January/February 2009, Vol 18. No. 1

SPECIAL EDITION Inauguration

• New L.A. Leader, p.3 • College “Guarantee,” p.5 • Top Superintendent?, p. 8 • LEGISLATIVE • Economic Stimulus Package, p. 10

The Nation’s Voice for Urban Education January/February 2009 Vol. 18, No. 1 www.cgcs.org

Magazine Ranks New Education Urban Schools Among Secretary Expected Nation’s Best To Address

Thirty-three schools in 21 urban districts represented by the Council of the Urban Educators Great City Schools rank among the top 100 high schools in the nation, the Urban Virtually every March, the U.S. secre- Educator found in a review of the recent tary of education pays the nation’s urban U.S. News & World Report’s second annual education leaders a visit at the Council of ranking of “America’s Best High Schools.” the Great City Schools’ Annual Legisla- In December 2007, when the news- tive/Policy Conference. magazine released its first-ever ranking, 33 This year’s conference, March 14-17, schools in 17 urban school districts in the should be no exception, as Secretary Arne Council made the Gold Medal list. Four Duncan, formerly CEO of Chicago Public ‘Real Change’ more Council districts made the top-100 Schools, is expected to address his former cut among more than 21,000 public high urban education colleagues. Obama Portrait schools in 48 states analyzed in the maga- Education priorities of the new Obama zine’s recent 2008 rankings. Administration will be front and center in With more than 4,000 coins, J.C. The highest ranking big-city school is discussions at the conference to be held at Lenochan, an art teacher in New Jer- Design and Architectural Senior High in the Washington Marriott Hotel. sey’s Newark Public Schools, created Miami – the fifth best among the nation’s Reauthorization of the No Child Left “Real Change,” a portrait of President 100 top high schools, moving up from Behind Act will also take center stage. Barack Obama based on Obama’s call eighth place earlier. for change. “I saw the coins not only as Other urban schools in the Council Education Secretary continued on page 9 a metaphor for ‘real change’ but also as that ranked in the top 20 of the 100 Gold metal armor to protect him from the Medal Schools are: sicknesses of racism,” said the artist, whose work has been exhibited in New Academic Magnet High School York, Los Angeles and Europe. in North Charleston, S.C., No. 9;

Benjamin Franklin Senior High in New Orleans, No. 16; Inaugural Highlights Early College at Guilford in Urban school students around the na- Greensboro, N.C., No. 17; and tion and the Council of the Great City Schools celebrated the inauguration of As CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan participated President Barack Obama on Jan. 20. See in a Council of the Great City Schools town hall meeting in pages 4-7. Magazine Ranks continued on page 3 October before being selected U.S. secretary of education. INSIDE THE COUNCIL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Urban Educators Win Surprise $25,000 Milken Awards

In October, Cheryl Watkins, the In addition to Watkins, teachers in Chi- principal of Chicago’s John J. Pershing cago, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, West Magnet School, invited her stu- Shreveport, St. Paul, Omaha, Wichita, dents, staff and local education officials Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., and Clark such as Chicago Public Schools CEO County (Las Vegas) also received awards. Arne Duncan to a special school-wide Two teachers in the Los Angeles Unified assembly she had organized to discuss School District and two from Chicago her school’s academic progress. Public Schools received awards. But during the assembly, the real Watkins has been the principal of Per- purpose of Duncan’s visit was revealed: shing West Magnet School since it opened Then-Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan congratulates to present an unsuspecting Watkins its doors in 2005, as part of Renaissance Cheryl Watkins, the principal of John J. Pershing West with a $25,000 Milken National Edu- 2010, an initiative by Chicago Mayor Magnet School in Chicago, for receiving a Milken National cator Award for furthering excellence Richard Daley to create more high qual- Educator Award. Photo Credit: Milken Family Foundation in education. ity schools. Under the No Child Left Behind Sponsored by the Milken Family law, the school has achieved adequate year- mended for the award by a blue-ribbon Foundation, the award honors outstand- ly progress every year. panel appointed by each state’s depart- ing elementary and secondary school “I have an amazing faculty and staff,” ment of education and must have dem- teachers, principals and other educa- said a shocked and tearful Watkins as she onstrated exceptional educational talent, tion professionals at schools across the accepted her award. exemplary educational accomplishments nation. Known as the “Oscars of teach- The Milken Educator Awards were and an engaging and inspiring presence ing” by Teaching Magazine, this year established in 1985 to recognize the im- that motivates students, colleagues and 70 elementary educators received the portance of outstanding educators and en- the community. award, which alternates yearly between courage talented young people to enter the Since its inception, the Milken Edu- elementary and secondary educators. teaching profession. Recipients are recom- cator award program has awarded $60 million to more than 2,300 educators.

