•New Charlotte Chief, p.4 • Big-City Winners, p.6 • New Standards, p.9 LEGISLATIVE Fund Flexibility Needed, p.10

The Nation’s Voice for Urban Education May 2012 Vol. 21, No. 4 www.cgcs.org

New Superintendents U.S. News Ranks Top High Schools Named to Seven Districts Seven schools in districts represented by publication’s last three editions. the Council of the Great City Schools rank Other urban schools in the Council that As the 2011- in the top 25 of 500 of the leading public ranked in the top 25 of the 500 schools 2012 school high schools in the nation, the Urban Edu- awarded gold medals are: year draws to cator found in a review of the recent U.S. a close, several News’ fourth edition of America’s “Best Green Valley High Schools in the Clark big-city school High Schools.” County School District in Las Vegas, districts have On May 8, the newsmagazine, also No. 13; made changes known as U.S. News & World Report, re- at the helm, or leased its 2012 edition of the top-perform- Design & Architecture Senior High will be making ing high schools after evaluating nearly School in Miami, No. 16; changes. 22,000 public high schools in 49 states and Mike Miles in Dallas There willthe District of Columbia. The Baccalaureate School for Global be new leaders in In the national rankings, two urban Education in New York City, No. 21; school districts in Dallas, Charlotte, San schools ranked first and third, respectively, Francisco, Seattle, Baton Rouge, Rochester in the same city. City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten and Providence. The School for the Talented and Gifted Park in Buffalo, No. 23; and Mike Miles is a West Point gradu- in the Dallas Independent School District ate and former Army Ranger, who served received the highest ranking among the High School for Dual Language and in the Army’s elite Ranger Battalion and U.S. News “Best High Schools,” followed Asian Studies in New York City, No. 25. commanded an Infantry Rifle Company. by Thomas Jefferson High School for Sci- He will now be leading more than ence and Technology in Virginia’s Fairfax U.S. News teamed up with the Ameri- 157,000 students and 20,000 employees County Public Schools and the School of can Institutes for Research to establish as the new superintendent of the Dallas Science and Engineering Magnet in Dal- the methodology for ranking the schools. Independent School District. He succeeds las. “Schools were awarded gold, silver or interim superintendent Alan King. Ranked fifth in 2009, whenU.S. News bronze medals based on state proficiency After serving in the Army, Miles worked published its last rankings, Dallas’ School standards, how well they prepare students as a diplomat in Moscow and Warsaw at for the Talented and Gifted this year topped for college, and other factors,” the news- the end of the Cold War. In 1995, he be- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science magazine pointed out. gan his career in education as a high school and Technology in Virginia’s Washington, A number of urban school districts won teacher at a school district in Colorado and D.C. suburbs, which had ranked first in the medals in the U.S. News national rankings. rose through the ranks, holding positions such as assistant superintendent for cur- riculum and instruction. ‘Influential’ Leader For six years, he was the superintendent of Colorado’s Harrison School District Newark Public Schools Superinten- Two, where under his leadership, academic dent Cami Anderson has been named achievement improved and graduation one of TIME magazine’s 100 most in- rates increased. fluential people in the world. See story on page 5. New Superintendents continued on page 4 INSIDE THE COUNCIL MAY 2012

NYC Middle School Wins High School Chess Championship

Winning tournaments is nothing new for the chess team at Intermediate School 318 Eugenio Maria De Hostos in Brook- lyn, N.Y. In fact, they have won so many championships that their coach can’t even remember how many. But it is pretty much guaranteed that the team’s most recent championship will not be forgotten. They placed first at the United States Chess Federation’s National High School Chess Championships, be- coming the first middle school to win the first-place trophy. “This is the greatest achievement we’ve ever had and probably ever will have,” said one of their coaches, John Galvin, in athe New York Times. The nation’s best scholastic chess team is composed of mostly eighth-graders, in- Justin Williams, James Black, Isaac Barayev and Matthew Kluska, members of the chess team at I.S. cluding two students, Justus Williams and School 318 in Brooklyn, hold the first-place trophy they won at the United States Chess Federa- tion’s National High School Chess Championship. They were the first middle school students to James Black, who are certified chess mas- win the competition. Photo Credit: I.S. School 318 ters at only 13-years-old. According to the New York Times, more schools in the country. Last year, the team chess classes. In addition, all sixth-grad- than 60 percent of the students at I.S. 318 placed second in the high school champi- ers take weekly chess classes and are able come from families with incomes below onships. to continue taking chess as an elective for the federal poverty level. Yet, its students Chess is ingrained in the school’s the next two years. The school also has a routinely win chess tournaments against culture, with approximately half of the Chess Championship continued on page 3 students from some of the most exclusive school’s 1,600 students participating in

Executive Director Editor Associate Editor Michael Casserly Henry Duvall Tonya Harris [email protected] [email protected]

