September/October 2015 Vol. 24. No. 6

SPECIAL EDITION Back to School

• New Leader in Fort Worth, p.3 • In the Spotlight, p.7 LEGISLATIVE • ESEA Reauthorization, p. 10

The Nation’s Voice for Urban Education September/October 2015 Vol. 24, No. 6 www.cgcs.org Urban Schools Open With an Emphasis On Technology

Improving students’ access to technology is a prime focus of many urban schools as the 2015-2016 school year begins. In addition to helping students become more computer savvy, big-city school districts are also implementing a range of academic and social initiatives. Here’s a roundup of what some urban school districts are offering students: Atlanta Atlanta Public Schools is partnering Baltimore City Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton joins a crowd of students walking to with the Collaborative for Academic, So- school on the district’s first day of classes. cial and Emotional Learning to implement a districtwide social and emotional learning (SEL) initiative that will enhance instructional models, integrate SEL into the Urban Students to Speak Out at Town Meeting core curriculum, and establish an inclusive culture school-wide. With equity and equality issues spark- ing unrest in Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore Baltimore and other cities, the Council of the Great Baltimore City Public Schools is part- City Schools will feature a panel of urban nering with local universities and holding students at its annual national town hall a series of youth retreats focused on lead- meeting, scheduled Oct. 9. ership development, advocacy and team- Students from New York City, San building and designed to give students the Francisco and Long Beach, Calif., will skills they need to serve as leaders in their speak out on education, race and their schools. And a new grading scale is being futures at the forum moderated by news implemented to encourage and reward stu- correspondent and journalist Maria Hi- dents who challenge themselves academi- nojosa, anchor and executive producer cally in their course selection. of National Public Radio’s long-running weekly program Latino USA. Birmingham The 90-minue town hall meeting is Alabama’s Birmingham City Schools is being held in conjunction with the Coun- partnering with Microsoft and the City of Birmingham to increase access to digital Town Meeting continued on page 9 Urban Schools continued on page 4 INSIDE THE COUNCIL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

“Envelope, Please! And the Urban Educator of the Year Is...”

Cindy Elsbernd Perla Tabares Hantman William Isler Bill Sublette

Anticipation will be in the air on the The finalists for the award are school- And now the moment everyone has evening of Oct. 8, when the top honor for board members: been waiting for. The announcement of urban-education leadership will be an- the 2015 Urban Educator of the Year nounced at the Council of the Great City Cindy Elsbernd of Iowa’s Des Moines will be made at the 26th annual award Schools’ 59th Annual Fall Conference in Public Schools; banquet Oct. 8. Long Beach, Calif. Sponsored by the Council, Ara- Four big-city school board members Perla Tabares Hantman of Miami- mark K-12 Education and Voyager are finalists for the Green-Garner Award, Dade County Public Schools; Sopris Learning, the Green-Garner recognizing outstanding contributions in Award is presented to an urban-school urban education and named in memory of William (Bill) Isler of Pittsburgh Public superintendent and board member in Richard R. Green, the first African Ameri- Schools; and alternative years. The winner receives a can chancellor of the New York City school $10,000 college scholarship to present system, and businessman Edward Garner, Bill Sublette of Florida’s Orange to a student. who served on the Denver school board. County Public Schools in Orlando. Last year’s awardee was Superin- tendent Terry Grier of the Houston Independent School District.

Executive Director Editor Associate Editor Staff Writer Michael Casserly Henry Duvall Tonya Harris Danyell Taylor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Council officers A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 68 of the nation’s largest urban public school districts. Chair Richard Carranza Albuquerque Charlotte Fort Worth Miami-Dade Palm Beach Seattle Superintendent, San Francisco Anchorage Chicago Fresno Milwaukee Philadelphia Shelby Co. Chair-elect Arlington, TX Cincinnati Greensboro Minneapolis Pittsburgh St. Louis Felton Williams Atlanta Clark Co. Honolulu Nashville Portland St. Paul Board Member, Long Beach Austin Cleveland Houston New Orleans Providence Tampa Baltimore Columbus Indianapolis New York City Richmond Toledo Secretary-Treasurer Birmingham Dallas Jackson Newark Rochester Washington DC Kaya Henderson Boston Dayton Jacksonville Norfolk Sacramento Wichita Chancellor, District of Columbia Bridgeport Denver Kansas City Oakland San Antonio Broward Co. Des Moines Long Beach Oklahoma City San Diego Buffalo Detroit Los Angeles Omaha San Francisco Charleston El Paso Louisville Orange Co. Santa Ana

All news items should be submitted to: Find the Council on: Urban Educator Council of the Great City Schools 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 702 • Washington, DC 20004 (202) 393-2427 • (202) 393-2400 (fax)

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New School Chiefs Named in Chicago, Fort Worth, Newark, Charleston, Birmingham and Buffalo; Four Districts Select Interim Leaders