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 William Isler Albuquerque Chicago East Baton Rouge Los Angeles Oakland Sacramento Board Member, Pittsburgh Anchorage Christina Fort Worth Louisville Oklahoma City St. Louis Chair-elect Atlanta Cincinnati Fresno Memphis Omaha St. Paul Carol Johnson Austin Clark Co. Greensboro Miami-Dade Orange Co. Salt Lake City Superintendent, Boston Baltimore Cleveland Houston Milwaukee Palm Beach San Diego Birmingham Columbus Indianapolis Minneapolis Philadelphia San Francisco Secretary-Treasurer Boston Dallas Jackson Nashville Pittsburgh Seattle Dilafruz Williams Broward Co. Dayton Jacksonville Newark Portland Shreveport Board Member, Portland, Ore. Buffalo Denver Kansas City New Orleans Providence Tampa Charleston Des Moines Little Rock New York City Richmond Toledo Charlotte 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)

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

L.A., Chicago and Nashville Select New Leaders Denver Superintendent Ramon Cortines has served as the su- (CTA) President Ron Huberman as CEO perintendent of the nation’s largest school of Chicago Public Schools. Now U.S. Senator district—New York City—as well as led He succeeds Arne Duncan, President several city school districts in California. Obama’s choice to serve as the U.S. secre- His experience is tary of education after Duncan led Chicago The U.S. Senate begins the new year one of the reasons Public Schools for the past seven years. with a number of new faces, but only one of the veteran educa- those new senators has operated an urban tor was recently Nashville Names New Chief school district with 75,000 students, 152 selected to take schools and 13,000 employees. the reins of the Also selecting a new leader recently was Michael Bennet, the superintendent of Los Angeles Uni- Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Denver Public Schools, was recently ap- fied School Dis- Tennessee, which named an educator with pointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to serve in the trict. experience in reforming urban schools to U.S. Senate. Bennet replaces Ken Salazar, Cortines is no lead the 75,000-student school system. who was appointed by President Barack stranger to the Jesse Register was named the district’s Obama to serve as his secretary of interior. Ramon Cortines nation’s second new director of schools, replacing interim Bennet has been the superintendent of largest school sys- director Chris Henson. the Denver school system since 2005 and tem, having served as senior deputy super- Before coming to Nashville, Register under his tenure, full-day kindergarten intendent in helping manage the district’s served as senior adviser for district lead- programs have expanded and teachers who finances. And in 2000, he served as interim ership for the An- have improved student achievement or superintendent for seven months. nenberg Institute work in high-poverty schools have received Cortines succeeds David Brewer, who for School Reform higher salaries. In addition, voters in No- had been at the helm of the 688,000-stu- at Brown Uni- vember passed a $454 million bond issue, dent school system for two years. versity, consulting the largest bond measure ever approved for In the nation’s third largest school sys- with school leaders the school district. tem, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley re- across the nation In the Washington Post, Obama praised cently selected Chicago Transit Authority on issues such as the selection of Bennet as an “excellent high school reform choice” and someone who “has shown him- and improving ur- self willing to challenge old thinking and Magazine Ranks continued from page 1 ban education. stale policies.” Bennet plans to run for a full Jesse Register “My goal as di- term in 2010 when his Senate seat expires. School of Science & Engineering in rector will be to help Dallas, No. 18 develop the potential that exists in the dis- New Leader Named trict and the community,” said Register. “I U.S. News & World Report reviewed the think with some time, hard work, a unified S u c c e e d - performance of high schools with a three- and common vision and an intense focus ing Bennet as step formula to determine rankings. It on improving student achievement for all superintendent measured how each school’s students per- students, we can turn this district into one of the Denver formed on state-mandated tests; evaluated of the best in the country.” school system is academic performance of each school’s dis- Tom Boasberg. advantaged students; and analyzed the suc- Contract Extended Since 2007, he cess of schools in providing college-level has served as the coursework. The board of education for Milwaukee district’s chief op- Council districts in New York City, Public Schools recently extended the con- erating officer. Tom Boasberg Long Beach, Boston, Nashville, Chicago, tract of Superintendent William Andreko- Boasberg has Buffalo, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Jack- poulos for an additional 15 months to June led the school sys- Wichita sonville, Fresno, Los Angeles, Houston, 2010. tem’s efforts to improve central services to Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Denver and Andrekopoulos has led the district since schools, balance the district’s budgets af- Toledo rounded out the 21 urban school 2002. ter many years of cuts, and introduce new systems with high schools ranked among schools in areas where schools had been America’s 100 best. performing poorly.

