Baltimore named finalist for excellence in urban education
Baltimore City is among four urban school districts named as a finalst for the the the 2010 Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) Annual Award for excellence in urban education.
The award is given annually by the National School Boards Association (NSBA,) and Baltimore joins the Houston Independent School District, Virginia Prostmouth Public Schools, and Florida Broward County public schools in the final round, the NSBA announced this week.
The four finalists were selected based on materials submitted by the school districts, independent follow-up research, and state datam according to the organization. They were also judged on the following criteria: excellence in school board governance, building civic capacity, closing the achievement gap/equity in education, and a demonstrated success of academic excellence.
NSBA organization said this of Baltimore's accomplishments:
"In the early 2000s, the Baltimore schools were a poster child for the ills of urban education: low academic performance, a financial crisis and declining enrollment. But a comprehensive plan and new CEO have led to dramatic turnarounds. Standardized test scores have made double-digit improvements, and achievement gaps have closed considerably. The dropout rate has improved by 33 percent. Perhaps most notably, the district has recorded enrollment increases each of the past two years – the first time in four decades that Baltimore schools have grown – showing renewed public confidence in the schools."
The winner will be presented on Oct. 2, at the organization's national conference, which will take place at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel.
It's the second award the city is celebrating this week. Roland Park Elementary/Middle was among two Maryland schools honored for its arts education by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
The City Public School Board are failures in each of the the following criteria: excellence in school board governance, building civic capacity, closing the achievement gap/equity in education, and a demonstrated success of academic excellence
Posted by: Interested & Engaged Parent of City Schools | September 14, 2010 10:11 PM
is this a joke?
Posted by: huh | September 15, 2010 5:14 PM
The first comment comes from someone who has consistently exhibited a complete misreading of school reform efforts over the past few years and the second evidently has no clue - but that's the beauty of free speech!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2010 10:41 PM