Several urban dis- helm with a clear directive from the state: School District, has taken the helm. She tricts across the na- guide the school district back to local con- succeeds interim superintendent Spencer tion are starting with trol. Horn. new leadership for As superintendent, Cerf will hold one With more than two decades in edu- the 2015-2016 school of nine seats on the newly formed New- cation, Castlin-Gacutan has experience year. ark Educational Success Board, a panel as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, Forrest Claypool of community members and educational principal, district-level administrator and has been selected as experts. The board, created by New Jer- university professor. In her most recent the new chief execu- sey Governor Chris Christie and Newark position as interim superintendent in Bibb Forrest Claypool tive officer for Chica- Mayor Ras Baraka, is charged with devel- County, she oversaw go Public Schools, the nation’s third largest oping a specific pathway with appropriate 42 schools, approxi- school district with 400,000 students. timelines and benchmarks for ending the mately 24,000 stu- No stranger to large-scale leadership state takeover. dents and a $289 mil- roles, Claypool has worked as a former Cerf succeeds Cami Anderson, who re- lion budget. president of the Chicago Transit Authority. signed in July. And New York’s He has also served as the superintendent Buffalo Public Schools of the Chicago Park School District, where More New Leaders named Kriner Cash he reduced costs and spending, while ex- Gerrita Postlewait was recently named Kriner Cash as its new leader, suc- panding programs for families. superintendent of South Carolina’s ceeding interim super- Claypool, who most recently served as Charleston County intendent Darren Brown. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s chief of School District, the Cash comes to Buffalo with 20 years of staff, has replaced school board vice presi- second largest district executive leadership experience in educa- dent Jesse Ruiz, who served as interim in the state with more tion, having served as superintendent in CEO after Barbara Byrd-Bennett’s resig- than 50,000 students. Memphis and Martha’s Vineyard, Massa- nation. She assumes the role chusetts. In Texas’ Fort from acting superin- Worth Independent tendent duo Michael Contract Extensions School District, the Bobby, the district’s Tom Boasberg, who took the reins of school board has Gerrita Postlewait chief financial and Denver Public Schools in 2009, will remain named Kent Paredes operations officer, and at the helm through December 2017, as a Scribner as superin- Lisa Herring, deputy superintendent for result of a new contract extension. Under tendent. academics. his leadership, district schools have post- Scribner has led Prior to accepting the position, Postle- ed record enrollment numbers, improved Arizona’s Phoenix wait served as the as- graduation rates and experienced increases Kent Paredes Scribner Union High School sistant vice president in student achievement. District, which serves more than 27,000 for ACT. She also Also receiving a contract extension in students, since 2008. served as the super- Louisville is Donna Hargens, who took the He succeeds Patricia Linares, who has intendent for South reins of Kentucky’s acted as interim superintendent since 2014 Carolina’s Horry Jefferson County in Fort Worth. County School Dis- Public Schools in And in New Jersey’s Newark Pub- trict for 10 years. 2011. She was recent- lic Schools, Christopher Cerf is the new Alabama’s Bir- ly given a four-year state-appointed superintendent. His arrival Kelly Castlin-Gacutan mingham City contract extension to could mark the beginning of the end of two Schools has selected continue leading the decades of state control over New Jersey’s a veteran educator to lead its school sys- district. largest public school district. tem. Kelley Castlin-Gacutan, the interim Donna Hargens Hargens was com- According to NJ.com., Cerf, a former superintendent in Georgia’s Bibb County School Chiefs continued on page 12 state education commissioner, takes the