Council officers A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 67 of the nation’s largest urban public school districts. Chair Winston Brooks Albuquerque Charlotte East Baton Rouge Los Angeles Oakland Sacramento Superintendent, Albuquerque Anchorage Chicago Fort Worth Louisville Oklahoma City San Diego Chair-elect Atlanta Cincinnati Fresno Memphis Omaha San Francisco Candy Olson Austin Clark Co. Greensboro Miami-Dade Orange Co. Santa Ana Board Member, Hillsborough Baltimore Cleveland Houston Milwaukee Palm Beach Seattle County (Tampa) Birmingham Columbus Indianapolis Minneapolis Philadelphia Shreveport Boston Dallas Jackson Nashville Pittsburgh St. Louis Secretary-Treasurer Bridgeport Dayton Jacksonville Newark Portland St. Paul Eugene White Broward Co. Denver Kansas City New Orleans Providence Tampa Superintendent, Indianapolis Buffalo Des Moines Little Rock New York City Richmond Toledo Charleston Detroit Long Beach Norfolk Rochester Washington DC Wichita All news items should be submitted to: 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)

2 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 3 MAY 2012 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

White House Selects Urban Schools for New Arts Program

At Roosevelt School in Bridgeport, Luther King, Jr. School in Portland, Ore., Conn., a band program was recently start- were selected to participate in the initiative ed for the first time in 17 years. And at among districts represented by the Council Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Boston, of the Great City Schools. first-graders traveled to the White House The schools were chosen through a to recite Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have highly competitive national selection pro- A Dream” speech for President Barack cess and had to demonstrate need and op- Obama earlier this spring. portunity, strong school leadership and a Research has found that art education commitment to arts education. opportunities such as these are critically Selected schools also had to rank among Students at Findley Elementary in Des Moines important for students, yet many school the lowest-achieving 5 percent of schools paint in art class. The school was selected to districts lack the resources to implement in their state and qualify for School Im- participate in a new White House arts initiative. these programs. provement Grants given by the U.S. De- Photo Credit: Des Moines Public Schools In an effort to fufill that need, the partment of Education to low-performing President’s Committee on the Arts and schools. Recent studies by the U.S. Department Humanities, an advisory committee to As part of the program, schools will re- of Education and the National Endow- the White House on cultural issues, re- ceive professional development; arts sup- ment for the Arts have found that access to cently selected eight public elementary and plies, musical instruments and programs; arts education increases students’ academic middle schools to participate in its new and have opportunities to partner with improvement and leads to higher gradua- Turnaround Arts Initiative. The aim of the community arts education and cultural or- tion and college enrollment rates. program is to narrow the achievement gap ganizations. and improve student engagement through In addition, each of the schools will be Memphis Launches the arts. adopted by a member of the President’s In addition to Roosevelt and Orchard Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Career Program Gardens, Findley Elementary School in They include actors Kerry Washington, Des Moines, Iowa; Noel Community Sarah Jessica Parker, Alfre Woodard and For Disabled Students Arts School in Denver; Savoy Elementary Forest Whitaker; dancer Damian Woetzel; School in Washington, D.C.; and Martin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma; who will work with Memphis City Schools, along with the the schools and communities to highlight University of Memphis Institute of Dis- the success of the program. ability, recently launched a program to aid Chess Championship continued from page 2 “Working with Findley El- high school seniors with mild to moderate ementary School over the next two learning disabilities in their transition from full-time chess teacher. years will be an honor,” said Acad- students into the career of their choice. The chess program at the school has emy Award-winning actor Whitaker. The College Campus Transition Pro- been so successful that it is the focus of a “... Findley’s education program resonates gram will give high school seniors the documentary called Brooklyn Castle, which very much with my commitment and I opportunity to gain skills related to post follows the lives of five members of the look forward to contributing to this re- graduation employment. school’s champion chess team. The docu- markable initiative.” Students will participate in peer-led mentary recently had its world premiere And Yo-Yo Ma, who along with Woet- campus activities and attend college courses at the South by Southwest music and film zel, will be working with Boston’s Orchard with mentors. As students near graduation, festival in Austin, Texas, where it won the Gardens, said they are honored to be work- program coordinators will assist students audience award. ing with the school for the next two years. with resumes, letters of recommendations “I want to congratulate the chess team “...Having worked separately and together, and job leads. at I.S. 318 Eugenio Maria De Hostos in in arts education for many years, we believe Work-based learning activities for Williamsburg for winning the National deeply in the kind of passion-driven learn- students will focus on marketable career High School Chess Championships,” said ing nurtured by the arts.” paths in Memphis service industries such New York City schools chancellor Dennis An external evaluation will measure the as food service, clerical services, child care Walcott. “As the first-ever middle team impact and effectiveness of using rigorous and hospitality services. Students will also to win this tournament, we should all be and integrated arts education together with have the chance to continue employment proud of these students and teachers for other educational reform efforts in high- in positions held while working during the their historic win.” poverty, low-performing schools. program.

