Kappa Delta Pi

Overview

Kappa Delta Pi (ΚΔΠ) is an American nonprofit honor society for education, founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is one of the first discipline-specific honor societies and aims to recognize and promote excellence in education.

History

Kappa Delta Pi originated from the Illinois Education Club, established in 1909 by Dr. William Begley. It was officially registered as Kappa Delta Pi on June 8, 1911. The society quickly expanded, establishing its Beta chapter at the University of Colorado in 1912, followed by chapters at the University of Oklahoma (Gamma) in 1915 and the University of Texas (Delta) in 1916.

The Laureate Chapter was introduced in February 1924 to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to professional education. Notable figures such as John Dewey have been inducted into this chapter. By 1930, Kappa Delta Pi had chartered 62 chapters, and by 1963, it had initiated nearly 178,000 members and established 294 active chapters.

Mission and Values

Kappa Delta Pi emphasizes the values of "Knowledge, Duty, Power" and operates on the pillars of Community, Belonging, Leadership, and Celebration. The organization supports excellence in teaching and provides resources for educational development, fostering global connections, particularly through its status as a United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) since 2010.

Membership and Activities

Membership is offered to the top twenty percent of those entering the education field, with specific GPA requirements for undergraduates and graduates. Members participate in local networking, leadership development, and service projects. Kappa Delta Pi hosts professional development opportunities and publications, including its scholarly journal The Educational Forum.

Governance and Chapters

The organization is governed by an executive council elected by chapter delegates during biennial national conventions. As of 2025, Kappa Delta Pi has over 543 active collegiate chapters and several professional chapters, with more than 20,000 active members and over 1.2 million lifetime members.

Partnerships

Kappa Delta Pi collaborates with various nonprofit organizations and businesses to enhance teaching excellence and provide resources to its members. These partnerships focus on mutual benefits that support educators and advance quality education initiatives.

Notable Members

Prominent members include educational theorists such as Michael Apple and Howard Gardner, and educational activists like Jonathan Kozol. The organization also honors distinguished figures in its Laureate Chapter.

Symbols and Publications

The society's insignia is a scroll-shaped key with its Greek letters (ΚΔΠ) and the letter Δ atop a beehive. The colors are purple and gold, and the flower is the violet. Besides The Educational Forum, Kappa Delta Pi publishes other educational materials and resources for its members.