Kasich signs Teach for America Legislation
Creates Opportunities for
the Brightest College Graduates to Teach in Ohio’s Schools
COLUMBUS – Delivering on a promise made in his State of the State
address, today Gov. John R. Kasich signed House Bill 21 (Combs),
legislation that will open Ohio’s classrooms to Teach For
America. The bill received strong bipartisan support in the
General Assembly. Joining Kasich for the bill signing were House
Education Committee Chairman Rep. Gerald Stebelton, Senate bill sponsor
Sen. Gary Cates and several Teach For America teachers and
alumni.
For years, Teach For America has been recruiting smart and motivated
Ohio college graduates to teach in school districts across the country,
often in the poorest areas. However, these enthusiastic young
people were forced to leave our state in order to pursue their
ambition. HB 21 will reverse this trend by directing the State
Board of Education to issue resident educator licenses to participants
in the Teach For America program.
During today’s bill signing Kasich said, “I have been aware of Teach
For America for a long time. These are very dedicated
people. Some of the best and brightest that we have who want to
dedicate their lives to improve the lives of our students…Today is a
landmark day for Ohio and education, and I’m so thrilled to be a part
of it...The message to all those students out there, that when you wake
up in the morning and got a sense that you have a purpose to change the
lives of young people: We’re inviting you into Ohio.”
Teach For America is a national organization established in 1990 that
recruits and trains top college graduates who commit to spend two years
teaching in urban and rural public schools. HB 21 will allow Ohio
to be added to the list of 31 states plus the District of Columbus that
currently have Teach For America teachers in their classrooms.
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