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Urban Schools continued from page 1 slogan “Convenient. Fast. Accurate,” technology with an initiative called the district piloted the program at 41 the City Next Digital Alliance. The schools this past spring before roll- program will help students get com- ing it out to more than 200 schools in fortable with technology, including August. Launched two weeks before learning coding programs, as well as school, the campaign featured an in- offer computer training for teachers. tegrated online enrollment marketing effort, and resulted in nearly 10,000 Boston students enrolling online by the end Boston Public Schools is imple- of the first week of classes. menting its 100-Day Plan to improve the level of education across all Denver Charlotte Schools Superintendent Ann Clark hands a schools, develop high-quality schools student a laptop during her visit to Devonshire Elementary Students in Denver Public Schools close to home for all students and School on the first day of school. will see fewer and shorter tests with close the achievement gap. As part of students in grades 11 and 12 no lon- the plan, the district is launching a “Cul- ger required to take a state exam. In ad- ture of We” campaign to identify and pub- Cincinnati dition, the total test time for the PARCC licize “bright spots” across the district. Cincinnati Public Schools is expand- (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness ing its “My Tomorrow” initiative, designed for College and Careers) language arts Broward County to improve students’ career readiness, to and math tests will be reduced by about 60 Broward County Public Schools in Fort grades five through 12. The initiative be- minutes for each grade and PARCC tests Lauderdale, Fla., which is celebrating its gan last school year with 7th and 8th grad- will be administered once a year, rather 100th anniversary, is partnering with the ers. The school system also launched a than twice a year. national organization Code.org to offer new publication, Measuring What Matters, computer science courses at every district highlighting the ways the district is going Des Moines high school. The school system is also im- beyond state indicators to challenge stu- Iowa’s Des Moines Public Schools has plementing a chess curriculum in all sec- dents academically. partnered with Drake University to offer ond and third grade classrooms. a master’s degree for free or reduced cost Clark County to teachers in the district. The new mas- Charlotte Nevada’s Clark County School District ter’s program will focus on urban educa- North Carolina’s Charlotte-Meck- in Las Vegas is increasing the number of tion, cultural competency and instruction lenburg Schools is collaborating with the year-round schools to 22, to handle an es- for students learning English, with half the city’s library system to enable students at timated 323,000 students for the 2015-16 classes taught by Drake University profes- all of the district’s 168 schools to use their school year. And in an effort to provide sors and half by Des Moines school staff school identification number to check out greater assistance to the district’s lowest members hired as adjunct professors. books and use online tools at all library performing schools, 22 Victory Schools branches and at home. The school system is will open, offering professional develop- Detroit also expanding the use of digital textbooks, ment for teachers and wraparound services Detroit Public Schools restructured with students in grades three through five to help prevent students from falling be- the district’s central office operations by using the techbooks for science and middle hind. creating a new network structure to sup- schoolers using techbooks for math. port schools. Each network is comprised Columbus of members whose objective is to improve Chicago Ohio’s Columbus Public Schools is overall academic achievement by providing In an effort to reduce transportation opening the Columbus Gift Academy, a more coordinated coaching and develop- costs, the nation’s third largest school dis- self-contained gifted program for grades ment of school leaders and teachers in the trict is changing bell schedules for 82 high 3-8, combining specialized instruction in schools. schools and elementary schools. District the classroom with interactive and educa- officials expect staggering its elementary tion opportunities in the community. District of Columbia and high school start times will save $13.5 The District of Columbia Public Schools million a year. The school system is also Dallas is launching Cornerstones, an initiative to launching the Independent Schools Prin- Dallas Independent School District provide high-quality “lesson experiences” cipal program, offering high-performing implemented online enrollment for ap- to all students. Students from k-12th grade, principals more autonomy and greater flex- proximately 160,000 students. Using the Urban Schools continued on page 5 ibility.

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Urban Schools continued from page 4 expanding to grade 5. The district is also expanding its EMERGE program, which and across English language arts, math, sci- identifies and helps high-potential stu- ence, art, music, physical education, health, dents from low-income households attend and world language subjects, will experi- top universities, to all district high schools. ence Common Core-aligned Cornerstone lessons. Cornerstones are designed to be Indianapolis accessible to all students, including those Indianapolis Public Schools is open- with specialized instructional needs. ing five Innovation Network Schools, as a result of a state law that allows compacts Duval County between the district and charter schools Hawaii Schools Superintendent Kathryn Jacksonville’s Duval County Public Matayoshi visits with students at Hilo Union or other groups to operate schools inside Schools in Florida is launching the 5000 Elementary School. They were given t-shirts the district. The schools are run indepen- Role Models of Excellence Project to improve indicating their final stop in the K-12 pipeline dently but are accountable to the district. — Hilo High’s Class of 2028. the achievement levels for minority boys. The district is recruiting 500 local busi- Jackson ness and community leaders to serve as in the nation that will enable students to Mississippi’s Jackson Public Schools is role models to 500 African American boys develop their start-up business ideas with expanding its Academies of Jackson initia- in 10 middle and high schools. The school local business leaders, pitch their ideas to tive, where students work in small cohorts, system is also launching the Non-Violence investors and start their own business. to include tenth grades. And students in Project, a five-year, $15 million program the academies will have the opportunity that implements strategies such as men- Guilford County (Greensboro) to participate in the Career Exploration toring sessions and group counseling at 24 North Carolina’s Guilford County Fair, an interactive experience designed to middle schools. Schools’ Parent Academy will offer free expose students to more than 200 careers. one-to-one, online live tutoring and home- El Paso work help through Brainfuse HelpNow, an Jefferson County Texas’ El Paso Independent School all-in-one suite of tutoring services offering In an effort to teach students empathy District is distributing laptops to every students on-demand academic help from and improve behavior, Jefferson County high-school student as part of its PowerUp expert tutors. And the district’s Western Public Schools in Louisville, Ky., is imple- initiative. In addition, teachers in English High School is one of 100 schools across menting the Compassionate Schools Proj- language arts, social studies, science and the nation to offer the College Board’sAP ect at three elementary schools. Through a math have created digital Flexbooks that Capstone program, an innovative diploma partnership with the University of Virgin- will be available to every student via their program. ia, the project will begin as an integrated district-issued laptop. Hawaii health and wellness curriculum. The Hawaii State Department of Edu- Fort Worth caiton is expanding the Future Ready Ha- Los Angeles As a result of a capital improvement waii program to more than three dozen The nation’s second largest school dis- program approved by voters in Novem- schools for 2015-16. trict has been ber 2013, Texas’ Fort Worth Independent The 1:1 device and reorganized into School District is opening a $2-million digital learning pro- six smaller dis- aviation center at Paul Laurence Dunbar gram is centered on tricts, each with High School. The Aviation Engineering teacher professional its own super- and Technology hangar and classroom will development and intendent and provide students with the opportunity to school readiness. an instructional earn certifications upon completion. plan tailored to Houston their commu- Fresno Houston’s Inde- nity’s schools Los Angeles Unified School District Superinten- California’s Fresno Unified School Dis- pendent School Dis- dent Ramon Cortines talks with students at Gault and students. trict is opening a new high school, the Phil- trict is opening a new Street Elementary School. And as part of lip J. Patino School of Entrepreneurship, Arabic Language the district’s In- designed to equip young entrepreneurs Immersion Magnet structional Tech- with skills to launch companies. District School this fall, serving prekindergarten nology Initiative, more than 70,000 officials believe it is the first high school and kindergarten students, and eventually Urban Schools continued on page 6

