Teach for America comes to U.

Susan Thompson and Marci Rosenfeld want everyone to have the best education possible. To accomplish this goal, the College seniors are bringing the Teach for America (TFA) program to the University. TFA, a non-profit organization founded by 1989 Princeton graduate Wendy Kopp, recruits college graduates to teach in inner city school districts across the country. "It places people in understaffed schools nationwide," Thompson said. "It is a way to help out students in the local community." Rosenfeld added that 25 percent of students nationwide do not pass first grade the first time around -- a statistic, she said, that motivated her and Thompson to take action. The High School Upward Bound program, sponsored by TFA, will give University undergraduates the opportunity to tutor high school students every Saturday, starting in October. Rosenfeld said the tutoring program is a great way to keep high school students from dropping out. "It gives high school students extra classes so they can go to college," she added. TFA will also give University post-graduate students a chance to adopt a local school, where they will teach a class. Thompson said the program, which has no prerequisites, is geared toward those who would like to experience teaching, but who may not want a career in this field. "You don't even have had to have an education class," she said. "There's simply six weeks of intense training involved." After training, the recruit is committed to two years of teaching. The two College seniors had their first TFA meeting at the University last week. Students in attendance said they are interested in giving the same opportunities they had to those who may be less fortunate. "We've been given so much by coming to a school like Penn," said College sophomore Kendra Olson. "I feel like I want to give back and help others to feel the same excitement about learning that I do." "TFA provides a unique opportunity to save one child's future," Rosenfeld added. The High School Upward Bound program will begin October 15th.