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 overview

  • 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
Issue Areas
K-12 education
Post-secondary education and workforce development
Outcomes
Elementary and middle school success
High school graduation
High-quality employment
Strategies
Educator recruitment and retention
Target Population
All school-aged children, Students enrolled in post-secondary education
Cost per Participant
$81,000 per corps member across 3 years (from TFA); $3,283 per teacher (average district contribution)

Evidence and impacts

Strong

Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse

  • 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

Best practices in 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.

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