Differing Views of Teach For America: Where Does the Controversy Lie?

Abstract

Founded by Wendy Kopp in 1990, Teach For America has gained both supporters and critics along its way to becoming a nation-wide movement towards achieving educational equity. In an effort to understand the controversy surrounding TFA, this paper will provide background information on TFA and examine the rhetoric and measures of various parties involved in the debate. This information will aid in identifying the source of the controversy as TFA’s true identity. If the organization presents itself as a social justice endeavor (which it does), it will be measured by others as such. What the data indicate, however, is that TFA is masked by a thin social justice agenda, beneath which are its true characteristics.