Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education

Kappa Delta Pi (ΚΔΠ) is an American honor society for education, founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois. It was established as a means of fostering excellence in education by providing a fellowship for education students and promoting scholarly contributions in the field.

History

Kappa Delta Pi evolved from the Illinois Education Club, founded in 1909 by Dr. William Begley. The society officially registered with the State of Illinois on June 8, 1911. In the early years, Kappa Delta Pi expanded with the establishment of the 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, it had chartered 62 chapters. The society's name was formally changed to Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society on October 4, 1932.

Mission and Activities

Kappa Delta Pi focuses on recognizing and supporting excellence in education. Its mission includes fostering community, belonging, leadership, and celebration among its members. The society offers professional development opportunities through webinars, conferences, and research initiatives. Members are provided with access to job opportunities and networking with educational leaders worldwide.

Membership

Membership in Kappa Delta Pi is selective, open to the top twenty percent of those entering the education field. Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, while graduate students require a minimum GPA of 3.50. The society also honors outstanding contributors to education through its Laureate Chapter, which is limited to sixty living members at any time.

Chapters and Reach

Kappa Delta Pi has over 650 chapters and more than one million lifetime initiates, with more than 20,000 active members. The organization is recognized internationally and has collaborations with educational institutions and organizations globally.

Publications

Kappa Delta Pi publishes The Educational Forum, a scholarly journal that addresses critical issues in education. It also previously published The Kappa Delta Pi Record from 1964 to 2023.

United Nations Representation

In 2010, Kappa Delta Pi became an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of the United Nations. This partnership enables the organization to advocate for Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. Kappa Delta Pi's UN representatives work to advance global education initiatives by supporting equitable and inclusive educational practices.

Symbols and Pillars

The society's motto is "Knowledge. Duty. Power." Its symbol is a key shaped like a scroll with the Greek letters ΚΔΠ. The colors of Kappa Delta Pi are purple and gold, and its flower is the violet. The organization values community, belonging, leadership, and celebration.