Alexandria, VA - October 13, 2009 - The National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) has announced that the Atlanta Public Schools in Georgia has been selected as the 2009 winner for CUBE’s annual award of Urban School Board Excellence. This prestigious award honors urban school districts that demonstrate progress in educating children and act as role models for excellence in school board governance.
“Atlanta has shown that when a district’s governance team works together and focuses on the common goal of improving student achievement for all, progress and results will follow,” said Anne L. Bryant, executive director of NSBA. “We hope that the promise Atlanta has demonstrated will be held as an example for other large districts that may be struggling. Their gains are evidence that leadership, a strong community relationship, and high expectations are critical to a successful turnaround solution for school districts.”
Atlanta’s history has been a critical piece to understanding why this award is valuable to the district. Just ten years ago, the district had some of the lowest test scores in the state, a dysfunctional school board, and a community that demanded change. After hiring Dr. Beverly Hall in 1999, many changes took place, including the governance structure. A comprehensive reform agenda was funded by private and public funds to improve student achievement and focus on the schools that were most in need of improvements. In addition, the district worked closely with foundations to create smaller high schools and transform them for 21st century learning.
The winning district was announced on Oct. 10, 2009, during the annual CUBE conference in Austin. Additionally, the Broward County School District in Florida was named a finalist and Baltimore City, Md., Wake County, N. C., and Jefferson County, Kentucky were recognized for progress and leadership, respectively. Broward was recognized for their work on closing the achievement gap, especially in reading and math, with assessment scores exceeding all others in the state. Baltimore City Schools has shown progress academically, and for the first time in decades, is expecting increased enrollment in its schools under the leadership of its school board and CEO. In Wake County, N.C. and Jefferson County, Kentucky, difficult decisions involving race and student assignments warrant recognition. Both districts are at the center of the discussion about diversity and school board policy related to student assignment, especially regarding student achievement. In each case, the district has overcome difficult situations administratively to restructure the way students attend school.
Nominees for the award are required to present evidence that demonstrates school district excellence in four core areas: school board governance, closing the gap, academic excellence, and community engagement. The finalists are then selected by a panel of distinguished judges based on materials submitted by the school district, and independent follow-up research.
For more information on the award, please visit http://www.nsba.org/cube. The winning district will receive recognition in CUBE programming and NSBA publications, including CUBE’s advocacy newsletter, the Urban Advocate.
The Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) was established in 1967 by the National School Boards Association as a national membership organization governed solely by urban school board members and dedicated to the needs and interests of urban school boards. CUBE member districts total more than 100 urban school districts in 35 states and the Virgin Islands. Our member districts educate nearly 8 million students, in over 12,000 schools, with a collective budget of approximately 99 billion dollars. CUBE helps urban school boards find solutions to challenges at the local level and seeks to improve their policy making effectiveness.
Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association (www.nsba.org) is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.