Teach for America
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.