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | INSIDE THE COUNCIL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Urban School Leaders Witness Historic Inauguration

With offices on the Avenue of the for urban education to have Obama as the stressed, “If he {Obama} thinks about edu- Presidents, the Council of the Great City 44th president of the United States, and of- cation for Malia and Sasha {his daughters}, Schools invited the nation’s urban school fered advice to the new president in spot that would be good enough” when consid- leaders to get an up-close viewing of the Urban Educator interviews. ering education for all American children. Inaugural Parade for President Barack “Nothing will be more important than “Barack and Michelle are like any parents. Obama on Jan. 20. the intersection of leadership in learning They want the best for their children.” Superintendents and school board for our urban communities,” said Super- Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent members from Seattle to Philadelphia par- intendent Clifford Janey of New Jersey’s Beverly Hall believes the nation needs ticipated in an Inaugural Day Parade Re- Newark Public Schools. “He sets the tone, more and better teachers. She had said reception at the Council, located on Penn- the direction and the creed of leadership cently at a press conference that she would sylvania Avenue just three blocks from the which we need at the city and school dis- advise President Obama “to look at what White House. trict level.” really needs to happen to get the brightest The urban educators were among some To Seattle Public Schools Superinten- and the best to enter our profession.” 1.8 million onlookers in the nation’s capital dent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, President Superintendent Arlene Ackerman of celebrating the historic inauguration of the Obama should “try to provide accountabil- the School District of Philadelphia pointed nation’s first African American president. ity and funding to close the [racial and eco- out that she would tell the new president, In his inaugural address, President nomic] achievement gap” among students. “Access to a quality education from birth Obama made reference to schools. “…Our Brian Morris, board chairman of the through 12th grade is the new civil rights is- health care is too costly; our schools fail too Baltimore City Public Schools, noted, “I sue. Without the opportunity to engage in many…And we will transform our schools would encourage him to remember what high quality schooling, young people won’t and colleges and universities to meet the was important to him as a student -- things be prepared to take their place in an emerg- demands of a new age….” like a clean, safe and caring environment; ing society with global implications.” competent and passionate teachers. These Felton Williams, a board member of Advice to Obama are the things that are still important to the Long Beach Unified School District students today.” in California, would advise Obama, “There Guests at the Council’s Inaugural Re- Gary Yee, a board member of the Oak- are so many issues; take them one day at a ception weighed in on what it will mean land Unified School District in California, time.” Urban School Leaders continued on page 5

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Urban School Leaders continued from page 4 U. of Toledo Offers College ‘Guarantee’ To 5 Ohio Urban Districts

