There is an urgent need for teachers with math and science backgrounds.
American students lag far behind their peers in math and science achievement. The United States is ranked 25th and 24th among other developed nations in math and science assessment scores, respectively.1 This gap limits our nation's ability to solve the complex problems of our time, inhibits the innovation that is required to remain competitive, and results in severe long-term economic consequences for our country.
Amgen and Medtronic executives discuss the urgent need for excellent math and science education and how Teach For America is addressing this issue.
Corps members and alumni talk about the impact they've made as math and science teachers.
The need for excellence in math and science is even greater in our low-income communities:
- By the end of third grade, only 58% of students in low-income communities can solve simple multiplication and division problems, compared to 84% of their peers in higher-income communities.2
- By the end of eighth grade, 63% of students in low-income communities perform at below a 'basic' level in science, compared to 29% of their peers in higher-income communities.3
Basic math skills are needed to understand our monetary system, manage a budget, and save and invest for the future. Basic science knowledge informs smart decisions about personal health and how we impact our environment. Without a fundamental knowledge of these subjects, students will struggle to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are crucial for participation in society and their long-term success. Almost every career requires a basic understanding of math, and advanced careers in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields are unattainable without a strong foundation of math and science skills.
As a corps member, you can help solve this problem, and you will see clear evidence of your impact.
Your math- and science-related content knowledge and familiarity with data, analysis, and causal relationships will help you to build your students’ fundamental math and science skills. Math and science learning is easily assessed with data, and you will clearly see evidence of your success in the classroom. According to a recent study, students of Teach For America corps members achieved ten percent more growth in math than other teachers. You can make a meaningful impact on students in the short term, and you will pave the way for your students to pursue important careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
Teach For America will help you succeed in the classroom and in your long-term career.
- We provide hands-on training, one-on-one coaching, and an array of online resources to help you succeed as a teacher.
- As a corps member, you will develop critical leadership, time management, and communication skills that will help you excel in graduate school and any career.
- Top graduate schools and employers actively recruit our corps members and alumni, and provide benefits such as two-year deferrals,* application fee waivers, and scholarships.
- As part of our alumni network, you will be connected to nearly 30,000 leaders and can utilize an array of resources to help advance your long-term career goals.
If you are an international student with a background in math or science, you may be eligible to join our International Students Pilot Program.
Featured Partnership: Amgen
Amgen is Teach For America's founding National Math and Science Partner. Each year, 50 math, science, and engineering majors are awarded Amgen Fellowships, which include a $2,000 signing bonus for joining Teach For America. In addition, Fellows are eligible to receive funding for student learning materials and math and science classroom projects, as part of a special partnership between the Amgen Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, and Teach For America.
* If you are interested in requesting a deferral from a program that is not on the current list, e-mail us at msegraddeferment@teachforamerica.org.
1 OECD; Appeared in The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America's Schools, McKinsey & Co., 4/09
2 National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators, 2008, Chapter 1
3 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2005
"It’s wonderful for the world that other countries are embracing math and science. It’s sad and ironic that in America, where we embraced these very same ideals a few decades ago, we’re falling dramatically behind… we need mathematicians and scientists who can solve many of the complex problems we face. The only way to begin addressing this problem is to start early in the educational process where we can have a major impact."
Joe Miletich
Senior VP of Research and Development
Amgen, Inc
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