Teach For America as Neoliberal Racism: A Critical Race Analysis of an Alternative Teacher Certification Program

• In Event: The Margins of Neoliberal Reform: Envisioning Critical Race Praxis Along the Borders of K–12 Education

Abstract

Objective
The following study examines an alternative teacher education program, Teach for America (TFA), which has emerged as one of the most well-funded and well-marketed alternative certification programs (Larabee, 2010, p.48). Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) to analyze Teach For America’s promotional materials, this study articulates the implicit and explicit ways neoliberal discourse colludes with institutional racism. Specifically, the study examines how TFA co-opts social justice/civil rights discourses in its mission statement, press releases, core values, and other artifacts to promote market-based reforms (Labaree, 2010). Also explored is how this reproduces educational inequality by avoiding structural critiques of white supremacy through progressive neoliberal paternalism.

Author

• Arturo Nevarez, University of California - Riverside