Teach For America

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Teach For America, Inc.
Teach For America Logo
Founders Wendy Kopp, Founder
Type Public charity
Founded 1990
Headquarters New York, NY
Staff Wendy Kopp, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Matthew Kramer, President
Elisa Villanueva Beard, Chief Operating Officer
Jeff Brown, Interim Chief Program Officer
Aimee Eubanks Davis, Chief People Officer
Kevin Huffman, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs
Lily Rager, Executive Vice President, Growth Strategy & Development
Miguel Rossy, Chief Finance and Infrastructure Officer
Gillian Smith, Chief Marketing Officer
Tracy-Elizabeth Clay, General Counsel
Angela Cobb, Chief Diversity Officer
Focus Eliminate Educational Inequity
Employees ~1,000
Motto One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.
Website teachforamerica.org

Teach For America (TFA) is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to build a movement "to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort."[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach for America.

The organization was founded by Wendy Kopp, after she developed the idea to help eliminate educational inequity in the United States for her senior thesis at Princeton University in 1989. Since its beginning in 1990, more than 14,000 corps members have completed their commitment to Teach For America. The history of the organization is chronicled in her book "One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach For America and What I Learned Along the Way"

Applying to Teach For America has become very popular among seniors at some of America's elite colleges. In its first year, Teach For America placed only 500 teachers; in 2007, the organization received more than 18,000 applications resulting in 2,900 new corps members. These applicants included "11 percent of the senior classes at Amherst and Spelman; 10 percent of those at University of Chicago and Duke; and more than eight percent of the graduating seniors at Notre Dame, Princeton and Wellesley." [2].

In 2009, a record 35,000 applications were received for approximately 4,100 positions across the country.

[edit] What it does

Three TFA corps members at the 2008 Houston institute.

Teach For America recruits recent college graduates and professionals to teach for two years in low-income communities throughout the United States. The goal of Teach For America is for its corps members not only to make a short-term impact on their students, but also to become lifelong leaders in pursuing educational equality. Corps members do not have to be certified teachers, although certified teachers may apply.

Uncertified corps members receive alternative certification through coursework taken while completing the program. Corps members attend an intensive five-week summer institute to prepare for their commitment.[3] Teach For America teachers are placed in schools in urban areas such as New York City and Houston, as well as in rural places such as eastern North Carolina and the Mississippi Delta. They then serve for two years and are usually placed in schools with other Teach For America corps members.

Teach For America teachers are full-fledged faculty members at their schools, receiving the normal school district salary and benefits as well as a modest AmeriCorps "education voucher" (which can be used to pay for credentialing courses, cover previous student loans or fund further education after the two-year commitment).

[edit] Geographical reach

Teach For America's geographical impact has also grown. Originally serving only 6 regions, Teach For America is now active in 35 regions:

[edit] Educational Impact

Classroom of TFA corps members during the 2008 Houston institute.

Since the founding of the organization, several independent studies have been conducted to gauge the effectiveness of Teach For America corps members relative to teachers who entered the teaching profession via other channels. Most recent studies suggest that Teach For America corps members are more effective than new teachers from more traditional certification programs.

In a study published by the Urban Institute and the Calder Center in March 2008, the authors found "that TFA teachers tend to have a positive effect on high school student test scores relative to non-TFA teachers, including those who are certified in-field. Such effects exceed the impact of additional years of experience and are particularly strong in math and science." [4] According to a New York Times article that examined the Urban Institute's study this is especially significant because Teach For America corps members worked with the state's neediest students. The article went on to suggest that "states that want students to do better in math and science need to focus recruitment on more selective colleges instead of on traditional teacher education programs, which are often little more than diploma mills" [5]

Mathematica Policy Research also addressed this question in a study published in June 2004. The study compared the gains in reading and math achievement made by students randomly assigned to Teach For America teachers or other teachers in the same school. The results showed that, on average, students with Teach For America teachers raised their mathematics test scores 0.15 standard deviations more than the gains made by other students. This is equivalent to students having received one extra month of instruction. In reading, students with Teach For America teachers performed similarly to students with other teachers.[6]


According to an independent study by Kane, Parsons and Associates Inc. in 2003, the great majority of principals who work with Teach For America teachers contend that Teach For America corps members make a significant and positive impact in their classrooms. 90% of principals expressed that Teach For America teachers are as well-prepared to teach as other beginning teachers. 66% believed that Teach For America's training is "better than average."[7]

