Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi (ΚΔΠ) is an American nonprofit honor society in education. It was founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Initially, it operated as an educational fraternity aimed at fostering fellowship among education students and promoting excellence in education.

History

Kappa Delta Pi evolved from the Illinois Education Club, established by Dr. William Begley in 1909. It was officially registered as Kappa Delta Pi with the State of Illinois on June 8, 1911. The organization's first chapter expansion began with the establishment of Beta chapter at the University of Colorado in 1912, followed by Gamma at the University of Oklahoma in 1915 and Delta at the University of Texas in 1916. By 1930, the society had chartered 62 chapters.

In 1924, Kappa Delta Pi established its Laureate Chapter to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to professional education. Notable inductees include John Dewey, who was the first member of this distinguished chapter.

By 1963, the society had initiated over 177,000 members and had more than 300 active chapters. Kappa Delta Pi was a member of the Association of College Honor Societies from 1974 until 2008. As of 2025, it has over 20,000 active members and more than one million lifetime initiates.

Pillars and Symbols

Kappa Delta Pi is guided by the pillars of Community, Belonging, Leadership, and Celebration. Its motto is "Knowledge, Duty, Power," derived from the Greek words "knowledge" (gnosis), "duty" (deon), and "power" (dunamis). The organization's insignia features a key shaped like a scroll with the letters ΚΔΠ, where the letter Δ is placed atop a beehive. The official colors are purple and gold, with the violet as its flower.

Membership and Chapters

Membership in Kappa Delta Pi is open to the top 20% of education students. Eligibility includes a minimum GPA of 3.0 for undergraduates and 3.50 for graduate students. The society has chartered over 650 chapters.

Activities and Publications

Chapters provide members with opportunities for networking, leadership development, service engagement, and professional growth. Kappa Delta Pi publishes the scholarly journal The Educational Forum and the weekly online newsletter The Teacher Advocate. Until 2023, it also published the peer-reviewed journal The Kappa Delta Pi Record.

Global Initiatives

In 2010, Kappa Delta Pi became an official United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), aligning with global education initiatives, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals, notably Goal #4: Quality Education. Its UN representatives advocate for inclusive and equitable quality education worldwide.

Partnerships

Kappa Delta Pi partners with both nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses to promote teaching excellence and support educators. These collaborations aim to enhance resources and services for teachers in various educational settings.

Governance

The organization is led by an executive council consisting of nine elected members chosen by chapter delegates at biennial national conventions.

Notable Members

Prominent members include educational theorist Michael Apple, philosopher Harry Broudy, and developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, among others.