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, established to recognize outstanding scholarly contributions and scholastic achievements in the field of education.

History

Kappa Delta Pi grew out of the Illinois Education Club, which was founded by Dr. William Begley in 1909. Initially affiliated with Pi Kappa Mu, the club withdrew from this affiliation due to plans for a merger that would have required it to lose its coeducational status. Instead, Begley and the club's members formed Kappa Delta Pi as a coeducational educational fraternity. The first chapter, Alpha, was installed at the University of Illinois on March 8, 1911, and was officially registered as Kappa Delta Pi with the State of Illinois on June 8, 1911. By 1930, Kappa Delta Pi had chartered 62 chapters, and in 1932, it transitioned from a "fraternity" to a "society."

Activities and Mission

Kappa Delta Pi focuses on fostering excellence in teaching and education by promoting leadership, community service, and professional development among its members. The society organizes various activities through its local chapters, offering networking opportunities, leadership development, and service projects. Members have access to resources such as webinars, workshops, and conferences designed to enhance teaching practices.

Governance

Kappa Delta Pi is governed by an executive council consisting of nine elected members. These council members are chosen by delegates from the society's chapters at its biennial national convention.

Publications and Chapters

Kappa Delta Pi publishes The Educational Forum, a journal focusing on educational topics and research. As of 2025, the society has over 543 active collegiate chapters and more than 20,000 active members worldwide, with a total of more than 1.2 million initiates since its inception.

International Recognition

Kappa Delta Pi became an official United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in 2010, aligning itself with global education initiatives, particularly the Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. This recognition enables Kappa Delta Pi to advocate for inclusive and equitable quality education globally through its United Nations representatives.

Partnerships

Kappa Delta Pi collaborates with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations that share its values and commitment to educational excellence. These partnerships help expand resources and services for teachers and educational leaders.

Pillars and Symbols

Kappa Delta Pi is guided by the pillars of Community, Belonging, Leadership, Celebration, with the motto Knowledge. Duty. Power. The society's colors are purple and gold, and its flower is the violet.