Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi (ΚΔΠ) is an American nonprofit honor society in education. Founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, it is one of the first discipline-specific honor societies. Kappa Delta Pi was established as an educational fraternity to provide fellowship for education students and promote excellence in education.

History

Kappa Delta Pi evolved from the Illinois Education Club, founded in 1909 by Dr. William Begley. When the club's potential merger with another organization would have required giving up its coeducational status, Begley and the members decided to form a new coeducational national honorary educational fraternity. The Alpha chapter was installed at the University of Illinois on March 8, 1911, and registered with the State of Illinois on June 8, 1911. The society expanded rapidly, establishing its 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.

Laureate Chapter

In February 1924, the Laureate Chapter was established to honor outstanding contributors to education. Notable laureates include Jane Addams and Mortimer J. Adler. As of 2025, 293 educators have been named to this chapter.

Activities and Governance

Kappa Delta Pi chapters offer members opportunities for networking, leadership, service, and professional development. The society is governed by an executive council composed of nine elected members. It sponsors various educational initiatives and publishes The Educational Forum to disseminate educational research and insights.

International Recognition

In 2010, Kappa Delta Pi became an official United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), aligning with global education initiatives, particularly Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. This role enables the organization to advocate for inclusive, equitable quality education worldwide.

Partnerships

Kappa Delta Pi partners with nonprofits and businesses to support teachers. These partnerships are designed to provide resources and services that inspire and equip educators to thrive in their profession.

Membership and Chapters

As of 2025, Kappa Delta Pi has over 1.2 million lifetime members and more than 20,000 active members across its chapters. It maintains a global presence with international chapters and initiatives.