The Nation's Voice for Urban Education
March 2021 • Vol. 30, No. 2
New Education Secretary Will Address
Urban Educators
Over the years, the nation’s newly installed education secretaries have made it a standard practice to include the Council of the Great City Schools among the first organizations they visited. That tradition will continue when U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona addresses the Council’s virtual Annual Legislative/Policy Conference, March 20-22.
NYC Chancellor Steps Down, Albuquerque Names New Leader
Richard Carranza resigned as chancellor of the New York school system, effective in March, after three years running the nation’s largest district.
L.A. Cuts School Police to Boost Achievement, Des Moines Replaces Police with Student Supports
The Los Angeles and Des Moines school systems have moved forward with plans to shift at least some funds from school policing to programs that support student achievement and well-being, especially for students of color.
Toronto School System Creates Anti-Asian Racism Resource for Teachers
Teachers in the Toronto District School Board now have a comprehensive resource in their efforts to address anti-Asian racism, which has spiked in Canada’s capital city since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Council Offers Scholarships Named for an Astronaut
For the third year in a row, the Council of the Great City Schools and Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African American to walk in space, will award STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) scholarships to graduating high school seniors in urban school districts represented by the Council.
Newspaper Spotlights Detroit Educators
Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, and Sharlonda Buckman, the district’s assistant superintendent of family and community engagement, were recently featured in Education Week for their leadership in increasing parent engagement.


Legislative Column

American Rescue Plan Legislation Includes Historic K-12 Federal Assistance
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) proposed by President Biden was signed into law on March 11. The massive recovery legislation moved through Congress under the expedited Budget Reconciliation process requiring a simple majority vote in the House and Senate.
Read more stories here
Upcoming Events
2021 Legislative/Policy
Virtual Conference
When:
March 20 - March 22, 2021
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).