However an earlier study in 2002 by Berliner and Laczko-Kerr, concluded that "1) that students of Teach For America teachers did not perform significantly different [sic] from students of other under-certified teachers, and 2) that students of certified teachers out-performed students of teachers who were under-certified."[8]

[edit] Retention

Between 10 and 15 percent of each Teach For America corps class leaves before completing their two-year commitment.[9] For comparison, nationally, 16.8% of all teachers left their positions in 2005 (this statistic includes teachers who have retired.) In the urban areas, where most Teach For America corps members serve, the teacher turnover rate was above 20%.[10]

In the past much of the organization's efforts have been tightly focused on recruitment, but are now shifting to boost the retention rate. Teach For America also reports that 34% of alumni teach at their placement schools for a third year. Many others go on to teach elsewhere, especially at KIPP charter schools and other schools founded by Teach For America alumni. Still others train for administrative positions, and Teach For America now reports that 63% of its alumni are working or studying in education.[11]

[edit] Criticism

According to a 2009 USA Today article, Teach For America has been criticized by opponents who claim that the program replaces experienced teachers with brand-new employees brought in at beginners' salary levels. John Wilson, executive director of the National Education Association, sent a memo in May 2009 stating that union leaders were "beginning to see school systems lay off teachers and then hire Teach For America college grads due to a contract they signed." Wilson went on to say that Teach For America brings in "the least-prepared and the least-experienced teachers" into low-income schools and makes them "the teacher of record."[12]

In the same USA Today article it was reported that in March 2009, Peter Gorman, the superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC schools told board members that because of a commitment made to the program, 100 Teach For America teachers would be retained in spite of the fact that hundreds of other non-Teach For America teachers in the district would be laid off. However, Teach For America spokeswoman Kerci Marcello Stroud says it would be a mistaken notion to say that Teach For America corps members are displacing experienced teachers. "In every region where we send teachers, we're just one source," she says. "Once they land, corps members must interview for jobs just like everyone else."[12]

Critics of Teach For America have also cited the results of Mathematica Policy Research's 2004 study as an indication of Teach For America’s lack of efficacy (see Educational Impact). These critics claim that while the study shows that students taught by Teach For America teachers perform better in mathematics than those taught by non-Teach For America teachers, the improvement is very small, and that furthermore there is no difference in reading performance between the two groups.[6][12]

[edit] Alumni

Notable Teach For America alumni include:

[edit] Organizational Growth

Teach For America has witnessed sustained growth over the course of the past two decades. The chart below reflects this growth by highlighting the changes in various performance indicators.[13][14]

Year # of Applicants
 # of Incoming Corps Members
 Acceptance Rate # of Regions
 Operating Budget
2000 4,068 900 22.1% 13 $10.3M
2001 4,946 951 19.23% 16 $17.0M
2002 13,877 1,731 12.47% 18 $23.9M
2003 15,698 1,719 10.95% 20 $29.4M
2004 13,378 1,661 12.41% 22 $34M
2005 17,350 2,226 12.83% 23 (est) $39.5M
2006 18,966 2,503 13.19% 24 (est) $57.0M
2007 18,172 3,026 16.65% 26 $70.2M
2008 24,718 ~3,700 14.97% 29 $73.5M (est)
2009 ~35,000 4,100 11.71% 35

