The increase in teaching slots this fall has required an enormous fundraising effort to reach the needed $3.8 million, Todd said. The program spends about $20,000 per teacher to provide continuing support and training, and much of that must be raised. Two businesses, T. Rowe Price Group and Legg Mason Inc., have increased their contributions to $200,000 and $100,000, respectively, while local foundations also give to the program. The school system contributes $850,000.
In the past several years, the school system has been able to hold on to more of its teachers from year to year. This year, it is expected to hire only 600 to 650 new teachers, so the Teach for America members would represent a significant portion of the new hires.
The school system has a number of other routes that people who aren't certified can take to begin teaching in the school system.