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Urban Schools continued from page 5

Providence following direction the autonomy to make iPads, laptops and Chromebooks will Rhode Island’s Providence Public thoughtful decisions. And the St. Louis be given to students at 103 schools pi- Schools is opening two new schools, the Rams football team will fund a program to loting the one-to-one device program. 360 High School and Evolutions High ensure certified athletic trainers are present School, whose creation was supported by at all of this season’s district high school Miami a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of football games. Miami-Dade County Public Schools New York. The schools will promote stu- Wichita is eliminating out-of-school suspensions dent-centered learning, with technology Wichita Public Schools is beginning and will instead send suspended students supporting students as they accelerate at the rollout of the Marzano teacher evalua- to Student Success Centers, where they their own pace. tion model and process, which was selected will receive counseling and social services. Richmond by a group of district teachers and adminis- The nation’s fourth largest school district is Virginia’s Richmond Public Schools trators after an extensive review of teacher also providing 32,000 tablets to all middle has implemented Let’s Talk!, a new online evaluation models. The Marzano Teacher school 8th-grade U.S. History classrooms communication system designed to provide Evaluation Model identifies a complete as well as 10th-grade high school students students, parents and community members set of practices directly related to improved enrolled in English as a Second Language. with a streamlined process to communicate student performance, organized into four with district leadership. People can submit domains that develop teacher expertise. Nashville ideas or concerns from a computer, tablet Tennessee’s Nashville Metropolitan or mobile device that are automatically Public Schools is offering Arabic language routed to the appropriate department for a classes in grades 7-12 at six schools. The response within three business days. district is also adding fifth and sixth grades to its MNPS Virtual School, offering more San Francisco than 20 online courses for middle school San Francisco Unified School District students. has developed a partnership with Sales- New York City Force Foundation to expand computer sci- The nation’s largest school district is al- ence opportunities for its students. As part lowing 64 schools to become Progressive of the partnership, employees plan to vol- Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excel- unteer 10,000 hours and the company will lence for the 2015-16 school year, enabling adopt 20 schools. them to suspend union rules and implement practices such as longer school days Santa Ana and seminar classes. California’s Santa Ana Unified School District is launching “Read Santa Ana Orange County Read,” an online tutoring program for 250 Orange County Public Schools in Or- first graders, in which volunteers will be lando, Fla., is expanding its Digital Learn- able to tutor students in reading remotely ing program from seven to 16 elementary, from their computers. And for the first middle and high schools and will provide time in seven years, the district is opening a Toledo Students all students at those schools with laptops. new school, the Advanced Learning Acad- The district is also opening seven new, ren- emy, a charter school focused on STEM Get Warm Welcome ovated or replacement elementary schools (Science, Technology, Engineering, and featuring closed-circuit TV studios and in- Mathematics) curriculum for elementary More than 50 African American re- teractive projectors and screens. and intermediate students. ligious, business and education leaders lined the sidewalk in front of Martin Pittsburgh St. Louis Luther King, Jr. Academy for Boys in Pittsburgh Public Schools is imple- In an effort to help students who lack Toledo, Ohio, to welcome students menting a restorative practice program in self-control, Saint Louis Public Schools back to school. They shared hand- 23 schools, designed to enhance and build has opened the Education and Therapeutic shakes, hugs and words of encourage- relationships between students, staff and Support Program for students in preK- 8th ment to the young men and many parents, improve student behavior and re- grade. The school is designed to give stu- have committed to visiting the school duce violence and bullying. dents who are defiant or have difficulty throughout the year.

