Wendy Kopp

A Competitive Edge
Teach for America (TFA) is a national, short-term, teaching service program. Since it started, more than 14,000 members have served in its two year program. Applying to Teach for America has, in recent years, become very popular among students and admission to the program is very competitive. A 2008 US News and World Report article notes, "The program is speaking to a generation of kids who have been competing since kindergarten. The more elusive the goal, the more you want it. [In addition,] there's been real attention to community service, and there is this feeling of wanting to give back."