Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Sen. Richard Burr, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Expansion of National Teacher Corps
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerci Marcello Stroud | Teach For America
917.734.4847 | kerci.marcellostroud@teachforamerica.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. , December 14, 2009—Congress completed action on legislation that would provide $21 million to support Teach For America’s expansion in 2010. Teach For America is the national corps of top college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement for educational excellence and equity.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 provides federal funding guidelines for Teach For America’s recruiting, training, placement, and professional development efforts in the 2010 fiscal year. The legislation next goes to the President for signature.
Upon final passage and enactment, the bill would enable Teach For America to grow to more than 8,000 corps members next year, serving more than half a million students in some of the nation’s lowest-income communities. At this scale, some 20,000 Teach For America alumni will be working in education and every other field to expand opportunities for students and families in low-income communities.
In an effort led by Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., more than 60 members of the House personally weighed in to ensure adequate funding for the expansion of the teacher corps. In an effort led by Sens. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md, and Richard Burr, R-N.C., more than 25 senators argued in favor of increased funding for the organization.
“Teach For America recruits the best and brightest right out of college to serve as teachers and mentors in our most challenging schools. These intrepid young people are working hard in the classrooms everyday to put students on a path to educational and career success. That’s why I was proud to fight for funding in the federal checkbook to support their work,” said Senator Mikulski, who included an additional $3 million in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill to help recruit science and math teachers. “This funding means that thousands more teachers will be helping our students in Maryland and across the nation attain school and career success.”
“The mission of this outstanding national organization is to eliminate educational inequity in this country by attracting dedicated, talented college graduates to teach and make a lasting impact in underserved communities across the country. These funds will enable Teach For America to continue on its path to achieving a nationwide collective impact of approximately 8,200 corps members serving approximately 38 urban and rural communities around the country, positively affecting more than 500,000 economically disadvantaged students in grades preK-12,” said Senator Richard Burr.
“Teach For America has a proven record of improving students’ success in the classroom and narrowing the achievement gap,” said Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “I am pleased that the House has strengthened its commitment to this important program. This critical funding will translate directly into more qualified teachers in our nation’s highest-need schools.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the leadership of Senators Mikulski and Burr and Representative Van Hollen in helping to ensure that $21 million in funding was included for Teach For America as part of the fiscal year 2010 omnibus passed by the House,” said Wendy Kopp, founder and CEO of Teach For America. “With their tireless efforts to build broad bipartisan support for this legislation coming to fruition, we mark a critical step forward in the effort to ensure that all children in this country, regardless of where they are born, have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. Enactment of this funding bill will allow Teach For America to expand its corps of committed teachers, serving tens of thousands more students in economically disadvantaged communities, and to continue building our force of alumni leaders who will work throughout their lives for educational excellence and equity."
About Teach For America
Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. Today, 7,300 corps members are teaching in 35 regions across the country while 17,000 Teach For America alumni continue working from inside and outside the field of education for the fundamental changes necessary to ensure educational excellence and equity. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.
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