[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTION OF THE TEACH FOR AMERICA ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Teach 
for America Act and to ensure that this important program gets the 
Federal support it needs to expand and put more outstanding recent 
college graduates in our Nation's underserved schools. I thank my 
bipartisan cosponsors, Congressman Castle, Congresswoman DeLauro, 
Congressman Regula, and Congressman Sarbanes, for their work on this 
issue.
  Teach for America is a national corps of college graduates of all 
academic majors who commit two years to teach in public schools. Since 
its creation in 1990, more than 12,000 exceptional individuals have 
joined Teach for America and directly impacted the lives of over 2 
million students in under-resourced schools across the country.
  What's more, when these teachers leave the program, they often 
continue to work in education and public service. Sixty-three percent 
of Teach for America alumni remain in education as teachers, 
principals, school founders, and policy advisors. Others pursue work in 
fields such as law, medicine, and social work where they continue to 
increase opportunities for children living in low-income communities.
  Madam Speaker, 17 years of experience have proven that Teach for 
America is a program that works. We in Congress have supported this 
program in the past. Our bill would cement our partnership with this 
important initiative by making Teach for America a federally-authorized 
program. It would help Teach for American expand its recruitment, 
selection, training, and support of new teachers. It would put more 
enthusiastic, outstanding teachers in high-need schools. And it would 
help the program build new leaders in education and public service.
  I urge my colleagues to join me to pass the Teach for America Act. 
Let's help this exceptional and proven program expand its reach and 
reduce teacher shortages in the areas where their services are so 
desperately needed.

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