The Nation's Voice for Urban Education
October 2020 • Vol. 29, No. 7
20 Finalists Named for Top Award
In Urban Education Leadership
A highlight of the upcoming Council of the Great City Schools’ 64th virtual annual Fall Conference will be the naming of the Urban Superintendent of the Year. 

This year there are 20 finalists for the nation’s top award in urban-education leadership. The winner will be honored by peers in a live, virtual awards ceremony on Oct. 15.
Denver School Board Member to Moderate All-Student Town Hall on Race and Social Justice
Following the rise of protests that occurred in cities across the nation this summer after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, a panel of urban students will discuss issues of race and equity at a live, national town hall meeting on Oct. 16.
NY Times Columnist Thomas Friedman to Discuss the "Future of Education" at Council Virtual Fall Conference
In the wake of the challenges urban school districts face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman will participate in a timely discussion on “The Future of Education” at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 64th virtual Annual Fall Conference.

2020 Blue Ribbon Schools Named
Chicago Public Schools had six schools that were recently recognized as 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The six schools are among the 367 across the nation honored for their overall academic performance or progress in closing the achievement among student subgroups.

Boston Red Sox Goes to Bat for Teacher COVID Testing
The Boston Red Sox and the Major League Baseball organization are partnering with the city of Boston to offer COVID-19 testing to Boston Public School teachers.
Legislative Column

Twisting in the Wind
President Trump unexpectedly pulled the plug on high-level negotiations for a new round of coronavirus relief legislation following his release from Walter Reed Medical Center.
Great City Grad
Breonna Taylor

2011 Graduate of Jefferson County Public Schools

Read more stories here
Upcoming Events
64th Annual Fall Conference
The Council of the Great City Schools is holding its 64th Annual Fall Conference virtually.

When:
October 13 - October 17, 2020
Executive Director
Michael Casserly
Editor
Tonya Harris
Staff Writer
Joanne Coley
Chair
Michael O'Neill
Board Member, Boston
Chair-elect
Barbara Jenkins
Superintendent, Orange County
(Orlando)
Secretary-Treasurer
Ashley Paz
Board Member, Fort Worth
A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 76 of the nation’s largest urban public school districts. Click here to learn more. All news items should be submitted to Tonya Harris (tharris@cgcs.org).