Teach For America

Teach For America (TFA) is a national alternative teacher certification program for recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit to teaching for two years. TFA corps members in Chicago are largely concentrated on the West and South Sides of the City. The Fund made the lead investment to bring TFA to Chicago and holds a seat on the local advisory board. We also helped launch TFA’s principal training program, aimed at helping alumni, who complete their two-year commitment and remain in teaching, pursue the principalship. TFA’s program is one of 10 in the Chicago Leadership Collaborative (CLC), and it continues to supply 15 to 20 principal candidates to Chicago’s schools annually.

Impact

• More than 1,350 teachers completed their two-year commitment in Chicago, impacting more than 40,000 students.
• Recent studies show that students taught by TFA teachers achieve at the same level, if not better than, those taught by other teachers in their schools.
• Today, TFA-Chicago has around 500 first- and second-year teachers, more than 800 third-year and beyond teachers, and 60 alumni principals in Chicago’s public schools.
• As one of 10 programs in the CLC, TFA’s program continues to supply 15 to 20 principal candidates to Chicago’s schools annually.