The Nation's Voice for Urban Education
April 2021 • Vol. 30, No. 3
Ray Hart Named to Lead National
Urban School Coalition
Ray Hart was recently named the new executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, the nation’s primary coalition of large urban public-school districts. Hart is the current research director for the Council, a position he has held since 2013.
Council Creates National Task Force to Help Urban School Districts Effectively Spend COVID-19 Relief Funds
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) recently enacted by the Biden Administration is the single largest investment in federal elementary and secondary education in the nation’s history.
Secretary Cardona Embraces Partnerships to Reshape Public Education
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona promised educators that his primary focus this spring will be the reopening of the nation’s schools as quickly and as safely as possible.
Rep. Bobby Scott, Rep. Richard Neal, and CDC Official Address Council at Virtual Legislative/Policy Conference
Heralding a massive infusion of federal funding to public schools, U.S. Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott cautioned leaders of the nation’s largest urban systems to spend the money wisely—and get results. 
Journalist Bob Woodward Reflects on Watergate, Trump Era
Has the nation forgotten the lessons of Watergate? 

That’s the question Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward posed at the start of his remarks at the virtual Council of the Great City Schools' Legislative/Policy Conference.

Legacy Award Presented to Council Executive Director for his 44 Years of Service
Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, received the first-ever Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Award for Educational Courage and Justice at the Council’s virtual Legislative/Policy Conference.
Kansas City Leader Receives Contract Extension, San Francisco Chief Postpones Retirement
Mark Bedell has led Missouri’s Kansas City School District since 2016, and under his leadership the school system has experienced higher graduation rates, expanded participation in Advanced Placement courses and outpaced the state in math and reading achievement scores.
Legislative Column

Biden Administration Proposes Further Investments in K-12 Education
On the heels of the historic $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the Biden Administration has proposed a $2 trillion national infrastructure initiative and outlined an historic FY 2022 Budget Request. Each of these recent announcements includes substantial new investments in elementary and secondary education. 
Read more stories here
Upcoming Events
2021 CGCS-Bernard Harris
Math and Science Scholarship
The deadline for students to apply for the 2020 CGCS-Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships has been extended

When:
May 4, 2021

Four $5,000 scholarships for two males and two females each will be awarded to two African American and two Hispanic seniors pursuing studies in STEM-related fields in college next fall.
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
Kelly Gonez
Board Member, Los Angeles
A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 77 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).