Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education

Overview

Kappa Delta Pi (ΚΔΠ) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that serves as an honor society in education. Founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois, it was one of the first discipline-specific honor societies in the United States[1][2]. The organization's core values are rooted in its motto: Knowledge, Duty, Power, derived from the Greek letters ΚΔΠ.

History

Kappa Delta Pi grew out of the Illinois Education Club, established in 1909 by Dr. William Chandler Bagley. When the club's affiliation plans with another organization required giving up its coeducational status, Bagley and his colleagues chose to found a new coeducational national honorary educational fraternity instead. This led to the establishment of Kappa Delta Pi, focusing on promoting excellence in education and offering a fellowship for education students[1][2][3].

On June 8, 1911, Kappa Delta Pi was officially incorporated in Illinois. The organization's first chapter, Alpha, was installed at the University of Illinois, followed by the Beta chapter at the University of Colorado in 1912, the Gamma chapter at the University of Oklahoma in 1915, and the Delta chapter at the University of Texas in 1916[2][5].

Structure and Symbols

Kappa Delta Pi is structured with a focus on community, belonging, leadership, and celebration. Its symbols include purple and gold as official colors and the violet as the official flower. The insignia features a gold key shaped like a scroll, pierced by a stylus, with the letter Δ placed on top of a beehive. This design represents learning, communication, and industrious community[2].

Membership and Activities

Membership is open to the top twenty percent of students entering the education field. Undergraduate applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, while graduate students require a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Doctoral students must demonstrate evidence of progressing toward their degree[3].

The society offers numerous benefits, including professional development courses, leadership opportunities, and networking within a community of educators. Members can also submit scholarly articles for publication in its journals, such as The Educational Forum and The Kappa Delta Pi Record (discontinued in 2023)[2][3].

Publications

• The Educational Forum: A scholarly journal focusing on educational issues.
• The Kappa Delta Pi Record: A peer-reviewed journal published from 1964 to 2023[2].
• The Teacher Advocate: A weekly online publication addressing current educational topics.

Laureate Chapter

The Laureate Chapter, established in 1924, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to professional education. It is limited to sixty living members at any time[2].

Impact

Kappa Delta Pi has more than 20,000 active members and over 1.2 million lifetime members, operating on an international scale with chapters across the U.S. and abroad[2]. It continues to promote educational excellence and provide a platform for educators to share ideas and best practices.