Baltimore school board chairman Brian Morris stands on the Council balcony to watch the parade. Students in five big-city school districts in Ohio will get the opportunity to attend college free, as a result of a new scholarship program. The UT Guarantee program is providing free tuition to the University of Toledo (UT) for academically qualified students from public school systems in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo. Students must also demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the scholarship and have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Atlanta Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall, center, has a front row seat to the The scholarship program is an effort by parade festivities. the university to attract students from urban school districts who want to attend a postsecondary institution but may not view college as a realistic opportunity because of the cost. “We want to change that mindset and get our urban students to begin preparing themselves for a university education when they’re in junior high school,” said Law- rence Burns, UT’s vice president for exter- nal affairs. ‘We’ve taken financial need out Newark Schools Superintendent Clifford of the equation.” Janey poses with a cutout of President Barack The Cleveland Municipal School Dis- Obama. trict recently held an event for 500 seniors and their parents to learn more about the scholarship program. Participants met with UT admissions staff, learned about various academic programs, listened to a panel dis- cussion with current and former UT students from Cleveland and heard a live web message from UT President Lloyd Jacobs. “The UT Guarantee is a very exciting opportunity and we want to do everything we can to make sure our students and Oakland school board member Gary Yee relaxes parents are fully aware it,” said Cleveland in the Council lobby after a long day of parade watching. Schools CEO Eugene Sanders. The UT Guarantee is good for all four years, as long as its recipients maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete 30 credit hours each school year.

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | INSIDE THE COUNCIL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 Urban Students Celebrate Inauguration

On the day Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, students at the Lincoln Academy for Boys in Toledo, Ohio, where most of the students are African American, showed their patriotic pride by wearing red, white and blue. “You will always tell the kid you can be anybody you want to be, but knowing you can be the president that’s huge,” said Lincoln Academy Principal Teresa Quinn Students from Jones High School in Orlando, Fla., pose in their finest attire before attending an Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., hosted by a Florida congresswoman. in the Toledo Blade. “It’s an ah-ha moment, ‘I can really be the president of the United States. I see this man and I see myself as an African American boy and I can do it, too.’ ” The students at Lincoln Academy were not alone in celebrating the historic inauguration of the nation’s first African Amer- ican president. Minneapolis Public Schools wanted to make sure all of the district’s 33,000 students were able to view Obama take the oath of office. So the school system set up an internal network that enabled it to stream the live broadcast of the presiden- tial inauguration to its students, many who gathered in auditoriums to witness the ceremony. First-grade students at Picotte Elementary in Omaha, Neb., participate in a “ticker tape parade” to celebrate the “For our students, watching the inaugu- inauguration of Barack Obama as president. ration of President Barack Obama...live on television, surrounded by their fellow students, teachers principals and community members was a defining educational moment,” said Minneapolis Schools Superin- tendent William Green. “They will always know they were a witness to history in the making.” In Buffalo, students at the International Preparatory School watched the swearing- in ceremony and were joined by Superin- tendent James Williams. Many of the students are immigrants so the inauguration was very moving to them. In addition to watching the inauguration, many districts used the day as a teaching moment. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors passed a resolution Students at Lyndale Elementary in Minneapolis watch the Inauguration Ceremony on a big screen in the gymnasium. Celebrate Inauguration continued on page 10

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 INSIDE THE COUNCIL Civil Rights Pioneers Honored In Jackson, Miss.

