RESEARCH & REPORTS

A study on the impacts of Teach For America Indianapolis found TFA teachers with one to two years of experience were somewhat more effective at improving student achievement than non-TFA teachers with similar experience levels, while TFA teachers in schools with at least five TFA peers were substantially more effective at increasing student achievement. Additionally, TFA teachers were placed in higher-need schools than other first-year teachers, and, in recent years, TFA teachers have been more racially diverse than other new teachers. Further, the study finds that TFA teachers’ greater effectiveness more than made up for the negative impact on student achievement associated with their higher turnover rate.

Healthy students make better learners and are more likely to see positive academic outcomes. With calls for increased funding for health services provided in schools, we revisited our historical funding for school-based health services in Indianapolis and created a “lessons learned” document to guide future implementation efforts by schools and healthcare providers.

Two reports outline specific and actionable steps stakeholders can take to reduce education gaps and ensure children in Marion County receive a high-quality education.

Modern Apprenticeship is designed to prepare Marion County high school students for the workforce with paid, hands-on experience while also broadening the workforce pipeline by offering employers a way to meet current and future staffing needs.

To provide students and adults from low-income households with low-to-no-cost access to high-speed internet, communities must implement robust outreach efforts to build credibility in the programs providing the access, and they must educate those with limited internet experience about how to use the technology.

School curriculum increasingly requires computer-based learning, which is why internet access is critically important to students in the 21st century.