Source: The Jewish Week
Plans for the foundation of a KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) style K-3 school in Nahariya next year are well under way. The Leo Baeck Education Center, a prestigious Haifa school affiliated with the Reform movement, is planning to open a school to serve an economically disadvantaged area in Nahariya. The school will be an independent public school that will adapt the KIPP principles — intensive education, small class sizes, strong teacher-student ties and parental involvement — to Israel’s informal culture.
The Nahariya school will be a pilot project which will be the first of many KIPP inspired schools in Israel which aim to "tackle chronic underachievement in the under-resourced periphery cities of Israel and inspire students to realize their abilities and strive for excellence through education, nurturing and enrichment,” according to its mission statement. It aims to achieve a high attendance rate, a low dropout rate, and preparation for students to enroll in college and qualify for army officer training programs.
Israel’s Ministry of Education has pledged about 70 percent of the school’s startup costs. The school will follow the standard Israeli public school curriculum, with added emphasis on Judaism and “community involvement".
KIPP is an award - winning USA network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools with a record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. There are currently 82 KIPP schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia serving around 20,000 students.
KIPP builds a partnership among parents, students, and teachers that puts learning first. By providing outstanding educators, more time in school learning, and a strong culture of achievement, KIPP is helping all students climb the mountain to college.