Jackson Public Schools recently honored three Mississippi civil rights pioneers by naming new schools in their names at a dedication ceremony held at the state capitol. Gladys Noel Bates, a former Mississippi educator who filed a lawsuit in 1948 charg- ing salary discrimination against African A m e r i c a n A young student from PS 64 Frederick Law Olmsted school in Buffalo helps a fellow student with his tie before teachers and they join the dancing at their school’s Inaugural Ball held in the gymnasium. principals, participated in the ceremony. The 88-year-old who resides in Denver is the only liv- ing pioneer of Honoree Gladys Noel Bates the three honored. “This celebration today is a testimony to the victory of right winning out, no matter the time taken,” Bates said. “It does seem fitting in this month of January 2009, as the winds of change wash through Wash- ington, D.C., that Jackson, Miss., also re- flects in such a momentous way….” A student at George Elementary in Jackson, Miss., portrays President Barack Obama in a play called “A Walk in In addition to Bates, schools will be Obama’s Shoes.” The play depicted several milestones in Obama’s life. named for Thomas Cardozo, a state superintendent of education who died in 1881, and Henry Kirksey, a state legislator and activist who died in 2005. “Today is a grand event in the history of our city,” said Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Lonnie Edwards Sr. at the dedication, which was held a few days before the national observance of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama. Some 50 suggestions of names were made to the Jackson school district’s board of trustees for the three new schools – an elementary and two middle schools. The Fifth-grade students at Andrews Elementary School in Austin, Texas stand as the National Anthem was played schools will be built with funds from a on television at the conclusion of the Inauguration Ceremony. Photo credit: Austin Independent School District 2006 school bond referendum.

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | INSIDE THE COUNCIL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Urban Student Atlanta and Indianapolis Superintendents Enrollment Appears Candidates for Top Award

More Up Than Down Two big-city school chiefs are among the four finalists for 2009 National Super- District Su- intendent of the Year honors. perintendent Big-city school systems in Baltimore, Atlanta Pub- McKell With- Denver, Charleston, S.C., and Portland, lic Schools Su- ers – as AA- Ore., have seen student enrollment in- p e r i n t e n d e n t SA’s state Su- creases this school year for the first time in Beverly Hall perintendents years. and Indianapolis of the Year for “The growth in student numbers- sug Public Schools 2009. gests new academic options are work- Superintendent A n o t h e r ing and parent confidence in city schools Eugene White big-city school is building,” said Baltimore City Public are in the run- Carol Johnson leader was re- Schools CEO Andres Alonso in a news ning for the cently named release. American Asso- Superintendent of the Year by the Na- Two of the fastest growing school dis- Beverly Hall ciation of School tional Alliance of Black School Educators. tricts, Clark County in Las Vegas and Palm Administrators The group named Boston Public Schools Beach in Florida, are experiencing a slow- (AASA) top award celebrating the con- Superintendent Carol Johnson for dem- down in student enrollment. tributions and leadership of public school onstrating quality leadership in student Clark County, the nation’s fifth largest superintendents. The other two superin- achievement. school system, is still showing an increase tendents lead – more than 311,000 students this year school systems compared with more than 308,000 last year in Trussville, -- at a slower rate. Earlier in the decade, Ala., and Fayette some 12,000 new students a year poured County, Ky. into the Nevada district. The win- School District In Palm Beach, enrollment is decreasing ner will be an- after years of dramatic growth, and is at- nounced at In Tampa Earns tributed to the downturn in the real estate AASA’s national market. conference Feb. ‘A’ Grade School systems in Austin, Tex., and 20 in San Fran- Louisville, Ky., have shown a growing Eugene White cisco. The cov- trend in student enrollment over the past eted award last Hillsborough County Public Schools in five years. year was bestowed on then-Superintendent Tampa now joins three other urban school Other urban districts reporting a rise in Rudolph Crew of the Miami-Dade Coun- systems in the state that earned overall “A” enrollments this year in an informal Urban ty Public Schools, the only urban educator grades in the Florida Department of Edu- Educator survey: Dallas, Guilford County of the four finalists. cation’s 2008 annual report card. (Greensboro, N.C.), Omaha, Salt Lake In mid-January, the four finalists for The district initially received a “B” grade, City, Seattle and Wichita. 2009 participated in a press event at the but successfully appealed to the state to Some big-city school districts, such as National Press Club in Washington to re- earn an “A” rating. The Sunshine State is- Birmingham, Ala., Buffalo, N.Y., and Co- spond to how they would advise the new sues grades to schools and districts, ranging lumbus, Ohio, have seen enrollments drop president on educational reform issues. from “A” to “F,” primarily based on student because of shrinking city populations or Atlanta Superintendent Hall would tell performance on the Florida Comprehen- the growth of charter schools. President Obama that the nation needs sive Assessment Test (FCAT). Other urban school systems reporting a more and better teachers. The other Florida urban districts with decline in enrollment this school year: Du- Hall and White joined two other ur- perfect scores are the School District of val County ( Jacksonville, Fla.), Hillsbor- ban school leaders – former Richmond, Palm Beach, Broward County Public ough County (Tampa, Fla.), Indianapolis, Va., schools superintendent Deborah Jew- Schools in Fort Lauderdale and Orange Milwaukee and Sacramento City. ell-Sherman and Salt Lake City School County Public Schools in Orlando.

