March 19, 2013

The Honorable Terri E. Bonoff, Chairman Minnesota Senate Senate Committee of Higher Education & Workforce Development Division 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Room 325 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606

The Honorable Jeremy Miller, Ranking Member Minnesota Senate Senate Committee of Higher Education & Workforce Development Division 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Room 325 St. Paul, MN 55155-1606

RE: S.F. 975, Teach For America Appropriations Dear Chairman Bonoff and Ranking Member Miller: I write to support S.F. 975, a bill that would provide appropriations for Teach For America Twin Cities. I believe Teach For America is a critical partner in ensuring all Minnesota children are able to reach their potential. The achievement gap in the state of Minnesota presents a crisis. Each year our students living in poverty fall further and further behind their peers. The long-term impact of this trajectory is frightening. We need results for these young people. Teach For America directly addresses this crisis. Recruiting and training young leaders in this country to roll up their sleeves and significantly impact students who have fallen behind while acquiring first-hand knowledge about our education system will continue to reveal its benefits year after year. Teach For America teachers get results. These high-achieving individuals are taught and believe that all students can succeed, and they see results in communities and classrooms where the current education system is failing students. Increasing the number of Teach For America teachers in the state of Minnesota is making an investment in the success of our young people. All students deserve an excellent education and the commitment of Teach For America teachers delivers just that. Closing the achievement gap is paramount to the success of our young people, our communities and our state. Increasing the number of Teach For America teachers is a key strategy in successfully closing this gap. AchieveMpls works hard to provide equitable opportunities for all Minneapolis youth to find postsecondary success. We offer support through strong one-on-one mentoring and providing resources attached to everything from a meaningful internships to successfully completing the financial aid process. As we work directly with students who exist in the achievement gap every day, we recognize that when it comes to academic success, there is no greater asset to these young people than strong teachers in their classrooms. Teach For America places leaders in these critical roles.

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As you consider funding for Teach For America, I ask you to consider whats at stake. There is nothing more important that strong, passionate, high-achieving teachers in our classrooms. We need real solutions to this crisis and Teach For America teachers are real solutions. This year, more than 500 graduating seniors from 29 colleges and universities across Minnesota applied to Teach For America, and I want more of these talented graduates to teach our students in Minnesota. I urge the Committee to approve S.F. 975 and make a state investment in Teach For America-Twin Cities, which is committed to expanding educational opportunities for more Minnesota children. Thank you in advance for your support and consideration of this important legislation. Sincerely,

Pam Costain President and CEO, AchieveMpls