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A Superintendent Succeeds in the Career She Always Wanted

When Barbara Jenkins was selected as She also realizes that it is critical to en- superintendent of Orange County Public In the gage the community, especially in a district Schools in Orlando, Fla., in 2012, she had such as hers, which serves affluent families big shoes to fill. Jenkins was succeeding Spotlight as well as homeless families. “The district Ronald Blocker, who had led the school would not be capable of getting all students system for 12 years, with the school board to success without additional support and even renaming the district’s administrative community initiatives,” said Jenkins. building after Blocker following his retire- That strong community support was ment. evident when voters last August passed a But Jenkins, who was the district’s dep- renewal of a half-cent sales tax worth ap- uty superintendent, took on the challenge proximately $2.1 billion, and three months and the results speak for themselves. Last later approved the renewal of a one-mill year, the district was the co-winner of the property tax. $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Educa- Jenkins is also a big believer in having tion. a deliberate data-based process to make “Ron had a hand in it and I did as deputy sure students are being pushed to higher as well, but over a 12-year period we went levels of rigor and achievement. Two years from a 50 percent graduation rate to an 88 ago, she established the Minority Achieve- percent graduation rate,” said Jenkins, in an ment Office because data indicated that interview with the Urban Educator. “Earn- the worst achievement gaps in the district ing the Broad Prize sent a clear message we were among black and Hispanic males. The are doing some things right to boost stu- Orange County Schools Superintendent Bar- office is creating specific initiatives around dent achievement for all of our children.” bara Jenkins talks with students. engaging and encouraging males of color. In serving at the helm of Orange Coun- And while the district is making an ef- ty schools, Jenkins has come full circle. fort to recruit and retain teachers of color, She is a 1979 graduate of the school sys- Making a Big Impact “whether I have more minority teachers or tem, and when she talks to students, she Jenkins began her career as a classroom not, the teachers we have are going to have mentions how when she was a student she teacher in the Orange County school dis- to get the job done,” said Jenkins. never dreamed of having a job at this level. trict and didn’t picture a move into admin- She has been married for 29 years and “[Being a graduate] sort of brings home istration until her first principal asked her has two children, a daughter who just com- for them that certain positions don’t have “don’t you want to make good things hap- pleted law school and a son who is pur- to come from only outside our community,” pen to larger groups of children?” suing engineering. In her spare time, the said Jenkins. “What I was drawn to, and the only 54-year-old likes to read, travel, exercise When she was in the first grade, she had thing that usually entices me, is can I have and refers to herself and a group of col- a teacher who she adored and whose foot- a positive impact on a larger group of stu- leagues as “Power Shoppers.” steps she wanted to follow. dents?” said Jenkins, who has served vari- Although Jenkins is pursuing the career “I wanted to be a teacher from the first ous positions in Orange County, including she wanted since the first grade, in 2013 grade,” she recalled. “My mother would senior director for elementary education she was on Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s list of say the same thing ‘she never wanted to do and chief of staff. “I’m a sucker for that car- candidates for lieutenant governor. anything else than to be a teacher.’” rot every time.” Scott ultimately chose someone else. Despite the many challenges that come During her three years at the helm of But Jenkins was flattered, and though she with leading the nation’s 10th largest the 190,000-student school system, one of does not rule out a career in politics, right school district, such as converting to the the most important things she has learned now she is focused on making Orange new Florida State Standards and grappling is how critical it is for superintendents to County Schools the best school system in with a new state accountability system, have a good working relationship with the the nation. Jenkins loves her job as superintendent be- school board. “I go to work very excited because I love cause of the ability to help students become Jenkins says she is fortunate to have a the mission,” said Jenkins. “The best part is successful. “Public education is the linch- school board that not only understands engaging with our students because it gives pin of our democracy and critical for our governance, but also is co-owner of the vi- us a clear hope of our future and reminds country,” stressed the school leader. sion and mission of the school system. us why we are in this business.”

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Urban School Districts Tackle Student Absenteeism Issue

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District in July launched a “In every aspect of life, suc- citywide campaign – complete with cess comes to those who show billboards, yard signs, bus placards and up every day willing to work radio spots – aimed at raising school hard,” said Parker. “You can’t attendance. learn if you aren’t in school. It’s The “Get to School! You Can my hope that every MPS {Mil- Make It!” campaign targets an epi- waukee Public Schools} student demic: In nearly two-thirds of the will realize the importance of district’s schools, more than half of making every day count.” the students are chronically absent – “Students who are in school defined as missing 10 days or more a all day, every day increase their year. academic success and that’s The Cleveland district’s data show what we want for all of our the absences lead to a sharp decline in young people,” Milwaukee test scores. Missing 10 days or more Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon, center, joins students and Schools Superintendent Dari- district union and religious leaders in signing a pledge to have or cuts scores on state reading tests by an encourage good attendance. enne Driver emphasized. average of 12 points and math scores Tennessee’s Shelby Coun- by 15 points; missing those days in ninth ty Schools in Memphis also recently or 10th grades can leave a student with a players have to show up every day, just like launched a communitywide campaign to 4-in-10 chance of staying on track to grad- our kids need to show up every day, to suc- boost awareness of the importance of daily uation. ceed,” the district CEO stressed. student attendance. “We are making gains under the reforms The foundation of the Memphis Griz- spelled out in The Cleveland Plan, a blue- Pro Athletes Step Up zlies professional basketball team has print for improvement initiated in 2012,” signed on as a major sponsor of the “Rep- Chief Executive Officer Eric Gordon said. The Milwaukee Public Schools has resent Everyday” campaign, and Grizzlies “But we can’t educate children who regu- teamed up with the Milwaukee Bucks pro- star Tony Allen has volunteered to be the larly fail to show up for school. We count official face and voice of the on families to help by doing their part.” citywide drive. On the first day of Football Team Joins Drive September, the Grizzlies player reportedly woke up In August, the Cleveland Browns pro- Shelby County families fessional football team’s foundation joined with a recorded phone call, the attendance campaign, planning to pro- “Hello everyone. This is the vide game incentives and player involve- Grindfather, Tony Allen, ment and school visits to encourage stu- Memphis Grizzlies. Be- dents to attend school. ing successful takes a lot “We are proud to partner with the of hard work and dedica- Cleveland Metropolitan School District tion and includes going to for the “Get to School” campaign as we Milwaukee Bucks basketball player Jabari Parker talks with school every day.” help prepare our youth and city for success students at the launch of a new attendance initiative. The robo-call is intended through education,” said Browns owner to wake up parents and stu- and Cleveland Browns Foundation Presi- fessional basketball team and Bucks for- dents to the need for kids to attend classes dent Dee Haslam in a press statement. ward Jabari Parker to launch a new initia- everyday. “We know that if a child misses “Our kids look up to the Browns, wear tive to encourage students to be in school. more than a few days in a school year, it their team colors and follow their season,” The basketball player will appear in a could be very difficult to get back on track,” Gordon pointed out. “We see in the team multi-media campaign to urge students to said Shelby Schools Superintendent Dors- and players the kind of dedication and hard own their futures by being in school all day, ey Hopson. work it takes to play in the NFL. These every day.

