A Resolution in Support of the Teach for America Program

 

WHEREAS, one of our country’s greatest domestic challenges is the inequity in our educational system that remains along socio-economic lines; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2009 the condition of a child’s education is still based on where the child is born; and

 

WHEREAS, the mission of Teach For America is to enlist our nation’s most promising future leaders from around the country in the movement to eliminate educational inequity; and

 

WHEREAS, Teach For America seeks to accomplish this goal by recruiting, selecting, and developing exceptional graduates of all majors and career interests as well as working professionals to commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools; and

 

WHEREAS, during their two-year commitments, Teach For America corps members experience firsthand the effects of educational inequity and gain an understanding of how to solve it; and

 

WHEREAS, through their teaching experience, Teach For America corps members have demonstrated a commitment to take on the problem of educational inequity, and offer insight about real solutions;

 

WHEREAS, Teach For America alumni have become leaders not only in the education arena, but across all sectors in our society, where they address the challenges of poverty and improve and enhance the capacity of school systems; and

 

WHEREAS, since its inception in 1990, the Teach For America network has grown to include more than 24,000 individuals, including some 7,600 corps members and 4,000 alumni currently teaching in 35 urban and rural communities who are having an impact on more than 450,000 students; and

 

WHEREAS, Teach For America members are teaching in 27 states and the District of Columbia, and in over 100 school districts; and

 

WHEREAS, rigorous research studies conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. and the Urban Institute have demonstrated that Teach For America corps members have a positive impact on student achievement; and

 

WHEREAS, a significant and growing number of Teach For America alumni are achieving leadership roles— in classrooms, as principals, as nonprofit directors, as elected school board members, and as social entrepreneurs—in high-need communities across the country; and

 

WHEREAS, public support of Teach For America is critical to achieving these goals,

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Lieutenant Governors Association supports and encourages Federal, State, and Local governments to utilize the Teach For America program; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,

that the National Lieutenant Governors Association urges Governors and Education Leadership teams in their respective states and territories to encourage more school districts to form partnerships with Teach For America; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

that copies of this resolution be sent by the NLGA to the President of the United States, the Vice-President of the United States, the Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate, and that the NLGA make all state elected officials aware of passage of the resolution through a notice in StateNews magazine, and that the NLGA further post the full text of the resolution to its web page making the resolution available at all times for all NLGA members, state elected officials, and other interested parties.

 

Passed by Committee this 30th day of July, 2009

 

Sponsor:  Lt. Governor Tim Murray, Massachusetts

Co-Sponsor:  Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, Vermont    

Lt. Governor John Bohlinger, Montana
Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, Connecticut
Lt. Governor Barbara O’ Brien, Colorado
Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia
Lt. Governor Gregory Francis, USVI

 

 

Contact: 

National Lieutenant Governors Association

Director Julia Hurst

(859) 283-1400 or jhurst@csg.org