KIPP LA is Breaking New Ground in Boyle Heights and in Educational Success

On November 18, I had the distinct privileged of being honored by the Knowledge is Power Program Los Angeles schools at the Skirball Center. Alongside my fellow honorees, Blair Hamilton Taylor, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League; and Mikelle Willis, Founder of KIPP Academy of Opportunity, I'd like to commend KIPP Los Angeles for all the wonderful work they do in education and improving the lives of so many young people. While 97 percent of KIPP LA students are comprised of African American and Latinos, with 83% of all students from low-income families, KIPP LA has shown great leadership in developing sustainable student, parent and teacher collaborations. And the proof is in the numbers! From fifth to eighth grade, the percentage of students scoring at or above the national average has risen from 16 to 61 percent in reading and from 23 to 83 percent in math, as measured by the SAT-10. I am excited that KIPP will be opening a school in Boyle Heights in the near future, and I celebrate their expansion efforts. Their success is a reflection of the kind of success we can have with all our students. Thank you KIPP LA!