent comprised of philanthropic dollars. In addition, many schools do not receive public funding for facilities, so they must fundraise or dip into their operating budgets. Many KIPP regions also raise funds to help support new and growing schools: KIPP schools add one grade per year, and per-pupil costs are highest in the early years.

KIPP’s school expenses include: instruction, student services such as transportation and meals, KIPP extras such as longer school days and years as well as end-of-year field lessons, KIPP Through College programs, facilities, and administration.

To address the sixth question, we ask:

What is the financial health of our schools and regions?

What level of philanthropy is needed for a region to reach scale?

How many years will it take for a region to operate with little or no philanthropic funding?

What level of philanthropy, if any, is needed once a region reaches scale?


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