The Nation's Voice for Urban Education
January/February 2023 • Vol. 32 No. 1
Council Launches Leadership Program for Aspiring Urban School Superintendents
Ebony Johnson is a graduate of Oklahoma’s Tulsa Public Schools and returned after college to become an educator in that system. She has held a variety of positions-- teacher, teacher's coach, dean/assistant principal, principal, and executive director overseeing the district’s student and family support services.
Education Secretary to Address Urban School Leaders at 2023 Legislative/Policy Conference
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will address urban education leaders at the Council of the Great City Schools’ Annual Legislative/Policy Conference, March 18-23, at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
St. Louis Names New Leader; Arlington Superintendent Announces Retirement
After a national search, St. Louis Public Schools recently named Keisha Scarlett as the district’s new superintendent. Scarlett has served as the assistant superintendent of academics for Seattle Public Schools since 2020.

Tracking the Use of ARP/ESSER Funds in Urban School Districts
Next month it will be two years since the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was passed, as part of the $122.8 billion funds provided under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund.

Council Offers Math, Science, Scholarships to Big-City Students
Graduating high-school students this spring have an opportunity to compete for math and science scholarships offered by the Council of the Great City Schools and former NASA astronaut, physician, and businessman Bernard Harris.
Council Welcomes New Chief of Teaching and Learning
Farah Assiraj, a national leader in race/equity and immigrant education, was recently named the Council’s new Chief of Teaching and Learning.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Award Math Equity Grants to East Baton Rouge and NYC
Louisiana’s East Baton Rouge Parish School System was the recipient of a $3.5 million math equity grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Newspaper Spotlights Three Big-City Educators
The efforts of senior staffers from three Council of the Great City Schools’ member districts are highlighted in a recent Education Week special report entitled “Leaders to Learn From.”

Legislative Column

A History Lesson on the Debt Ceiling
In January, the country hit its debt ceiling limit, the total amount of money that the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations.

Upcoming Events
2023 Legislative/Policy Conference
When:
March 18 - March 21, 2023

Where:
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, DC
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Executive Director
Ray Hart
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Editor
Tonya Harris
Staff Writer
Joanne Coley
Staff Writer
Kalin Hicks
Chair
Kelly Gonez
Board Member, Los Angeles
Chair-elect
Guadalupe Guerrero
Superintendent, Portland
Secretary-Treasurer
Darrel Woo
Board Member, Sacramento
A newsletter published by the Council of the Great City Schools, representing 78 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).