[edit] Similar programs

  • Teach For All - Teach For All was founded in September 2007 by Wendy Kopp, Teach For America's CEO and Founder. Its goal is to replicate the Teach For America model internationally by supporting local entrepreneurs who wish to start independent, locally-governed organizations.
  • DC Teaching Fellows DC Teaching Fellows is an alternative certification program designed to address the teacher shortage in DC Public Schools
  • Phoenix Teaching Fellows - The Phoenix Teaching Fellows is a highly-selective program designed to recruit and train socially-driven individuals who want to give back to the community by becoming teachers in high-need elementary and K-8 public schools in Murphy Elementary School District and Phoenix Elementary School District. Fellows benefit from an accelerated route into teaching, earning a Master’s degree and certification while teaching full time.
  • Teach Kentucky - Teach Kentucky recruits select grads to teach in Kentucky public schools - participants receive full salary, benefits, credentialing, and subsidized masters degree. A program founded by Yale alumni concentrated in greater Louisville area with great peer and community support.
  • NYC Teaching Fellows - A program that recruits, selects, and trains mid-career professionals and recent college graduates from all majors and backgrounds to become teachers in NYC public schools. It is responsible for up to 1/3 of the teaching staff in the city. While teaching, Fellows earn full salary, benefits, and a subsidized Master's Degree in education.
  • Mississippi Teacher Corps - A two-year teaching program based in the Mississippi Delta. The Teacher Corps selects about 10% of all applicants. Participants receive teacher certification and a full scholarship for an MA in Education.
  • Teach First - An affiliate of Teach For All, Teach First is a UK program based on Teach For America. It places graduate students in inner city teaching positions. The scheme also gives participants the opportunity to gain a management and business qualification, through the form of a 'mini' MBA at Tanaka Business School. Teach First is now the largest trainer of teachers in the United Kingdom.
  • Teach First Deutschland - An affiliate of Teach For All, Teach First Deutschland is a German program started in 2009 and based on Teach For America and Teach First. It places graduate students in challenging German schools.
  • Noored Kooli - An affiliate of Teach For All, Noored Kooli is an Estonian program started in 2007 and based on Teach For America and Teach First. It places graduate students in teaching positions in Estonian Schools.
  • Lespējamā Misija (Mission Impossible) - An affiliate of Teach For All, Lespējamā Misija is a Latvian program started in 2008 and based on Teach For America and Teach First. It places graduate students in teaching positions in Latvian Schools.
  • Teach & Inspire - Backed by a Transition to Teaching grant from the U.S. Department of Education, ABCTE's Teach & Inspire Scholarship Program recruits, certifies, and supports highly effective new teachers of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds for high-need schools and subject areas. Participants are awarded a scholarship to earn certification through ABCTE's program and are eligible for a $1000 stipend. Participants must commit to teach in a high-need school and subject for three years.
  • Teach for Australia - launched in April 2009 and based on Teach for America.
  • China Education Initiative - launched in 2008 largely expand its capacity in 2009.

[edit] See also


[edit] Philanthropy

The National Honor Fraternity Phi Sigma Pi adopted TFA as its national philanthropy.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Teach For America (2008). http://www.teachforamerica.org/about/index.htm Retrieved 15 December 2008
  2. ^ Teach For America (2007). "TEACH FOR AMERICA PLACES LARGEST-EVER CORPS, EXPANDING ITS IMPACT TO 26 REGIONS NATIONWIDE". TFA. http://www.teachforamerica.org/newsroom/documents/081507_Largestcorps.htm. Retrieved 14 August 2007. 
  3. ^ TFA (2006). "Summer Institute". TFA. http://www.teachforamerica.org/institute.html. Retrieved 29 August 2006. 
  4. ^ Urban Institute http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411642
  5. ^ Teach For America http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/opinion/16fri4.html?_r=1
  6. ^ a b Decker, Paul; Mayer, Daniel; Glazerman, Steven: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (2004). "The Effects of Teach For America on Students: Findings from a National Evaluation" (PDF). MPR. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/teach.pdf. Retrieved 29 August 2006. 
  7. ^ TFA (2003). "Teach For America Announces Results of Nationwide Principal Satisfaction Survey". http://www.teachforamerica.org/newsroom/documents/TeachForAmerica_News_20030812_2.html. 
  8. ^ College of Education: Arizona State University (2002). "EPAA Vol. 10 No. 37 Laczko-Kerr & Berliner: The Effectiveness of "Teach for America"". http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n37/. 
  9. ^ Gillers, Gillian: Current Magazine (2006). "The Inside Scoop on Teach for America". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12206029/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/. Retrieved 4 September 2009. 
  10. ^ National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (2007). "High Cost of Teacher Turnover" (PDF). http://www.nctaf.org/resources/demonstration_projects/turnover/documents/CTTPolicyBrief6-19.pdf. Retrieved 2008. 
  11. ^ TFA (2006). "Program". TFA. http://www.teachforamerica.org/program.html. Retrieved 29 August 2006. 
  12. ^ a b c Greg Toppo (2009). "Teach for America: Elite corps or costing older teachers jobs?". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-07-29-teach-for-america_N.htm. Retrieved 2009. 
  13. ^ Childress, Stacey; President and Fellows of Harvard College (2005). "Teach For America 2005". http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml;jsessionid=GGJG3OHWN4N42AKRGWDSELQBKE0YIISW?id=805094&referral=2340. Retrieved 2008. 
  14. ^ BusinessWeek (2005). "Teach for America Profile For Young Professionals". http://www.businessweek.com/careers/bplc/2007/10.htm. Retrieved 2008. 
  15. ^ url=http://www.phisigmapi.org

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teach_For_America"