By the time Indianapolis students are ten years old, they are grade levels behind their more affluent suburban peers. Alarmingly, the graduation rate of low-income students and students of color in Indianapolis Public Schools is about 45% lower than that of like peers in affluent suburban communities. Only 30% of Indianapolis students enroll in post-secondary education, and a mere 17% persist to t
heir second year of study. This amounts to a simple truth: we are defaulting on the promise of equal opportunity through an empowering education for far too many Indianapolis kids, especially children of color and those from low-income backgrounds. Though deep inequities persist today, there is growing progress in Indianapolis, and a movement for change has amassed and grown over the past decade. As is true in any successful endeavor, wherever you see strong results, you find diverse coalitions of breakthrough leaders driving the effort. Teach For America has come to play an essential role as a primary source of breakthrough Indianapolis leaders who expand opportunity for children from classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shapes the broader systems in which schools operate. In 2008, Teach For America-Indianapolis recruited its first group of promising leaders from across our nation to teach in the city’s low-income neighborhoods. Our corps members fill critical needs in Indianapolis schools through effective beginning teaching, in pre-K through 12th grade classrooms. Through this journey, we develop within our members the foundational skills they need to become resilient and impactful leaders both inside and outside of the classroom. Beyond our members’ two-year corps commitment, we support the individual and collective leadership, relationships, and learning of those in our diverse network throughout their lifetime. This includes 285 new and seasoned Teach For America teachers as well as many leaders in schools and every sector and field that shapes Indianapolis education working collectively to realize educational equity and excellence in our community. A growing share of incoming members identify as people of color, 36% last year. We also collaborate with key community partners on programming for corps members’ effective teaching and on areas of need in Indianapolis education. There is a growing change movement towards a more just education system in our community. Together, we can achieve the vision that one day, all Indianapolis children will lead lives of their choosing and contribute to a more vibrant and just city. Fulfill your greatest ambitions and join our diverse and powerful network to dismantle educational inequity in Indianapolis. A post or comment will be deleted if it:
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