2 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 3 INSIDE THE COUNCIL MAY 2012

New Superintendents continued from page 1 board president Norman Yee. “Deputy Su- succeeding Jean- perintendent Carranza has already brought Claude Brizard Miles’ first official day as superintendent much to our district as an instructional who left to become will be July 1; however, he has signed an leader, community builder, and father of superintendent of agreement with the board of trustees that two SFUSD students. We are confident Chicago Public will allow him to begin work immediately. that he will continue the progress of the Schools. “...I’m looking forward to working with past five years without breaking stride.” A year later, the the dedicated people here in Dallas ISD, Seattle Public district is negotiat- the staff, parents and the community,” said Schools moved ing with Vargas to Miles in a news statement. “I know great one step closer to Bolgen Vargas take over the po- things are ahead for us as we move forward naming a super- sition on a perma- for the good of our students.” intendent, when nent basis. Also selecting it recently offered Vargas is no stranger to the a new superinten- the position to 32,000-school system, having served on dent recently was José Banda, the the Rochester school board for seven years, North Carolina’s superintendent of including fours years as board president. Charlotte-Meck- José Banda California’s Ana- Rhode Island’s Providence Public lenburg Schools, heim City Schools. School District also which named Banda has been the superintendent of turned to an inter- Heath Morrison. the 20,000-school system in Anaheim for im superintendent He is superinten- four years and under his leadership, the to take the reins of Heath Morrison dent of schools in district experienced an increase in student the 23,561-student Washoe County academic attainment, including English school district. School District, the second largest school Language Leaners. Susan Lusi has system in Nevada, with approximately If a contract for Banda is approved by served as the dis- 63,000 students. the Seattle school board, he will become the trict’s interim lead- Morrison has led the Washoe school next superintendent of the 47,000-school Susan Lusi er this school year system since 2009, and during his tenure system after July 1, succeeding interim su- after leading Rhode the district saw increased graduation rates, perintendent Susan Enfield. Island’s Portsmouth and a narrowing of the achievement gap. Louisiana’s East school district for seven years. She is fa- In 2012, he was named the National Su- Baton Rouge Parish miliar with the Providence school system, perintendent of the Year by the American School System re- having served as chief of staff from 2001 Association of School Administrators. cently named Ber- to 2003. Morrison will nard Taylor to lead Providence Mayor Angel Taveras replace interim su- the 42,850-student praised Lusi for her steady and inspiring perintendent Hugh school district. Tay- leadership. “Her honest and forthright ap- Hattabaugh. lor was the superin- proach to working with principals, teach- Richard Car- tendent of Michi- ers, the school board and other partners has ranza was recently Bernard Taylor gan’s Grand Rapid created an atmosphere of trust and respect selected as the next Public Schools. that is vital to our efforts to improve educa- superintendent for “I come to Baton Rouge with a will- tion in Providence.” the San Francisco ingness to learn about the issues here and Unified Schoolready to serve the community’s most pre- Stepping Down Richard Carranza District. He will cious resource – its youth,” said Taylor in succeed Carlos a press release. “...The best decision of my After serving six years as the superinten- Garcia, who is retiring from the district in career was to come to Baton Rouge, and I dent of the Orleans Parish School Board, July after serving since 2007. hope to bring about positive change for our Darryl C. Kilbert recently announced his Carranza has served as the district’s students.” retirement, effective June 30. deputy superintendent of instruction, in- Taylor replaces interim superintendent Kilbert is credited with restoring the novation and social justice since 2009. Carlos Sams. district’s academic integrity and financial “Hiring the superintendent is the In May of last year, Bolgen Vargas was stability after Hurricane Katrina devas- most important decision we can make as named the interim superintendent of New tated the school system in 2005. The dis- a school board,” said San Francisco school York’s Rochester City School District, trict has reduced teacher-pupil ratios and increased graduation rates.

