Hundreds of educators who have been shaped by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund‘s (TMCF) Teacher Quality and Retention Program (TQRP), now entering its 16th year as one of TMCF’s signature programs.
Since its launch in 2009, TQRP has provided 892 fellowships through its intensive Summer Institute, creating a network of educators who have collectively taught more than 45,000 students in the past decade alone.
“TQRP is making a difference in a field that will impact our students for generations,” Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said. “The work of TQRP is vitally important and they have the data to prove it’s effecting change.”
The program’s impact is particularly meaningful given where these teachers choose to serve. Ninety percent of TQRP fellows teach in Title I schools, working with students who are 23% more likely to be eligible for subsidized lunches than the national average.
Leadership development within TQRP has been impactful. By their fourth year in the classroom, more than 75% of fellows have assumed leadership positions, from department chairs to assistant principals. A recent survey found that 46% of former fellows have received awards, including 12% who earned teacher of the year honors.
School supervisors have taken notice. Over five years of evaluation, TQRP fellows were rated more proficient than their peers 62% of the time across seven key teaching competencies.
Perhaps most importantly in today’s climate of teacher shortages, TQRP fellows are staying in the profession. While teacher retention remains a national crisis, 91% of former TQRP fellows remain in education, with 82% still in K-12 settings and 66% actively teaching in classrooms.
The program has exceeded its original goals, with Black males totaling 33% of participants and 38% of fellows teaching STEM subjects—addressing critical shortages in both areas. Nearly 40% of fellows are first-generation college graduates, continuing TMCF’s mission of creating opportunities for those who need them most.
Fellows also consistently rate the program highly, with an average net promoter score of 96—compared to 57 for typical nonprofits.
The program continues to fulfill TMCF’s mission of developing not just teachers, but the educational leaders of tomorrow who are making a lasting impact in the nation’s highest-need schools.
