-12 Percent of Record-Breaking Incoming Corps Are African American-

(BLACK PR WIRE) — NEW YORK CITY, June 20, 2011—Teach For America recently announced that 5,200 new teachers will enter the nation’s highest-need schools this fall. This marks the largest incoming corps in Teach For America’s history. With the addition of these teachers, 9,300 corps members will collectively reach 600,000 students—more than 50 percent of whom are African American—attending public schools across the country.

Teach For America’s new corps members are top graduates of colleges and universities from across the country. They represent a broad range of personal and academic backgrounds and professional experiences. One-third identify as people of color, including 12 percent who are African American, which is more than double the percentage of African American graduates at the 350 colleges where Teach For America primarily recruits. Twenty-two percent are the first in their family to graduate from college, and nearly one-third received Pell Grants. Twenty-three percent are graduate students or professionals.

“This year’s incoming corps members represent a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, but they share extraordinary leadership ability and a deep commitment to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential,” said Wendy Kopp, founder and CEO of Teach For America. “We are excited to be channeling the energy of such a diverse and talented corps into teaching in urban and rural public schools and into the long-term effort to achieve educational excellence and equity.”

This year, Teach For America’s talent pool was the most competitive ever: Nearly 48,000 individuals applied, and 11 percent were accepted. Applicants included 27 percent of the Spelman senior class, 10 percent of seniors at Howard University, 1 in 5 African American seniors at Ivy League schools, 8 percent of seniors at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and 5 percent at the University of Florida.

As part of its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, Teach For America has formed national partnerships with such organizations as Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the National Black MBA Association, the National Urban League, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the Ron Brown Scholar Program.

“As a national partner of Teach For America, we are inspired by the talent and diversity of this new class of teachers and their commitment to addressing educational inequity in communities of color across the country,” said UNCF president and CEO Michael L. Lomax. Dr. Lomax is also a member of Teach For America’s National Board of Directors.

A growing body of rigorous research demonstrates the effectiveness of Teach For America corps members in the classroom. Recent studies from Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee found that corps members have a positive impact on student achievement. The Tennessee study identified Teach For America as the most effective of the state’s 42 teacher-preparation programs, with corps members demonstrating a greater impact on student achievement than the average new teacher in every evaluated subject area.

Teach For America is building a strong pipeline of leaders in education. Two-thirds of Teach for America alumni are working full-time in the field, with more than 550 alumni serving as school principals or school system leaders. In addition, many alumni are launching innovative efforts to expand educational opportunity. A 2011 study by Monica Higgins, Rick Hess, and their Harvard research team found that Teach For America is producing more founders and leaders of education organizations than any other organization or program.

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. This fall, 9,300 corps members will be teaching in 43 regions across the country, while nearly 24,000 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 http://www.teachforamerica.org.