This summer, KIPP DC launched The Learning Center at our Douglass Campus in Ward 8. The Learning Center serves approximately 60 students in grades PreK4 through 8 who are currently enrolled in KIPP DC schools, and whose Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) indicate that they require specialized instruction and related services in a full-time setting outside of general education. In a school environment designed to maximize learning, our experienced and dedicated Special Education team provides individualized learning plans in multi-age classrooms focused on specific brain-based needs. Our goal is to provide the necessary supports to help all students access the general education curriculum, accelerate their learning and develop the skills needed for success in a less restrictive environment, in high school, in college, and beyond.
The Learning Center is being led by Michael Cordell, who previously served as a Chief Academic Officer at KIPP DC. Mr. Cordell is deeply and personally inspired to work with students with disabilities. His mother spent years working as a Special Education teacher on the south side of Chicago and he is the parent of a child with special needs. He is eager to develop the Learning Center and its staff to ensure that every KIPP DC student has access to the high-quality education that will put them on the path to and through college.