The Original Kipp Schools in Houston and New York - Case Study Example

The founders worked for months trying to establish the right to operate as a school. This took months of waiting for the district to approve the original proposal made by the founders. Once approval was accepted the founders were able to begin recruiting students and convincing parents that their new school would greatly help their child academically. Over the next months, the founders were able to recruit enough students to get the KIPP School started. The founders had many promises to live up to and this helped guide the success as they did not want to let parents and their children down.

            Having enrollment grow each school year proved that the founders created a school that was turning out to be successful. Students were excelling at a terrific rate and the option for expansion was taken without hesitation. Scores were improving and the students showed a willingness to want to succeed. The growth in New York showed that KIPP Schools were not holding back and were focused on helping kids who otherwise would not have a chance in a normal school environment. 

            Many elements in the KIPP operational model set KIPP apart from other schools. Contracts that must be signed and honored by teachers, students, and parents allow structure from the beginning. This structure is important as it leads to further structure. Parents, students, and teachers must follow these guidelines for KIPP to be successful. Making sure that everyone is following the rules of the contract allows KIPP to maintain a steady flow of commitment and the ability to grow. Structure and not allowing any slack in commitment make for KIPP’s successful operational model and sets them apart from the rest.

2) Should the KIPP schools be replicated? Can they be? What are the major challenges KIPP will face as it expands?

            The KIPP schools are mainly successful because of the hard work and determination put forth by the two founders. The two founders make sure that teachers, parents, and students are focusing and functioning how they originally promised. Replicating this type of structure and discipline would be hard to replicate. The schools would be hard to replicate because the two founders would need to make sure they have teachers that are willing to give their all as the founders have. Many examples throughout the case refer to why it was important for the founders to lead the schools in the direction they are going in.

            Expansion can be done but expansion will likely take away from the success that the two original schools already have. Expanding is one thing and can be achieved by funding and hard work. Expanding and being successful is another issue. One can expand but what is the point if the expansion is not going to be successful? By reviewing the case it is obvious that success was determined by the founder’s hard work. Two people alone cannot be at several locations at once to make sure teachers are acting how they need to be and students are living up to their agreements. If the founders are out taking on several new ventures the two original schools will lose leadership by the founders and can slowly become unsuccessful unless proper leadership is put in place.

            There are many issues facing KIPP and expansion. Feinberg and Levin need to stick with their original goals and focus on really helping students. An expansion can be successful to the point that Feinberg and Levin can handle. Opening a national office and expanding to hundreds of schools will lose sight of what they worked so hard for. Too much of a good thing at once can turn out to be a bad thing.

3) What is your advice to Feinberg, Levin, and Hamilton at the end of the case regarding management?

            My advice to Feinberg, Levin, and Hamilton regards to management is to slow down and try not to lose what they worked so hard for.  Feinberg and Levin’s hearts are in the right place wanting to help out students who otherwise would not have a chance. Hamilton sort of came out of know where and is looking at the schools in more of a business sense. In the future, this may turn out to cause problems.

            Feinberg and Levin should continue doing what they are doing and growing the current schools that they have They should consider opening a few more schools in low-income areas but nothing more than the two of them can personally manage. There is no need to get Hamilton involved now as they have proven to be successful without him.