Troops to Teachers: Program Helped Address Teacher Shortages
Abstract
The Troops to Teachers program is a federal program that began operations in 1994 with two goals: (1) to help military personnel affected by downsizing become teachers and (2) to ease the teacher shortage, especially in math and science and in areas with concentrations of children from low-income families. The program offers information on state teacher certification requirements and job referral and job placement assistance to active and former military personnel who are interested in pursuing teaching as a second career after leaving the military. According to TTT program data, military officers represent a major participant group. During 1994 and 1995, the program also offered financial incentives to military personnel and school districts to participate in the program. Participants who received stipends of up to $5,000 and became certified were required to teach for 5 years. School districts could receive grants of up to $50,000 paid over 5 years for each TTT participant they hired. The program stopped awarding new stipends and grants after 1995 when funds were no longer appropriated for this purpose. The program is administered by DoD's Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). DANTES and 24 state TTT offices carry out the programs efforts to ease former military personnel into teaching. States voluntarily join the TTT program. States that wish to join submit proposals to DANTES describing the services they plan to provide and the activities in which they plan to engage to achieve the TTT program goals. If the proposal is approved, DANTES signs a memorandum of agreement with the state agency responsible for the TTT program, most often the states department of education. DANTES provides funds for state program expenses, although the state TTT representatives are not federal employees.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- AD1179250
Entities
People
- Barbara Smith
- Ellen Habenicht
- Marnie S. Shaul
- Mary Roy
- Patrick Dibattista
- Richard I Kelley
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office