Council of the Great City Schools

Congrats to Baltimore City Public Schools for being selected by the Council and Scholastic as winner of the 2024-2025 Richard M. Robinson Literacy Champion Award. The award, now in its fourth year, is presented annually to a CGCS member school district that has demonstrated notable progress in improving reading achievement.

Congratulations to David Wheeler (Orange County Public Schools) and Edward Romero, NIGP-CPP (San Antonio ISD) -- the 2024 recipients of the Council of the Great City Schools Arthur Hanby Procurement Legacy Award. Thanks to E&I Cooperative Services for sponsoring the award. Cc: Willie Burroughs, Raymond Hart.

Today, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the Council of the Great City Schools announced the addition of the Academic AI Literacy Readiness Domain to the K-12 Generative AI (Gen AI) Maturity Tool. The new module assesses the extent to which educators are prepared to integrate AI technologies into educational practices, ensuring that these tools contribute positively to the learning environment and enhance student outcomes. Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/gFJ2K5x3

Leadership transitions in school districts are inevitable. From a communications standpoint, naming a new superintendent presents a unique opportunity to build goodwill and strengthen community partnerships—or it can spark unwanted news coverage. In this guide, leading school communications professionals share best practices and lessons learned from their experiences in district leadership changes, including over a dozen innovative tactics they’ve used to introduce new leaders to the community and district staff. Gain expert insights and apply effective tactics here: https://lnkd.in/eHkkQ6Mh

Taking the reins of Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 2023, CMSD CEO Warren Morgan, EdD brought a wealth of experience—from teaching and principalship in Chicago to working in the Illinois Senate and as a White House fellow. Yet, as he shares in this Education Week feature, nothing fully prepared him for the complexities of leading a district. From building community relationships to navigating political challenges, Morgan reflects on the nuances of leadership and the lessons he’s learned in his first year. Read more about his journey here: https://lnkd.in/e6etAjcN

A new chapter began for 400 young men joining Los Angeles Unified School District 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project at Crenshaw STEMM Magnet HS! Founded by Rep. Frederica Wilson, this program empowers young Black & Brown men to excel and give back, each receiving a red tie to mark their commitment.

We are excited to share our latest 2023-2024 Annual Report! Our report details our progress over the past year, sharing major milestones, key achievements, and illustrating our commitment to improving educational opportunities for children in the nation’s urban schools. Read the full report and see our progress here: https://lnkd.in/epCBrzHZ

Cohort 3 of the Michael Casserly Institute launches in February! Hear from Cohort 2 as they share meaningful insights and impactful lessons from their journey. To learn more about this cohort and Cohort 3, visit https://lnkd.in/efPxrhhH

For #NationalFamilyLiteracyDay, we're celebrating school library makeovers completed in partnership with Scholastic! Through this collaboration, a school in The School District of Philadelphia, Portland Public Schools, and Detroit Public Schools Community District each gained a refreshed library space filled with books for students and families to enjoy together. Supporting family literacy starts with the wonderful resources available in our big-city public school libraries!

We’re excited to announce that 11 senior-level education administrators have been selected to join the Michael Casserly Urban Executive Leadership Institute for Superintendents! 👥 Meet the 2025 cohort: https://conta.cc/3CjqnN2 Now in its third year, this leadership development program, named after the Council’s longtime former executive director, is designed to prepare the next generation of urban school leaders. The Institute connects aspiring superintendents with current and past Council member superintendents, who will provide them with advice, guidance, and shadowing opportunities. Participants receive a realistic look at what the role of an urban school superintendent entails, attending sessions on: 🔸 School Board Relations 🔸 Academics 🔸 Media Relations 🔸 Operations 🔸 Finances 🔸 Labor Relations