4 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 5 MAY 2012 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Cincinnati Superintendent to Retire, Obama Administration Return at Half of Salary Honors First-Ever ‘Green Schools’ Cincinnati Public Schools is facing a budget gap of $43 million due to a loss of federal, state and local fund- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Dun- ing. As a result, Cincinnati Schools Superintendent Mary can and two other Obama Administration Ronan and the school board have closed schools, elimi- officials converged last month at a public nated more than 1,300 positions and reorganized services. school in the District of Columbia to make And while other districts across the nation have tak- a major announcement: 78 schools in 29 en the same steps, not too many superintendents have states and D.C. have been chosen as the agreed to cut their salary almost in half in an effort to save first-ever U.S. Department of Education money as Ronan recently agreed to do. Green Ribbon Schools. The school board recently approved a resolution out- “Science, environmental and outdoor lining an agreement in which Ronan will retire when her education play a central role in providing current contract expires at the end of July. She then will children with a well-rounded education...,” Mary Ronan be re-employed at approximately half of her salary for an- said Duncan. “U.S. Department of Educa- other three years. The board believes the agreement will tion Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate enable the district to keep someone with proven leadership and experience at the compelling examples of the ways schools helm of the district, while saving teacher positions. can help children build real-world skillsets, “To our knowledge, Mary is the only superintendent willing to return for half her cut school costs and provide healthy learn- salary,” said school board president Eve Bolton. “This shows her commitment to our ing environments.” children and the future of this district.” The 78 “Green Schools” were named Ronan, who has spent her entire career as a teacher, principal and administrator winners from among nearly 100 nominees for the Cincinnatti school system, has served as superintendent since 2009. submitted by 30 state education agencies, Under her tenure, the district has become the highest rated major urban district which had received applications from more than 350 schools. Schools receiving the honor exercise a comprehensive approach to creating “green” environments, such as TIME Releases 100 ‘Most Influential’ List reducing environmental impact, promoting health and ensuring quality environmental TIME magazine recently named Super- “TheTIME 100 list is about the infinite and outdoor education. intendent Cami Anderson of New Jersey’s possibilities of influence and the power of Sixty-six public schools won the Green Newark Public Schools to the TIME 100, influence to change the world,” said the Ribbon award, many of them in the nation’s the publication’s list of the 100 most influ- magazine’s managing editor, Rick Stengel. major cities. They include schools in Atlan- ential people in the world. In the magazine, Newark Mayor Cory ta, Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, She is one of 38 women on the 2012 Booker wrote about the superintendent, District of Columbia, Long Beach, Miami, TIME 100 list, the most ever. The ninth- “Cami Anderson is a modern-day freedom Omaha, Portland, Ore., Providence, St. annual list also includes 54 international fighter, investing her life’s work in the edu- Louis and West Palm Beach figures from 37 countries, the first time cational trenches and working to liberate “These Green Ribbon School award that there are more international names on our country from the destructive delusion winners are taking outstanding steps to the list than American. that children can’t achieve at the high- educate tomorrow’s environmental leaders, Superintendent Anderson joins such est levels just because they were born into and demonstrating how sustainability and notables as President Barack Obama, bil- tough circumstances.” environmental awareness make sense for lionaire Warren Buffet, Secretary of State In March, Anderson delivered on her the health of our students and our coun- Hillary Clinton, Israel Prime Minister promise to expand school options to stu- try,” said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White Benjamin Netanyahu and Chancellor of dents in Newark and their families. She House Council on Environmental Quality. Germany Angela Merkel. Others on the announced a five-point plan that includes EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson also list include IBM CEO Virginia Rometty, investment in early childhood education, noted, “Today’s winners are protecting our actor Viola Davis and educator Freeman expansion of magnet schools and part- children’s health and opening up environ- Hrabowski, president of the University of nerships with high-performing charter mental education opportunities for stu- Maryland, Baltimore County. schools among other initiatives. dents.”

4 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 5 INSIDE THE COUNCIL MAY 2012

Atlanta School Wins Debate Championship

Two students from Atlanta’s Henry W. Grady High School competed against the best urban debate teams from across the nation to capture first place at the 2012 Urban Debate National Championship. Holden Choi and Benjamin Dean were the winners of the three-day competion Urban Students Named Presidential Scholars hosted by the National Association for Ur- ban Debate Leagues (NAUDL). A team Rassan Walker is as 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholars for their from Baltimore City Public Schools’ Balti- a student at DuPont accomplishments in academics or the arts. more City College placed second. Manual Magnet The White House Commission on The competition was held at George- High in Louisville, Presidential Scholars, appointed by Presi- town University in Washington, D.C., and Ky., who has been dent Obama, selected the scholars based on featured high school debate teams from accepted to Stan- their academic success, artistic excellence, 20 cities. Teams qualified for the national ford University and essays, school evaluations and transcripts, championship by winning first or second the Massachusetts community service, leadership and demon- place at their league’s qualifying tourna- Institute of Tech- strated commitment to high ideals. Rassan Walker ment. nology and intends Created in 1964, the program honors Choi and Dean are seniors and both to become a com- one male and one female from each state, have been named National Merit Scholars. puter scientist and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and In the fall, Choi will attend Georgetown develop technol- U.S. students living abroad. In addition, 35 University, while Dean will attend Emory ogy to help children Presidential Scholars in the Arts were se- University. learn. lected who demonstrate exceptional talent Awards were also presented to the best And Taylor Rod- in the visual, literacy and performing arts. individual debaters, with Owen Jones, a se- man is a dance stu- Walker and Rodman were not the only nior at Lane Tech College High School in dent at Booker T. big-city school students to receive this Chicago, winning the Top Speaker Award. Washington High prestigious honor. Students in San Fran- Urban debate teams debate in a style Taylor Rodman School for the Per- cisco, Washington, D.C., Miami, Baton called policy debate, in which teams of two forming & Visual Rouge, Santa Ana, Calif., and New York students debate one current event topic. It Arts in Dallas, who will attend the Boston City were also named U.S. Presidential is considered the most academically rigor- Conservatory in the fall on a $25,000-a- Scholars. ous form of debate, and dates back to 1928. year scholarship. The scholars will be honored at a cer- The two seniors were among 141 high emony in Washington, D.C., accompanied Debate Championship continued on page 7 school students across the nation selected by their most inspiring teacher. Bridgeport School Recognized for Change

Beardsley School in Bridgeport, Conn., of the Great City Schools. a preK-Grade 6 school serving more than Schools are nominated for the award 400 students, recently received some good or may nominate themselves and are mea- news. It is a recipient of the 2012 National sured against 16 specific criteria to deter- School Change Award. mine how they have improved, grown and Sponsored by the National Principals significantly changed. Leadership Institute, the award annually The criteria includes implementing recognizes six schools across the nation innovative teaching practices; aligning Atlanta student Holden Choi participates in the Urban Debate National Championship. His that have shown significant school im- curriculum, instruction and assessment; team won first place at the competition. Photo provement. Beardsley is the only winner and an increase in academic achievement Credit: NAUDL from a district represented by the Council among all students as well as a narrowing of the achievement gap.

6 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 7 MAY 2012 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Palm Beach School Board Wins Kennedy Center Award

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation’s capital re- cently selected the school board of Florida’s School District of Palm Beach County to receive the 24th annual Kennedy Cen- ter Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Award. The district was chosen from nominees around the nation for their outstanding support of high-quality arts education. State alliances for arts education and state school board associations nominated the Darrell Ayers, vice president of education for the Kennedy Center for the Perform- candidates. ing Arts, presents an award to Palm Beach school board member Marcia Andrews The Palm Beach school board was and Palm Beach arts education administrator Tom Pearson. among eight finalists for the award, which includes a $10,000 prize. – visual arts, music, theater and dance. partnerships that combine cultural orga- Selected by a national review panel, Recognized as a leader in arts educa- nizations with arts education. The district school districts considered for the national tion, the school board established an Arts has also added new arts programming and honor must demonstrate support for all Education Task Force in 2005 to create expanded the number of teaching positions four disciplines in arts education programs an arts business plan, aimed at developing in the fine arts.

Debate Championship continued from page 6 Urban Schools Take Top Spots in Jazz Contest

The tournament kicked off with an ad- The best high school jazz bands in the “This is possibly the strongest com- dress by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne nation recently competed against each oth- petition we’ve had in 17 years,” said Jazz Duncan. He recalled that during his ten- er with the top three winners hailing from at Lincoln Center Director of Education ure as CEO of Chicago Public Schools he big-city school districts. Todd Stoll. “... This Festival is a testament expanded the district’s debate league and Dillard Center for the Arts in Fort Lau- to the importance of music and arts educa- approved the first rigorous study of the derdale, Fla., placed first in the 17th An- tion in America.” impact of urban debate leagues on student nual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz performance. Band Competition & Festival, presented Two Districts Recognized “Urban debate teams make it cool to by Jazz at Lincoln Center. This is not the be smart and work hard in the inner-city,” first time the school has taken home the For Music Education said Duncan. “And they are a fantastic out- first-place trophy, along with an award of let for harnessing the competitive instincts $5,000. The school also placed first in last The Clark County School District in of young teens—and channeling them into year’s competition. Las Vegas and Memphis City Schools have building the skills they need to succeed in a Roosevelt High School in Seattle came been selected among the “Best Communi- knowledge-based, global economy.” in second and received an award of $2,500, ties for Music Education in America” by Urban debate leagues currently operate while the New World School of the Arts in the National Association of Music Mer- in 24 of the nation’s largest cities and more Miami came in third and received an award chants (NAMM). than 500 urban high schools participate. of $1,000. All of the cash awards will go to- Each year, NAMM recognizes school Research has shown that urban debate ward improving the schools’ jazz programs. districts and schools across the nation for leagues narrow the academic achievement The top three bands were selected from their support of music education programs gap, encourage college attendance and in- a field of 15 finalist bands that participated for students. This year, 166 school districts crease students research and literacy skills. in the three-day competition. The bands and 10 schools made the list. The 2012 Urban Debate National were chosen by a panel of judges composed This is the 11th consecutive year in a Championship, in its fifth year, was spon- of distinguished jazz musicians and histori- row the Clark County school system has sored by the Boeing Company. ans, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. been selected.

