
Teach for America
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program basics
- Selective teacher recruitment program that places new teachers in under-resourced public schools
- Teachers commit for at least two years
- Teachers receive 5–7 weeks of in-person training before the school year begins and continue to receive ongoing coaching and professional development while teaching
- Teachers are directly employed by school districts and receive the same salary as other first- or second-year teachers
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Strong (second-highest tier)
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Strong (second-highest tier)
Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse
Target population
All school-aged children
Program cost
$81,000 per corps member across 3 years (from TFA); $3,283 per teacher (average district contribution)
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
1990–present
Outcomes and impact
- Positive effect on mathematics achievement
- Potentially positive effect on science achievement
- No discernible effect on social studies and English language achievement
- Improved mathematics achievement by an average of 4 percentile points
- Potentially improved science achievement by an average of 7 percentile points
Keys to successful implementation
- Provide supplemental support and training for new teachers.
- Encourage teachers to receive training and certification in their second or subsequent years.
- Create career pathways to retain teachers, developing their leadership and deepening their commitment to end educational inequity.