'Teach For America' Is Expanding

In 1990 Teach For America began with a skeleton crew of 500, grass-roots recruitment and $2.5 million. Today, the organization has a membership of over 5000. Kopp believed that people of her generation want to make a difference in the world and will choose teaching over lucrative careers if there was a teacher corps in place.

Slow Economy Benefits Teach For America

A slow economy could be partially responsible for Teach For America becoming more popular. However, TFA has also beefed up its recruitment and visited with 30,000 students in 400 colleges in 2008. This was made possible with a funding increase from $40 million in 2005 to $100 million in 2008. Philanthropists like Eli Broad fund the project. Applicants increased from 18,000 last year to 25,000 this year.

The Purpose

Teach For America recruits top college grads to teach for two years in the poorest portions of the United States. They receive training and are placed in pockets of poverty to improve learning.

Salaries

Beginning salaries fall in the $25,000 to $28,000 range. Large urban locations pay more than rural locations because of the cost of living. Teachers with more experience or education can expect to make $33,000 to $44,000. Grants may pay for moving expenses, interview expenses, summer institute training, travel costs, testing and coursework.

Loan Forgiveness

Teach For America is partnered with AmeriCorps, a national service network. Because of this relationship, corps members are eligible for loan forbearance and interest payment on qualified students loans while serving for two years. Education Awards are given teach year in the amount of $4,725 for a total of $9,450. Congressional funding determines the specific educational loan benefit each year.

Effectiveness of TFA Program

"Several studies have found Teach For America corps members are as effective or more effective than educators who come through traditional teacher preparation programs within colleges of education. [Teacher Magazine, May 13, 2008] The Urban Institute states that TFA instructors are boosting math and reading scores.

The Critics

Many have concerns about recent graduates (many non-teachers) experiencing only five intensive weeks of training and being responsible for a classroom of students for the first time in their lives. Retention is a concern since TFA teachers are less likely to stay in teaching than students graduating from teacher education programs. There is an 85% success rate for candidates completing their two-year commitment.

Stanford University education professor Susannah Loeb said, "Teach For America is addressing a need but not solving the underlying problem. The shame is that we have so many schools serving low-income, low-achieving kids that need teachers so badly and can’t attract teachers in a more stable way."

More studies will be done to measure effectiveness of TFA but TFA has become the nation's largest pool of teachers for low-income communities. [Teacher Magazine, May 13, 2008]

Source: Teach For America

Teach For America Serves Pockets of Poverty

85% of Teachers Fulfill A Two Year Contract

Student Loans Are Reduced

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds