A Meta-analysis of Teach For America Teacher Impacts
Teach For America (TFA) is a nationwide program dedicated to recruiting, selecting, and training new leaders to teach in high-need schools. By developing and supporting equity-oriented leaders, TFA aims to transform education and expand opportunity for all children. With nearly 70,000 leaders in its network, TFA partners with educators, policymakers, and communities to help students meet key educational milestones that put them on the path to college and life success.
Many studies have been conducted over the years to examine the impact of the TFA program. AIR conducted a meta-analysis that synthesized the effects of 23 rigorous research studies spanning 24 years that examined the effects of TFA teachers on student achievement. The meta-analysis included 23 studies with over 63 thousand teachers and over 5 million students.
Key Findings
- Effects were statistically significant and positive for math, with the average effect for math 0.05 standard deviations higher for students of TFA teachers than students of non-TFA teachers.
- Effects were statistically significant and positive for science, with the average effect for science 0.16 standard deviations higher for students of TFA teachers than students of non-TFA teachers.
- Effects for English Language Arts were small and did not differ significantly from zero (ES = 0.01).
- For ELA and math, effects were larger for studies that included alumni only, studies that included pre-k to kindergarten or high school grades, and studies which included data from the late 2010s.