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TownMiami Meeting continued Superintendent from page 1 Council of the Great City Schools cil’s 59th Annual Fall Receives HispanicConference in Long th nnuAl All onFerenCe Beach, Calif., hosted 59 A F C Heritage Awardby Long Beach Unified School District. “Sailing to Success in Urban Education” From New York Alberto Carvalho, City public schools, superintendent of Mi- two students who serve Hosted by the Long Beach Unified School District ami-Dade County Pub- Maria Hinojosa on the NYC Urban lic Schools, was recently Ambassadors program October 7 - 11, 2015 selected as a recipient to help prepare students forth college, espe- of the 26 Annual His- Hyatt Regency Hotel cially males of color, will participate in the panic Heritage Awards. panel discussion. Long Beach, CA Carvalho will receive Ethan Ambrose, a senior at Medgar Alberto Carvalho the Education Award Evers Preparatory High for his contributions to School in Brooklyn, is Wednesday, October 7 Hispanic cultural pride and accomplish- also one of only two high 7:00 am-5:00 pm Conference registration ments in the classroom and community. school students on the 1:00 pm-5:00 pm Task Force Meetings He will be joined by actress Eva Longo- Youth Advisory Board of 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Welcome reception at the Aquarium of the Pacific ria, chef José Andrés, actor/director Diego New York City’s Young Luna and several other Hispanic Heritage Men’s Initiative. Corne- EthanAward Ambrose honorees as they are celebrated dur- lius Ray Jr., a 12th grader Thursday, October 8 ing the annual Hispanic Heritage Awards at Gotham Professional 7:30 am-9:00 am Breakfast and Welcome held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts Academy in Brook- 9:00 am-12:15 pm Breakout Sessions Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in lyn, also enjoys helping 12:30 pm-2:00 pm Lunch and Speaker: LeVar Burton September. his peers and younger stu- 2:15 pm-5:30 pm Breakout Sessions Established in 1978, the Hispanic Heri- dents in need of assistance. 7:00 pm-9:00 pm 26th Annual Green-Garner Awards Banquet: tage Awards were created to commemorate From the San Fran- Urban Educator of the Year Announced Hispanic Heritage Month. cisco Unified School Dis- Cornelius Ray Jr. trict, 11th-grader Mai Si- Friday, October 9 nada of Raoul Wallenberg 7:30 am-9:00 am Breakfast and Speaker: José Hernandez Urban-SchoolHigh School and 12th- 9:00 am-12:30 pm Breakout Sessions grader Hatim Mansori 12:30 pm-2:00 pm Lunch and Speaker: Fareed Zakaria Communicatorof Mission Leads High School 2:30 pm-4:00 pm National Town Hall Meeting: will address issues fac- Moderated by Maria Hinojosa Public Relationsing students atGroup the town meeting. 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Reception on the Queen Mary Urban-school pub- Sinada is junior class Mai Sinada lic relations executive president, captain of both Nora Carr, chief of the basketball and volley- Saturday, October 10 staff of North Caro- ball teams, as well as an 8:00 am-9:00 am Breakfast lina’s Guilford County advocate for Muslim stu- 8:30 am-12:00 pm Board of Directors Meeting Schools in Greensboro, dents. Mansori is Black 12:00 pm-2:30 pm Legislative Directors Meeting this summer took the Student Union president, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm Farewell Event at Cafe Sevilla Nora Carr helm of the National a mayoral appointee to School Public Relations the San Francisco Youth HatimAssociation. Mansori Commission, member The nationally known and award-win- of the NAACP Youth Sunday, October 11 ning communicator was installed as presi- Council and served as the co-chairman of 8:00 am- 11:30 am Breakfast and Closing Session dent of NSPRA in July, and is a recognized a “Black Lives Matter” rally. 11:30 am Adjourn voice in the Council of the Great City The Long Beach Unified School Dis- Schools’ Annual Public Relations Execu- trict plans to include three of its students tives Meeting. onCommunicator the town meeting Leads continued panel. on page 12 PB | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 1 8 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 9 LEGISLATIVE COLUMN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

