Teach For America’s impact on higher education

Before students apply for higher education or financial aide, they must first have the confidence and the necessary schooling to enable them to do so. The education gap remains an obstacle for students pursuing a continuing education. The U.S. Department of Education describes the achievement gap as “the difference in academic performance between different ethnic groups.”

One of the contributing factors to the education gap is the lack of resources provided in low-income schools in comparison to more affluent schools. The inaccessibility of resources prevents students in low-income schools from reaching their full potential, therefore hurting the economy. Students who graduate from college will most likely obtain a higher paying job, enabling them to spend more money to support the economy.

Teach For America is an organization that works to close the education gap by providing equal opportunities and education for students in low income schools. By working with these schools, Teach For America hopes to provide more students with the opportunity of higher education and therefore allow students who grow up in poverty to receive the same resources as students who attend more affluent schools.

State budget cuts threaten the future of Teach For America and its mission. Texas House and Senate proposed a bill to cut the $4 million set aside for Teach For America. Click to watch a video  found on KEVO 23 about the impact of Teach For America in the Rio Grande Valley.


According to an article by John Bridgeland in US News and World Report, Teach For America and other organizations face similar blows to their funding on a national level in order to decrease spending and deficit.

Although these proposed budget cuts intend to decrease the deficit in the short term, the legislators should take into account the long term effects of their budget cuts and focus on the future of education and its impact on the economy.

-Carissa Cotner

Higher education without the Tuition Equalization Grant

The Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) provides financial aide to students who are interested in attending private universities and therefore preserves the expansion of public institutions. Although college administrators prepare themselves for budget cuts every two years, the TEG could be cut by 41 percent, presenting major consequences. Fewer students will be able to attend private universities. As a result, public universities would not be equipped to hold the number of students coming in from private colleges.

A writer for the Austin Business Journal wrote an editorial defending the cut of the TEG, saying that it “plays a vital role in educating some of our best students – and saving the state money.”

Martha Marquez, a recipient of the TEG who attends Abilene Christian University, was featured in an article about the TEG budget cuts. She said her decision to attend a private university was based on the amount of aide she received, much of it being from the TEG.

If the cuts remain as extreme they currently are, approximately 9,500 fewer students will be receiving the TEG. Abilene Christian University’s director of student financial service, Ed Kerestly, said, "Most likely, we would be in a position to pass that cost onto students. They would need to look at loans or additional working or whatever to pay the difference, and that's certainly not what we'd like to see happen."

Students might not feel comfortable taking out additional loans. Expecting the students to work more during their college years would take away from their educational experience. The legislature will have to consider every aspect or consequence of the budget cuts for institutions of higher education this session.

-Carissa Cotner