Phi Delta Kappa


PDK International is a US professional organization for educators. Its main office is in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded on January 24, 1906.

Membership

Currently, membership consists of educators and others interested in education. Members are affiliated through one of several hundred chapters or directly to the international organization.

Governance

PDK is governed by an International Board, who are elected by professional PDK members. The association abides by the Constitution and Bylaws of PDK International.

History

Phi Delta Kappa began at Indiana University on January 24, 1906 in the formal creation of a chapter under the name Pi Kappa Mu. By 1910, the organization had a total of three chapters. On March 1, 1910, Pi Kappa Mu, Phi Delta Kappa and Nu Rho Beta amalgamated under the name Phi Delta Kappa. Prior to amalgamation, Phi Delta Kappa had also branched out to include two other chapters.
Phi Delta Kappa was limited to white males at the August 1915 convention. In 1940, Sigma chapter at Ohio State University initiated two non-whites, and was suspended at the December 1941 convention with charter revocation to occur in May 1942 if the chapter did not remove membership for the two non-whites. A demand for a popular vote of the entire membership let to a membership poll being sent to all members and eventually the deletion of the "white clause" by the membership. On June 2, 1942 announcement was made to all of the chapters of the removal of the race restriction.
Phi Delta Kappa joined the Professional Interfraternity Conference in 1928.

Publications

Phi Delta Kappan is a professional journal for education, published by Phi Delta Kappa International, since 1915.