ESEA Reauthorization Heading to Conference Committee By Jeff Simering,Director of Legislation

Now eight years overdue, an Elementary and in any new legislation. Given that context, Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthoriza- the Council tends to focus on improving tion bill is finally headed to a House-Senate con- flaws in each bill. ference committee to resolve differences between the two new versions of this landmark federal And, flaws there are. Each bill allows fed- education law. The chances of passage are greater eral funds generated by disadvantaged stu- now than at any time in recent years with both dents to be spent on other students. Each chairmen and the Administration signaling a bill has provisions that increase funding for willingness to reach an agreement. private-school services and charter schools at the expense of traditional public schools. Nonetheless, the challenges in crafting a final bill are significant. Groups on the political left and The Senate bill has a large number of new right have opposed both versions of the bill, either because requirements – many that exceed current NCLB provisions. the bills failed to include enough of No Child Left Behind’s In our opinion, too many of the wrong things are being re- (NCLB) accountability requirements or because they failed quired in this bill while too few things that would actually to further unravel the federal role in education and embrace help districts improve academic achievement are included. unfettered school choice. Moreover, the House bill includes a “portability” provi- There are also numerous organizations that have “lauded sion allowing states to redistribute Title I funds from higher and applauded” both bills at each stage of the process, be- poverty school districts to more affluent districts and schools. cause they were desperate to escape NCLB accountability And, the Senate bill changes the Title I funding formula in or they were desperate to get out from underneath the state- a manner that would see 70 percent of the nation’s school by-state waiver process and its teacher evaluation require- districts ultimately facing cuts to their Title I funding lev- ments. Other groups acted as cheerleaders for little other els. The impact on the Great City Schools is mixed, but we reason than they were currying political favor for little clear remain opposed to changing formulas in a way that creates aim. Conference managers will have to navigate through financial winners and losers in this cornerstone program for these positions and the legislators that represent them. disadvantaged students.

One always hopes that a conference committee in this Other provisions in both bills could facilitate cuts in situation will find a solid middle ground or take the best State aid to education by eliminating or revising the ESEA provisions of each bill to produce exemplary legislation. Un- “maintenance of effort” requirement, or create loopholes in fortunately, the opposite is also possible. Conferees could the traditional “supplement not supplant” requirements that adopt some of the worst provisions from each bill in order help ensure that the “value-added” benefits of federal funds to give each house or each party bragging rights on their accrue to the most at-risk students. key political issues. Moreover, provisions that school officials might consider as among the best or worst of the two bills The Council has offered a number of detailed recom- may be viewed differently by other interest groups—all in mendations to the conference managers that would improve, the name of what’s best “for kids.” mitigate, or modify the pending bills. There is a window of opportunity through which Congress could produce a good Typically, the Council of the Great City Schools takes reauthorization bill that actually works. In our opinion, a pragmatic approach to any reauthorization, knowing that however, it does not take a 1000-plus page Senate bill or a our members operate the largest ESEA programs in the na- 600-plus page House bill to tell us how flexible and helpful tion and must implement all, not just some, of the provisions they are trying to be.

10 1010| || URBANURBANURBAN EDUCATOR EDUCATOREDUCATOR URBANURBAN EDUCATOREDUCATOR || 1111 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

‘Latinos in Action’ Program Launched Council Honored In Broward District-White House Partnership By White House

In an effort to empower Latino stu- tino youth in a whole different light, that Hispanic Initiative dents, Broward County Public Schools in they’re serving, they’re leading, they’re col- Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is partnering with lege bound.” The Council of the Great City the White House Initiative on Education- Students enrolled in the course will re- Schools was recently named one of the al Excellence for Hispanics to offer a new ceive high-quality classroom instruction on Bright Spots in Hispanic Education by the high school course for the 2015-16 school college readiness, personal development, White House Initiative on Educational year. biculturalism and professionalism; literacy Excellence for Hispanics in commemo- “Latinos in Action” is an elective course tutoring opportunities at feeder elemen- ration of the initiative’s 25th anniversary. being piloted at six high schools designed tary and middle schools; and exploration More than 230 evidence-based pro- to help Latino students graduate and at- of cultural heritage through literacy and grams, organizations and initiatives were tend a college or university. The course performing arts. recognized for addressing education pri- focuses on leadership, literacy and service The “Latinos in Action” initiative is part orities for Hispanics and helping close and will provide students with increased of the Broward County school district’s the achievement gap. opportunities for educational and cultural ongoing commitment to meet the needs of The Council was nominated by the experiences. the area’s growing Latino community. “This Albuquerque Public Schools and won In an interview with NBC 6 South initiative empowers students to take an ac- for its work focusing on early learning, Florida, Jose Enriquez, the executive directive role in their education and give back K-12 education and college access. tor of “Latinos in Action,” said the goal of to our community through mentorship the course is to not only educate students and service opportunities,” said Broward “but also to educate the populace, help Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie. Shelby County District people see the Latino community and La- Files Lawsuit Over Denver Math Fellows Help Students Succeed Lack of State Funding

