"It is vitally important that we give every child the academic skills needed to succeed in college. Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First have all done exceptional work in Newark, New York City, and across the country. Greater opportunity for children will follow wherever their practices are shared through Teacher U."
—Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark
Teacher U represents the collaboration of several educational organizations, the leaders of whom bring cumulative decades of experience to the endeavor of transforming teacher education. The following organizations have contributed leadership, guidance, strategy, and curricula to the efforts of Teacher U:
Uncommon Schools
Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit organization that starts and manages outstanding urban charter public schools that close the achievement gap and prepares low-income students to graduate from college. Uncommon currently runs the #2 middle school in New York City as ranked on the NYC Department of Education’s 2009 Progress Report. Last year, one of Uncommon’s elementary schools was ranked #1. In 2009, Uncommon students demonstrated 89 percent proficiency in English Language Arts and 98 percent proficiency in math on New York state tests, beating state averages by 12 and 11 percentage points respectively.
KIPP
KIPP is a path-breaking national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools. Nationwide, 100 percent of KIPP eighth grade classes outperformed their district averages in both mathematics and reading / English language arts in 2008, based on state tests. There are currently 82 KIPP schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia, enrolling more than 20,000 students.
Achievement First
Achievement First is a high-performing nonprofit college-preparatory K-12 network that operates schools in Connecticut and New York and seeks to change life outcomes for students. In 2009, Achievement First New York fourth graders demonstrated 93 percent proficiency in English Language Arts and 99 percent proficiency in math on New York state tests, beating state averages by 16 and 12 percentage points respectively. Achievement First Connecticut fourth and eighth graders have also consistently outperformed their peers on state tests in New Haven and throughout Connecticut. Founder and co-CEO Dacia Toll is a founder and board member of Teacher U.
Hunter College School of Education
The Hunter College School of Education is part of Hunter College, the largest college in the City University of New York system. The School of Education is dedicated to the preparation of deeply thoughtful, knowledgeable, and highly effective teachers, administrators and counselors. Acting Dean Sherryl Graves is a faculty member of Teacher U.
Teach For America
Teach For America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teaching in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity.