Download Request: Current Document: 5 Time Of Request: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Send To: 14:58:18 EST waldman, annie PROPUBLICA 1 EXCHANGE PLZ FL 23 NEW YORK, NY 10006-3734 Terms: ("teach for america" AND "corps members") Source: US Publications Project ID: None Page 1 1 of 1 DOCUMENT PR Newswire October 5, 2000, Thursday Bush Commends Teach For America for Showing Results; Schools Need Freedom to Recruit Innovative Teachers SECTION: NATIONAL POLITICAL NEWS LENGTH: 649 words DATELINE: NEW YORK, Oct. 5 In Tuesday's much anticipated first presidential debate, Governor George W. Bush commended Teach For America for their commitment to results and their impact on student achievement in the state of Texas, and he argued that schools and principals need the authority and autonomy to hire Teach For America type teachers. "We appreciate Governor Bush's recognition of our success, and we applaud both presidential candidates for making education a national priority in this election," said Wendy Kopp, founder and president of Teach For America. "Our nation has a tremendous opportunity right now to renew the promise of our education system, so that all children will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education." Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding and diverse recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in under-resourced urban and rural public schools. Since Kopp outlined her idea for a national teacher corps in her senior thesis at Princeton in 1989, Teach For America has provided over 6,000 teachers to one million students in low- income communities ranging from Harlem to the Mississippi Delta to South Central Los Angeles. This year alone, more than 1,600 corps members will reach more than 100,000 students in 15 areas around the country. Teach For America teachers have indeed shown results. Kane, Parsons and Associates, an independent research firm, surveyed principals of Teach For America teachers to assess their teaching performance. On 23 indicators essential to good teaching, ranging from ability to manage a classroom to knowledge of subject matter to motivation and dedication to teaching, an average of 91% of principals rated these teachers as good or excellent. 96% rated them as advantageous to their schools. And 92% would hire another Teach For America teacher if given the opportunity. In addition, Teach For America teachers lead school improvement initiatives, secure grants and other resources to offset shortages at their schools, lead extracurricular activities, and sit on leadership committees. Teach For America also influences the civic commitment and career directions of their corps members. After their two year commitment, 57% of Teach For America's alumni continue working full-time in education, with 37% teaching and 20% working in administrative or other positions in the field. Of those who are not in the field of education, 70% report that some aspect of their jobs relates directly to schools and/or low-income areas. Alumni find ways to expand opportunity for under-resourced communities through careers in law, business, politics, medicine, and journalism. Alumni have started credit unions and community centers, serve as pediatric residents and school health program administrators, and combine legal training with their teaching experience to shape government policy. One alumnus now works at the White House, as part of the 2000 class of White House Fellows, and will work with the new administration, regardless of who wins the presidential election. Teach For America is currently working to expand their efforts. By 2004, they aim to place 4,000 teachers in 25 areas around the country, more than doubling their current size. "The disparities in student achievement that existed when we started Teach For America still exist," Kopp said. "Children growing up in low-income communities still are seven times less likely to graduate form college than children growing up in higher-income areas. We're expanding our efforts so that we can reach even more students and schools, so Page 2 Bush Commends Teach For America for Showing Results;Schools Need Freedom to Recruit Innovative Teachers PR Newswire October 5, 2000, Thursday that we can help hasten the day when this gap has closed forever." SOURCE Teach For America CONTACT: Kyle Waide, 212-279-2080 ext 134, kwaide@teachforamerica.org, for Teach For America URL: http://www.prnewswire.com PERSON: GEORGE W BUSH (91%); COUNTRY: UNITED STATES (95%); STATE: TEXAS, USA (93%); NEW YORK, USA (92%); DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, USA (79%); CALIFORNIA, USA (79%); CITY: LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); COMPANY: Teach For America INDUSTRY: Education GEOGRAPHIC: UNITED STATES (95%); TEXAS, USA (93%); NEW YORK, USA (92%); DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, USA (79%); CALIFORNIA, USA (79%); LOS ANGELES, CA, USA (79%); District of Columbia, Texas, New York SUBJECT: bc-NY-Bush-Teach-For-Amr; Congressional, Senatorial, Gubernatorial and Presidential Campaigns TEACHING & TEACHERS (93%); STUDENTS & STUDENT LIFE (91%); PRESS RELEASES (90%); GOVERNORS (90%); US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS (90%); SCHOOL PERFORMANCE (90%); EDUCATION SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (90%); TEACHER RECRUITMENT & HIRING (90%); HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS (90%); EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION EMPLOYEES (90%); SCHOOL PRINCIPALS (89%); POLITICAL DEBATES (78%); EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION (78%); CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS (78%); POLITICAL CANDIDATES (78%); PUBLIC POLICY (78%); RURAL SCHOOLS (78%); URBAN SCHOOLS (78%); EDUCATION REFORM (77%); POLITICS (76%); YOUTH CLUBS & ACTIVITIES (74%); PERSONAL FINANCE (74%); ALUMNI (73%); EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (73%); LOW INCOME PERSONS (73%); PUBLIC SCHOOLS (73%); FRIENDLY & PROVIDENT SOCIETIES (71%); PEDIATRICS (69%); CREDIT UNIONS (66%); JOURNALISM (64%); PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIPS & RESIDENCIES (62%); FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT (61%); LOAD-DATE: October 6, 2000 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH DISTRIBUTION: TO NATIONAL, EDUCATION AND POLITICAL EDITORS Copyright 2000 PR Newswire Association, Inc.