Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Teach for America Act and to ensure that this important program gets the federal support it needs to expand and put more outstanding recent college graduates in our nation’s underserved schools. I thank my bipartisan cosponsors, Congressman Castle, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congressman Regula, and Congressman Sarbanes, for their work on this issue.
Teach for America is a national corps of college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in public schools. Since its creation in 1990, more than 12,000 exceptional individuals have joined Teach for America and directly impacted the lives of over 2 million students in under-resourced schools across the country.
What’s more, when these teachers leave the program, they often continue to work in education and public service. Sixty-three percent of Teach for America alumni remain in education as teachers, principals, school founders, and policy advisors. Others pursue work in fields such as law, medicine, and social work where they continue to increase opportunities for children living in low-income communities.
Madam Speaker, 17 years of experience have proven that Teach for America is a program that works. We in Congress have supported this program in the past. Our bill would cement our partnership with this important initiative by making Teach for America a federally-authorized program. It would help Teach for American expand its recruitment, selection, training, and support of new teachers. It would put more enthusiastic, outstanding teachers in high-need schools. And it would help the program build new leaders in education and public service.
I urge my colleagues to join me to pass the Teach for America Act. Let’s help this exceptional and proven program expand its reach and reduce teacher shortages in the areas where their services are so desperately needed.