The Freedom Writers Institute For Teachers provides professional teacher development through its unique and supportive training methodology to middle and high school educators of at-risk students. 

An issue brief published by The Alliance for Excellent Education suggests that there is an emerging consensus among researchers and educators that the single most important factor in determining student performance is the quality of his or her teachers: “If the national goal of providing an equitable education to children across the nation is to be met, it is critical that efforts be concentrated on developing and retaining high-quality teachers in every community and at every grade level.”

For example, the report outlines that in the state of California, the cumulative cost of teacher turnover is an estimated $455 million.  Recent data claims that nearly 15,000 teachers left the profession in one year, and an additional 17,444 teachers transferred to other schools. Although attrition in any profession is a part of the natural cycle of life events, in the teaching profession, half of all teachers who enter the field leave within five years, and the best and brightest teachers are often the first to leave. Teachers, both those noted in the policy brief, as well as those who have attended the Freedom Writers Institute for Teachers have cited a lack of support and poor working conditions among the primary factors for their exodus. The transitional nature of teachers has a profound effect on the learning experiences of students. When the impact of teacher attrition on schools located in low-income neighborhoods and at-risk students is examined, there is a strong correlation between the education gap that exists between white and minority students in the United States.

A positive teacher student relationship in the classroom, in addition to equitable, culturally relevant curriculum, can ensure that students feel included and represented in school culture, which in turn ensures they will graduate high school. When students believe that achievement and success are possible, instead of feeling isolated from school culture, they are more likely to succeed. When teachers believe in their students and effectively train students to believe the same, anything is possible. The strictly academic approach to curriculum and standards in a vacuum without consideration for students’ prior knowledge and learning, home culture, and learning challenges is an equation for increased teacher frustration, thus attrition, and higher student dropout rates. Replicating the success of Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers in everyday classrooms around the world is a must, if we are to remedy the current state of education.