What started out as a fledgling daily serves as a successful pipeline for teacher Shelby County math tutoring program in seven low- recruitment, with 40 percent of Denver Schools in Mem- performing Denver schools in 2011 has Public Schools’ alternative licensure pro- phis recently filed a morphed into a model of success distric- grams being filled by former Denver Math lawsuit against the twide. Fellows. state of Tennessee Today, the Denver Math Fellows pro- “We’re attracting candidates for our for failing to provide gram has expanded to more than 50 math fellows program from more than 30 equitable and ad- schools, serving more than 4,500 students. states, and they’re all drawn by a desire to equate funding for public school education The program’s expansion was made pos- make a difference for kids,” said Timothy for all students. sible by a 2012 ballot measure voters ap- Johnson, program director. “Because they With a high percentage of economically proved, which set aside $15.5 million to want to serve and because they’re seeing disadvantaged students and an increasing increase the free-of-charge math tutoring results, I’m not surprised our fellows are in- enrollment of non-English-speaking stu- program, which showed impressive gains terested in taking the next step to become dents, the school system believes current among some of the city’s lowest perform- teachers.” state funding provided to the district falls ing students after its pilot year. Fellows receive weekly professional de- far short of the actual costs of delivering The tutoring is conducted daily among velopment and coaching in their year of students a quality education. 4th, 6th and 9th grade students and provided service. All fellows who serve during the “Our students deserve fair treatment – by fellows who are recent college graduates, 2015-2016 school year are eligible for a access to a quality education and a fair op- career changers considering teaching, and $5,730 AmeriCorps education award. portunity to lead a successful life,” said retired teachers. The fellows support stu- Additionally, fellows earn salary and Teresa Jones, chairwoman of the Shelby dents who are below grade level in math medical benefits, and a potential $2,000 County Board of Education. “In a time with supplemental daily instruction. bonus for the full-time service year. when academic and career standards are The targeted intervention program also For the 2015-2016 school year, the dis- increasing, our students need more re- trict is seeking to hire 200 new fellows. sources.”

1010 || URBANURBAN EDUCATOREDUCATOR URBANURBANURBAN EDUCATOR EDUCATOREDUCATOR | 11|| 1111 Council of the Great City Schools PRESORT FIRST-CLASS MAIL ® 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 702 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Washington DC 20004 MERRIFIELD, VA PERMIT NO. 2333

School Chiefs continued from page 3 Anchorage Educator mended by the district’s board of education ® for her efforts to improve student learning Named to Federal Post for all student groups and increase public transparency and accountability. Doreen Brown, the Interim Leaders executive director of Two big-city school districts have se- Title VII Indian Educa- lected their chief financial officers to serve tion program for Alas- as interim superintendents. Missouri’s ka’s Anchorage Public Kansas City Public Schools named Allan Schools, was recently Two Texas Districts Tunis, succeeding R. Stephen Green, who Doreen Brown appointed by President recently resigned from the district to head Barack Obama to the Join Council Georgia’s DeKalb County Schools. And National Advisory Council on Indian Ed- Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools ucation. The council advises U.S. Secretary The Arlington Independent School named Chris Henson as interim leader, of Education Arne Duncan on the funding District near Fort Worth, Tex., and the succeeding Jesse Register, who retired from and administration of federal programs for San Antonio Independent School District the district in June. Indian education. recently joined the Council of the Great Dallas Independent School District In an interview with the Washington City Schools, increasing the urban-school recently selected Michael Hinojosa as in- Post, Brown said schools need to engage coalition’s membership to 68 public school terim superintendent. Hinojosa will return their Native Alaskan students and that systems. to the district after serving as the super- Alaska Native educators have developed The Arlington school district enrolls intendent from 2005-2011. A graduate of standards for schools that embrace Native more than 64,000 students from diverse the district, he succeeds Mike Miles. culture and weave it into their lessons. backgrounds. The San Antonio school dis- And New Mexico’s Albuquerque Pub- “Are districts adhering to that?” asked trict enrolls nearly 54,000 students. lic Schools recently named Raquel Reedy, Brown in the Washington Post. “What kind Both districts join other Texas school the district’s associate superintendent of of culturally responsive practices are within systems – Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort elementary education, as interim superin- the school? Are there traditions and heri- Worth and Houston – as members of the tendent, succeeding Luis Valentino. tage and language embedded into all phas- Council. es of the curriculum?”