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 INSIDE THE COUNCIL

Education Secretary continued from page 1 Council of the Great City Schools “Education is … the civil rights issue Annual Legislative/Policy Conference of our generation – the only sure path out of poverty and the only way to achieve a more equal and just society,” Duncan testi- March 14-17, 2009 fied before the U.S. Senate Committee on Washington Marriott Hotel • Washington, DC Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions during his Jan. 13 confirmation hearing. “Having been a school superintendent for seven years, I know that having a strong partner in Washington is critical – but I also know that an overbearing federal bu- reaucracy can impede innovation and progress,” he emphasized. “I look forward to working with you in the years ahead to strike the right balance,” Saturday, March 14 he told the committee before the Senate 7:30 am- 5:00 pm Conference registration confirmed him on Inauguration Day. 9:00 am-10:00 am Fall Conference Planning Meeting 10:00 am-11:00 am Blue Ribbon Corporate Advisory Group Meeting 11:00 am-12:00 pm Great City Colleges of Education Steering Committee Meeting Education...is the civil 11:30 am-2:00 pm Lunch & Meeting of Legislative & Federal Program ” Liaisons rights issue of our genera- 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting tion-- the only sure path 2:00pm- 5:00 pm Urban Task Force Meetings out of poverty and the 5:00 pm-6:00 pm New Members & New Attendees Orientation only way to achieve a more 6:30 pm-8:00 pm Welcome Reception equal and just society.” — Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education Sunday, March 15 7:00 am- 5:00 pm Conference Registration 7:30 am- 9:00 am Breakfast Buffet 8:30 am-11:30 am Board of Directors Meeting In a statement applauding Duncan as 8:30 am-11:30 am Great City Colleges of Education Meeting education secretary, Council Executive Di- 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Luncheon with Speaker rector Michael Casserly said, “The reform- 2:00 pm-5:30 pm Legislative Briefings minded Arne Duncan understands the im- 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Reception: Taste of Portland portance of urban schools in the national debate about the status and future of public education. He also knows the challenges Monday, March 16 facing the nation’s big-city public school 7:30 am- 9:00 am Breakfast with Speaker systems as the leader of the third largest 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Legislative Briefings school district in the country….” 12:30 pm-2:00 pm Luncheon with Speaker “As U.S. secretary of education, if he can 2:00 pm-5:00 pm Capitol Hill Visits help us improve other big-city schools as 6:00 pm-7:30 pm Reception on Capitol Hill he helped Chicago’s school system, then his contribution will have been profound.” Registration information for the Coun- Tuesday, March 17 cil’s Annual Legislative/Policy Conference 8:00 am- 10:30 am Breakfast with Speaker can be accessed at www.cgcs.org. 10:30 am-12:00 pm Legislative Briefings 12:00 pm Adjourn

| Urban Educator Urban Educator | LEGISLATIVE COLUMN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Education is Key Component of New Economic Stimulus Package By Jeff Simering,Director of Legislation

