BENTONVILLE, Ark, July 31, 2013 -- The Walton Family Foundation announced today that it is investing $20 million over two years in the national nonprofit Teach For America. This investment will support the recruitment, training and professional development of nearly 4,000 first- and second-year teachers in nine communities, three of which -- Detroit, Indianapolis and Memphis -- the foundation will be supporting for the first time. The foundation, the largest private supporter of Teach For America, has now invested more than $95 million in the organization since 1993

Walton Family Foundation investment will support more than 1,000 corps member placements over next two years

Walton Family Foundation grants will strengthen Arkansas public schools

Significant increase in support to fuel expanded presence and increase in membership

Forthcoming Paper in the Journal of School Choice Finds Charter School Students Receive One-Third Less PerPupil Funding in Five Key Regions

Investment to Localize School Rating System and Expand On-The-Ground Efforts

Majority satisfied with region quality of life and amenities; traffic, pre-K, air travel identified for improvement

Majority of investments supported K-12 Education Reform, Freshwater and Marine Conservation, and Quality of Life Initiatives in Arkansas and Mississippi

Demand for high-quality school options leads largest private funder of charter school startups to support the creation of 1,437 schools since 1997

Investment to support the creation of more than 2,000 new, high-performing schools and closure of at least 900 low-performing public charter schools