Teach For America receives $750,000 grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation

Funding to support expansion of math and science education in Dallas Public Schools

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Jun 07, 2010, 01:08 ET

DALLAS, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Instruments Foundation announced today a $750,000 grant to Teach For America to expand educational opportunities in math and science in North Texas public schools. The funds, which will be distributed over three years, will support training and professional development for Teach For America's math and science teachers in Dallas traditional and charter public schools.

Teach For America recruits, trains, and supports top college graduates who commit to teach for two years in underserved public schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement for educational equity. This year—the first for the program in Dallas—94 Teach For America teachers are impacting some 7,000 Dallas students.

The Texas Instruments Foundation is a non-profit, philanthropic organization funded by Texas Instruments. A primary objective of the foundation is to improve STEM teaching effectiveness and increase the percentage of high-school graduates who are math and science capable.

"We are grateful to the Texas Instruments Foundation for its generous support of our teachers and its partnership in the effort to improve educational outcomes for all children," said Charles Glover, executive director of Teach For America in Dallas. "The foundation's support will enable us to enhance math and science learning in our city's highest-need classrooms."

"Effective math/science education is critical to the future of our state and nation. We invest in and work for the improvement of STEM education locally, with a specific focus on effective STEM teaching," said Sam Self, chairman of the Texas Instruments Foundation board of directors. "By partnering with Teach For America as we have with other proven, successful programs, we will continue to address the critical shortage of math and science teachers.

"For our country and its local communities and schools to be successful, we must increase the number of high-school graduates who are capable of taking advanced math and science courses in college. We believe the fundamental way to do that is to produce more and better trained STEM teachers, which leads to overall school improvement, ensuring every child an excellent education."

A growing body of rigorous research demonstrates the effectiveness of Teach For America corps members as classroom teachers. A 2008 Urban Institute study updated last year found that corps members have a positive effect on student achievement relative to other teachers, including experienced teachers, traditionally prepared teachers, and those fully certified in their field. Beyond their impact as corps members, two-thirds of Teach For America alumni remain in education, leading schools, winning accolades as teachers, and serving in other roles at the forefront of the movement for educational equity.

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, more than 8,200 corps members will be teaching in 39 regions across the country while 20,000 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 www.teachforamerica.org.

About The Texas Instruments Foundation

The Texas Instruments Foundation, established in 1964, is a non-profit organization, providing philanthropic support for educational and charitable purposes primarily in the communities where Texas Instruments operates.

SOURCE Texas Instruments