Even before taking office in January, the new las. Some $15 billion also would be provided by Obama Administration and the leadership of the secretary of education for incentive grants the 111th Congress began working on a mas- to states that have made significant progress sive Economic Stimulus package to jumpstart in addressing inequities in the distribution of the deteriorating national economy. This $825 qualified and experienced teaching and improv- billion stimulus bill has begun to move through ing data systems and assessments. Fifty per- Congress. As this article goes to print, the full cent of any Incentive Grants awarded to a state House of Representatives is about to vote on would be allotted to school districts based on $550 billion in spending provisions under the their Title I allocations. The final $25 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of Stabilization Funds would be allotted for state- 2009 and $275 billion in tax provisions under determined high-priority needs, such as public the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax safety or other services including education. Act of 2009. In the tax portion of the Economic Stimu- Education spending represents over 15 per- lus package, $20 billion in interest-free School cent of the Economic Stimulus package moving Construction Bonds are provided over a two- through the legislative process. In elementary and secondary year period through a tax credit mechanism modeled after education, some $28 billion is provided to expand various fed- the America’s Better Classrooms (ABC) legislation created eral categorical programs over a two-year period, including $13 by Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY). An- billion for new Title I grants (of which $2 billion would be other $1.4 billion would be provided under the current Quali- for school improvement grants), $13 billion for the Individuals fied Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) program, which supports with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants, and $1 bil- school renovation and repair but not new construction. lion for Education Technology grants, as well as funding for The scope of this $825 billion Economic Stimulus pack- several smaller programs. A new $14 billion School Modern- age is unprecedented. And, the amount of federal assistance ization, Renovation and Repair program is also being initiated directed toward education is also unprecedented. The Council to address the declining school infrastructure and the deferred of the Great City Schools estimates that at least $15 billion repairs experienced in virtually every school district. States are of the House package would flow directly to member urban being directed to distribute these school facilities grants to lo- school districts. While the Council continues to work on sev- cal school districts based on their Title I allocations within eral technical provisions and funding formulas in the bill, the 30 days of receiving the funds from the federal government. overall stimulus package warrants the strong support of all of Higher education institutions also are provided with substan- the Great City Schools. tial funding, including increases in Pell Grants for low-income After the House completes work on the package, the bill college students. will go to the Senate for consideration. The Obama Adminis- A new $79 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund is also tration and Congress have projected that final legislation could created in the House bill to provide grants to help restore fund- be enacted by mid-February. Education funding, including the ing that has been cut from state budgets due to the economic new School Repair Grants, could become available as early as recession. Some $39 billion over two years will be dedicated to March or April. Urban districts should begin planning imme- restoring cuts in state education funding for K-12 and higher diately for the effective and strategic use of these new educa- education, with the elementary and secondary portion of the tion stimulus funds. Stabilization Fund allotted through current state aid formu- Celebrate Inauguration continued from page 6

encouraging schools to integrate inaugural tol to serve as a student reporter for WCAI- auguration, it was the trip of a lifetime. activities into their curricula. FM, a National Public Radio station. The students were guests at an Inaugu- While most students celebrated in their More than 300 students and staff from ral Ball hosted by Florida congresswoman schools, some lucky students were able to Alaska’s Anchorage School District trav- Corrine Brown and attended the swearing- travel to Washington, D.C., and witness eled to D.C., to view the swearing-in. in ceremony of Obama. the inauguration in person. And for 43 students from Jones High “It was truly a momentous occasion for Mariah Harrington, a junior at Boston School in Orlando, Fla., who won an all- our students,” said Belynda Pinkston, assis- Latin School, traveled to the nation’s capi- expense paid trip to D.C., to attend the in- tant principal.

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Alternative High School Partnership Albuquerque Board Created in Newark Approves Conduct Code

