Dive Brief:
- As its 25th anniversary approaches, Teach for America is evolving its program so that it's more decentralized and regions have more authority, additionally focusing less on teacher-directed learning and more on students leading themselves to solutions.
- At the same time, the organization still faces routine criticism, Education Week reports, as well as two straight years of declining application numbers.
- Some of TFA's new initiatives include different approaches for ELLs, an increased focus on LGBT issues, and a partnership with a black fraternity.
Dive Insight:
Teach for America now seems to be a changing organization, according to Education Week, which reports that it may be listening to critics and addressing perceived weaknesses. In the past, the organization has been the target of claims that it spends too little time training its teachers, doesn't adequately address cultural competency, and that it undermines the hiring of more experienced teachers.
The organization has also addressed the question of readiness in the past, deciding to expand its teacher training in 2014.
Additionally, a Georgia state audit found a higher turnover rate for Teach for America teachers than those with education degrees. Some 40% of metro Atlanta Teach for America teachers stayed beyond their initial two-year commitment, compared to 80% of other teachers in low-income schools.
In some regions, like North Carolina, school boards have decided not to renew TFA contracts due to feelings that TFA teachers are inexperienced and underprepared.