FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, November 20, 2024—The announcement of Linda McMahon as the nominee for Secretary of Education presents an opportunity for the Secretary-designate and incoming administration to address the critical needs of our students, schools and communities, and to ensure that all students have the resources and support they deserve to learn and thrive.

We know the needs of our students and educators are as great as they have ever been. At Teach For America, we remain resolved in our commitment to create opportunities for all children, starting with access to an excellent education. A prosperous economy, a strong democracy, and a healthy society are not possible without a public education system that equips every student with the skills, learning, and experiences they need to thrive in an increasingly challenging and complex world. 

We hope the Department will continue to prioritize excellence in education, particularly with historically marginalized students and communities. To that end, we believe that it will be especially critical to focus on the academic outcomes and personal growth of students; to create and sustain a well-prepared, diverse, and excellent teaching workforce; and to ensure the wellbeing of all students in their schools.

In addition to prioritizing academic outcomes for children, the Department has a key role to play in protecting the civil rights of all students. As such, we are eager to learn about Secretary-designate McMahon’s vision for the future of American education and her commitment to ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed. We’re specifically interested to learn about her plan for supporting schools serving students in low-income communities through Title I funding; for ensuring that the resources and supports for students with learning differences promised by IDEA reach the students and teachers who need them; and for guaranteeing that all children have access to supportive and safe learning environments. 

With nearly 35 years of work across more than 300 communities, we know firsthand the impact that education and the educational systems where we work have on the lives of students. Our ongoing responsibility to kids and communities serves as a constant reminder of the importance of working in a cross-sector, bipartisan coalition, and of bringing people together around a shared belief that every child has a right to an excellent education that puts them on a pathway to economic mobility and a life filled with possibility.  We stand ready to work with the Department to serve the needs of all children, especially the most vulnerable. 

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About Teach For America

Teach For America works in partnership with communities across the country to expand educational opportunities for children. Founded in 1990, Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a diverse network of leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate. Today, Teach For America is a force of over 70,000 alumni, corps members, and Ignite fellows working in pursuit of profound systemic change so that one day every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive, and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook and X.

Press Contact
Natalie Laukitis
(646) 369-7306
natalie.laukitis@teachforamerica.org