In an effort to prevent students from School districts have implemented dropping out of school, New Jersey’s New- codes of conduct for students who par- ark Public Schools has partnered with ticipate in extracurricular activities, but Newark Mayor Cory Booker to create nine Albuquerque Public Schools has taken it student-centered alternative high schools. one additional step: instituting a code of Under the Newark-Alternative High conduct for parents. School Initiative Partnership, high schools The district’s athletic and activity code will be created that offer a challenging and of conduct applies to all middle and high relevant curriculum, close student-teacher school students participating in extra- relationships, a personalized school culture, Newark Schools Superintendent Clifford Janey, right, is curricular activities or athletics as well as joined by, left to right, Essex County College President leadership development and supportive Zachary Yamba and Newark Mayor Cory Booker at a their parents and spectators. partnerships. press conference announcing the partnership between Conduct Code continued on page 12 Newark is one of three pilot cities na- Newark Public Schools and the city of Newark. tionwide, along with Nashville and In- dianapolis, in which the Alternative High School Initiative (AHSI) has established Council of the Great City Schools 2009 Calendar of Events a “Place-Based Partnership,” in which all three cities are opening new alternative schools. AHSI is a network of 12 youth de- Chief Human Resources Feb. 4-6, 2009 Memphis, TN velopment organizations supported by the Officers Meeting Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and co- convened by the National League of Cities Title I Directors Meeting March 13-14, 2009 Washington, DC and Big Picture Learning. The partnership in Newark also includes Legislative/Policy Conference March 14-17, 2009 Washington, DC several other educational and economic development groups that will assist in devel- Chief Operating Officers April 21-24, 2009 Fort Lauderdale, FL oping the alternative high school models, Conference including Essex County College and the Gateway to College National Network. All Bilingual Directors Meeting May 6-9, 2009 Minneapolis, MN of the groups signed an agreement pledg- ing a three-year commitment to the overall E-Rate Meeting June 1-2, 2009 Cleveland, OH effort. Alternative high schools and programs Chief Information Officers June 3-6, 2009 Cleveland, OH opened under the Newark-AHSI partner- Meeting ship will include DiplomaPlus schools, which enable students to progress at their Public Relations Executives June 26-28, 2009 San Francisco, CA own pace in personalized learning envi- Meeting ronments, and four Performance Learning Centers, which will offer self-paced online Curriculum Directors & Research/ July 16-17, 2009 Chicago, IL courses for rapid credit recovery, personal Assessment Symposium support and project-based learning. “Newark Public Schools welcomes AH- Executive Committee Meeting July 17-18, 2009 Boston, MA SI’s assistance in transforming its alternative schools, and looks forward to spread- Annual Fall Conference Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2009 Portland, OR ing stronger student-centered practices throughout all of Newark’s high schools,” Chief Financial Officers November 17-20, 2009 Nashville, TN said Newark Schools Superintendent Clif- Conference ford Janey.

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Conduct Code continued from page 11 Little Rock School District Great City Grads The code lists several expectations of Joins Council parents and fans, such as encouraging good sportsmanship and showing respect for the Little Rock School District in Arkansas decisions and authority of officials. has joined the Council of the Great City It also states that parents and fans Schools. The school system serves 26,757 should not engage in unsportsmanlike con- students. duct with any official, coach, player, parent The district was thrust into the national or staff member. spotlight in 1957 over the issue of integra- The code was the brainchild of school tion when nine black students were de- board member Marty Esquivel, who was nied entrance to Central High School and upset by the behavior of parents and fans President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered who screamed at a referee during his federal troops to escort the students into daughter’s middle school basketball game. the school. He and other board members decided that Famous alumni of the Little Rock adopting a code of conduct would help school system include Gen. Wesley Clark, make athletics a positive experience for former NATO commander, and Bruce students, families and friends. Lindsey, a senior adviser to then-President “If we can use the code as a teaching Bill Clinton. tool and a way to remind everyone about Photo Credit: Center for American Progress the true essence of interscholastic athletics, NEW MEMBER then it’s going to make us all better in the Melody Barnes long run,” said Esquivel. Director of Domestic Policy Council Parents and students must sign a docu- ment agreeing to abide by the code. Stu- 1982 graduate dents who do not sign the form will be unable to practice, play or participate in a Thomas Jefferson-George Wythe- sport or activity. Huguenot High School Complex Little Rock Richmond Public Schools, Va.

Council of the Great City Schools PRESORTED 1301 Pennsyvlania Avenue, NW FIRST-CLASS MAIL Suite 702 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Washington DC 20004 MERRIFIELD,VA PERMIT NO. 2333