NY1: Education
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Washington Tuesday morning to accept the Broad Prize for Urban Education, which recognizes New York City as the nation's most improved urban school district.
The annual prize is the largest education award in the country. It is given to the urban school district that demonstrates the greatest improvement in student achievement.
The city's school district was selected based on its overall performance, as well as gains in reducing achievement gaps between poor and minority students.
In his acceptance speech, Bloomberg said that mayoral control of this city's schools is getting really good results.
"Since 2002, our graduation rates have gone up some 20 percent and I think it's fair to say that when I came into office nobody thought that was possible,” said the mayor.
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein was also in D.C. to accept the prize. Klein told NY1 that the city still has lots of work to do to improve the schools. In his speech at the ceremony, with the heads of the teachers and principals unions at his side, Klein said there's agreement everyone must work together to improve the schools – even when there's disagreement about how to do that.
"It does take a city coming together,” said Klein. “And while it always hasn't been sweet and nice, laughter, we have pulled together; we have pulled together, for the kids of the City of New York."
Not every city official might agree with that. Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, a frequent Klein critic, said in a written statement about the city winning the prize: "If we are number one in terms of achievement, it's pretty sad news for the rest of the nation."
Klein responded by saying, "it's unfortunate anyone would denigrate the accomplishments of our students."
New York City was one of five finalists for the prize. The others are Bridgeport Public Schools, the Long Beach Unified School District, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio.
As the winner, the city's education department receives $500,000 in college scholarships for high school seniors. The runner-up districts will each receive $125,000.
The Broad Prize was named for billionaire California businessman and education advocate, Eli Broad.
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