6 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 7 INSIDE THE COUNCIL MAY 2012

L.A. School Wins Academic Decathlon Again

The 2012 U.S. Academic Decathlon was held last month in Albuquerque, N.M., where two-time repeat champion Granada Broward High School Receives Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles scored the highest points in the competi- College Board Inspiration Award tion’s history. Scoring 54,081 points out of a possible At Florida’s Fort Lauderdale High award, named for College Board President 60,000, Granada broke the previous high School, 67 percent of the students qualify Gaston Caperton, is presented to three score set in 2008. The nine-member aca- for free or reduced-price lunch and many high schools in the nation for improving demic decathlon team beat out 30 teams students arrive from South America and their academic environments and helping nationwide and one from London to win Caribbean countries with limited knowl- underserved students achieve equitable ac- the national title. edge of English and require significant cess to higher education. The Academic Decathlon is a two-day academic support. Each winning school, including a high event in which high school students are Yet, the school’s Class of 2011 had an school in rural Texas and a small high tested in 10 categories: art, economics, 82 percent graduation rate and 94 percent school in New Jersey, receives a $25,000 essay, interview, language and literature, of its graduates went on to attend postsec- award. mathematics, music, social science, speech ondary school. The inspiration awards were created in and “Super Quiz” written and oral relay. As a result, the Broward County school 2001 to celebrate schools for their college- This year’s study subject was “The Age of was one of three in the nation to be select- preparation programs and partnerships Empire.” ed by the College Board to receive a 2012 among teachers, parents and community Each high school team is made up of Gaston Caperton Inspiration Award. The organizations. nine students: three “A” students, three “B” students and three “C” students. Portland School Wins U.S. Constitution Contest This win marks the 13th time a school from the Los Angeles Unified School Dis- trict has won the national title. The district Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore., Open to upper elementary, middle and boasts more championships than any other recently placed first in the 2012 “We the high school students, the competition is school system in the country. People: The Citizen and the Constitution” designed to increase knowledge of Ameri- According to Cliff Ker, coordinator of competition. can democ- the district’s decathlon team, personal goal The event racy. setting pushed the students to perform was held in con- At the well. Coaches also used the opportunity to gressional hear- 25th anniver- break the 2008 record as motivation. ing rooms on sary of the “Congratulations to Granada Hills Capitol Hill in competition, Charter High School’s academic decath- Washington, Lincoln High lon team and coaches on capturing the D.C. Students School was national title,” said Los Angeles Schools were quizzed on joined by two Superintendent John Deasy in a written their knowledge Students from Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore., wear other big-city statement. “Their incredible commitment, on the content, the first-place medals they won at the 2012We the People: schools, who discipline, and hard work have resulted in The Citizen and the Constitution competition. history, influence placed in the another decathlon win…” and flexibility of top 10. They Second place in the decathlon was the Constitution by a panel of state and were East High School in Denver, which awarded to Whitney Young Magnet High federal judges, constitutional scholars and placed sixth; and Northwest Guilford School in Chicago. other civic leaders. High School in Greensboro, N.C., which placed ninth.

8 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 9 MAY 2012 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Literacy Specialists Albuquerque Elementary School to Transform Meet to Prepare Into Common Core Standards School

For New Standards New Mexico’s Albuquerque Public Schools has collaborated with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation to transform an elementary school into a Common Core State Stan- More than 80 literacy educators from dards demonstration magnet school for the upcoming 2012-13 academic year. around the nation converged in Baltimore The effort to redesign Emerson Elementary is to improve student achievement at a recently to prepare for the Common Core school that has a history of low test scores. State Standards in English language arts “The school has a substantial number of English language learners, and we’re going and literacy, one of two major components to use the Common Core State Standards and teachers’ strengths to create a whole new of the new academic standards adopted by learning environment for our students,” said Albuquerque Schools Superintendent Win- 46 states and the District of Columbia. ston Brooks in a press release. The new standards in English-language Brooks, chair of the Council of the Great City Schools’ board of directors, has worked arts and literacy will require students to closely with the national organization to help big-city public school systems implement read and respond to more informational the new academic standards nationwide. texts, or nonfiction, a departure from cur- New Mexico is one of 46 states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards, rent practice in which literature dominates. designed to help provide students in kindergarten through 12th grade with the knowledge The two-day workshop focused on and skills they will need for success in college and careers in the global marketplace. aligning current curriculum materials for The standards are reportedly expected to be implemented in all kindergarten through teaching reading to the Common Core third-grade classes in New Mexico this fall, and all other grades in 2013-14. Standards, and was sponsored by the Council of the Great City Schools and Student Achievement Partners, a nonprofit Tampa Student Receives Surprise organization that was instrumental in writ- ing the English language arts standards. Candy Olson, chair of Florida’s Hills- “Indeed, 80 to 90 percent of the read- borough County school board in Tampa, ing standards in each grade require text- recently made a surprise visit to a student dependent analysis {of students gathering at Middleton High School in the city. evidence, knowledge and insight from what She and another board member as well they read},” says Robin Hall, the Council’s as the principal entered the band-practice director of English language arts and lit- room at the school to make an announce- eracy. “Accordingly, aligned curriculum ment that senior Abraham Tejeda, head materials should have a similar percentage drum major of the Tampa school’s march- of text-dependent questions.” ing band, has won a $10,000 college schol- Hall points out that many school dis- arship while his classmates looked on. Tampa student Abraham Tejeda holds his tricts are using textbooks that were pub- He was one of 44 students selected by Richard Green scholarship and is congratulated by, left to right, school board member Candy lished before the adoption of the Common their principals and guidance counselors to Olson, principal Owen Young and school board Core State Standards, and do not provide compete for the scholarship, which Olson member Doretha W. Edgecomb. the percentage of text-dependent questions received last year to give to a student after required. winning the nation’s top urban education The Council is working with big-city leadership prize – the Richard R. Green Nominations Sought school districts to help them implement Award – from the Council of the Great the new Common Core Standards, de- City Schools. For Top Superintendent signed to provide students in kindergarten Tejeda is Middleton High’s salutato- th through 12 grade a consistent and clear rian and hopes to study music education The Council of the Great City Schools is understanding of what they are expected to at Miles College in Birmingham, Ala. He currently accepting nominations for the 2012 learn in reading, language arts and math- will be the first in his family to attend col- Richard R. Green Award, the nation’s high- ematics. lege, according to the school district. est honor for urban education leadership. The recent professional development “I want to teach high school band and Sponsored by ARAMARK and Cambium program, called the Basil Alignment Proj- orchestra,” he said in the Tampa Tribune. Learning, the 23rd annual award is named in ect, allowed educators to align and write He credits band director Leon Carson for honor of the first African-American chan- questions for curriculum materials. developing his interest in music education Top Superintendent continued on page 12 and teaching him leadership skills.

8 | URBAN EDUCATOR URBAN EDUCATOR | 9 LEGISLATIVE COLUMN MAY 2012

Flexibility with Supplemental Education Services (SES) Funds Needed as Title I Allocations for Most School Districts Decline By Jeff Simering,Director of Legislation

As the economy has worsened over the Even worse, the specter of “sequestra- years and more children fall into poverty, tion” or automatic across-the-board cuts more than half of the nation’s school districts in most domestic and defense programs will see their Title I allocations decline for on January 2, 2013 hangs ominously over the upcoming school year. And funding loss- school district officials as they plan for the es for individual Great City School districts 2012-2013 school year. will be in excess of one million dollars and in some instances tens of millions of dollars. And, despite the prospect of district- level “Race-To-The-Top” competitive The drop in Title I funding among the grants being awarded late in 2012, there largest urban districts is largely the result is little replacement for the loss of Title of poverty rates that have increased faster I funds. outside the major cities because of faltering economic conditions nationwide. Unfortu- The last best hope for school districts nately, the declines in Title I and other federal funding in the upcoming school year is to allow them to repro- for cities and other school districts come on top of sub- gram their NCLB-mandated 20 percent Title I set- stantial drop-offs of both state and local revenues over aside now reserved primarily for supplemental education the years. services (SES). The waiver of this provision, which has proven largely ineffectual over the years, could free up a Absent stimulus dollars, funding for the Title I Pro- significant amount of Title I funding for more effective gram for Disadvantaged Students has been essentially instructional uses. frozen since FY 2009. In just the past year, approxi- mately 10 percent more poor children have been added The potential waiver of these expenditures as part to the national Title I poverty rolls, meaning that the of the Obama Administration’s No Child Left Behind same dollars are now being spread across more eligible (NCLB) Flexibility Initiative offers some hope, but the students nationwide. And not only has Congress pro- Department continues to move slowly on the issue. The vided little increased support for the Title I program, but Council of the Great City Schools continues to encour- the U.S. Department of Education has not requested any age the U.S. Department of Education to ensure maxi- increased funding for the regular Title I formula grants mum local flexibility in the waiver of this key NCLB to school districts since before the recession. mandate for all school districts in the 27 states slated to participate in the State Waiver/Flexibility Initiative, as In short, the majority of school districts across the well as for school districts in states that are not partici- nation, including 80 percent of the Great City School pating in the waivers. districts, will have fewer Title I funds in the upcoming school year to serve their disadvantaged students. Moving forward, however, a greater investment in the Title I program is the main solution to this problem to On top of this, conflicting partisan budget priorities ensure that there is no erosion of services to disadvan- and deficit-reduction plans offer little hope of resolving taged students. the Title I funding problem prior to the November elec- tion.

10 1010| || URBANURBANURBAN EDUCATOR EDUCATOREDUCATOR URBANURBAN EDUCATOREDUCATOR || 1111 MAY 2012 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Chicago Unveils Online System To Boost Arts Programs

In an effort to provide access to qual- can have the greatest impact. ity arts programs for all students, Chicago “In this economic climate, when we are Public Schools recently launched a new in- doing all we can to drive resources to the teractive online mapping program to boost classroom, this is a great way to help us arts programming throughout the district. maximize our own arts resources, as well as ArtLook is the result of a partnership enable schools to take advantage of part- between the Chicago school system and nerships that will benefit students,” said Ingenuity Incorporated, an arts and advo- Chicago Chief Executive Officer Jean- San Diego Schools Superintendent Bill Kowba looks on as Tom Torlakson, California’s state cacy organization, and provides informa- Claude Brizard. superintendent of public instruction, con- tion on the different arts programs avail- In addition to being used by arts or- gratulates the district on its successful efforts able in each school. ganizations to identify schools that need to reduce student absenteeism. In addition to seeing what art resources their help and expertise, ArtLook may be currently exist at each school, the mapping used by schools to find potential art part- system also provides information on the ners that can enhance their current school State Recognizes number of certified art teachers a school offerings. School administrators can also has on staff, as well as partnerships it has use the tool to identify those schools that San Diego for Reduced with local arts organizations. have been successful in implementing ro- District officials believe that ArtLook, bust arts education programs and duplicate Student Absences by identifying those schools most in need their successs. of additional arts education, will help orga- ArtLook can be found at http://www. In an effort to reduce student absentee- nizations target their resources where they ingenuity-inc.org/research/aboutartlook. ism, San Diego Unified School District created a credit recovery program that Detroit Kicks Off School Garden Initiative provides instruction and support to low- performing students, implemented a new computer software to track absenteeism, To show students how fresh food, gar- system is one of a select few where food and offers parent university classes. dens and classroom science can be both services, site management and curriculum As a result, the district was one of 11 healthy and fun, Detroit Public Schools work together to bring scientific learning school districts in California, and the only recently kicked off its Farm-to-School ini- outside of the classroom in a real-world big-city school district, designated as mod- tiative. context through gardens. els of attendance improvement and dropout Called the Detroit School Garden Col- The fruits and vegetables grown in the prevention by the State School Attendance laborative, the initiative will create real-life school garden will also be served in the Review Board. The district has achieved its “living laboratories” for teachers to encour- school cafeterias. third year of attendance gains, with more age healthy eating, nutrition, and concepts In addition to the garden installed than 96 percent of students in school or on about the importance of growing fresh on school grounds, schools will also have excused absences every day. fruits and vegetables. membership in a Garden Resource Pro- “We can’t teach students if they’re not A recent ceremony held at Detroit’s gram. This program provides all the essen- in class,” said San Diego Schools Superin- William Beckham Academy unveiled the tials such as seeds, plants, soil testing and tendent Bill Kowba. “This has been a total first of 45 gardens at schools throughout other support. And each school will create effort among staff and the community to the district. Each school site will have a school garden team that will take the lead do everything possible to make sure kids raised beds made of recycled materials, on the project. are in school.” compost bins and Farm-to-School Learn- The districtwide program is being fund- Research has found that districts with ing centers. The centers are designed to ed by Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Art of model attendance improvement programs increase student’s scientific understanding 2010, which provides funding for federal have taken positive approaches to helping of sustainability, a cornerstone of the pro- school meals and child nutrition programs students and families improve attendance, gram. for students from economically disadvan- rather than just seeking to punish offend- According to district officials, the school taged families. ers.

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

St. Louis Student Appointed Top Superintendent continued from page 9 To U.S. Naval Academy cellor of the New York City school system. The award is open to all past and cur- rent superintendents of Council mem- Devin Owens, a senior at Cleveland Na- ber districts. The winner of the award val Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will be announced at the Council’s an- High School in St. Louis, has earned a cov- nual Fall Conference in Indianapolis on eted appointment to the United States Na- October 18. The recipient will receive val Academy in Annapolis, Md. a $10,000 college scholarship to pres- Established in 1845, it is the second- ent to a high school senior from his or oldest of the five United States service her school system or from the the high academies and educates officers for com- school from which the winner graduated. missioning into the Navy and Marine The Richard R. Green application can Corps. be found on the Council’s web site at www. Owens is class valedictorian and has a St. Louis student Devin Owens was recently cgcs.org/Awards. The deadline for nomina- 3.82 grade-point average. His senior course awarded an appointment to the United States tions is July 16.

PDF APPLICATIONS! load includes physics, advanced placement Naval Academy. THE TWENTY-THird ANNUAL NEW FOR 2012: RICHARD R. GREEN AWARD PROGRAM calculus, advanced placement English and Recognizing outstanding contributions to urban education and honoring the memory of Richard R. Green, one of the nation’s leading urban educators. advanced Spanish. A leader inside and out of the class- In order to be admitted, Owens had to room, Owens serves as the Cadet Lieuten- meet eligibility requirements, exhibit good ant Commander and Battalion Executive moral character, undergo personality and Officer at his school while competing in standardized testing, complete a physical varsity football, wrestling and track. exam and obtain a nomination from a state The naval academy has one of the lowest legislator, U.S. senator or other officehold- college acceptance rates in the nation, ac- ers.

2012 cepting only 7 percent of its applicants last By earning an appointment to the Unit- superintendent APPLICATION year, primarily due to its ardous admission ed States Naval Academy, Owens’ tuition PACKET Sponsored by: Council of the Great City Schools, ARAMARK Education and process. will be provided for. Cambium Learning Group