Urban Education
Learn more about urban schools and districts, including research and polices that affect city schools
School & District Management
Report Roundup
School Choice
A new study of New York City's high school choice system shows that even high-achieving students from lower-performing middle schools often don't aim for the most competitive high schools, a finding that raises questions about how well the choice system, by itself, expands students' options.
School & District Management
Chicago District Plans to Borrow $1 Billion
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Chicago Board of Education approved borrowing nearly $1 billion for construction costs and to refinance high-interest debt.
School & District Management
Cleveland District CEO Named Urban Educator of the Year
Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland district since 2011, was chosen Thursday as the Urban Educator of the Year at the Council of the Great City Schools annual conference in Miami.
School & District Management
Report: School Closures Can Work If Students Have Better Options
A new report from the Education Research Alliance at Tulane University found that closing low-performing schools and converting them to charter schools can improve student performance, but a key factor was whether students had better schools to attend.
Equity & Diversity
Report Roundup
Teachers of Color
Students in urban school districts, regardless of their race or ethnicity, prefer teachers of color to white teachers, a study has found.
School & District Management
Obama Initiative Secures Free Internet Access for Low-Income Students
The U.S. Department of Education also announces its first round of Pay for Success grants, an effort to solve public problems with the aid of private investment.
School & District Management
Data Tool Allows City-by-City Schooling Comparisons
A website created for civic leaders and the public offers a collection of education data for 114 cities in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
School & District Management
Dallas Public School Choice Program Seeks to Expand District Options
The Dallas district's public school choice program seeks to expand options for parents, according to the district.
States
Lawsuit Challenges Georgia's Ballot Question on Statewide School District
A lawsuit asks the court for an injunction to stop a statewide district from going into effect in Georgia if a Nov. 8 ballot measure passes, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Teaching Profession
Chicago Teachers' Union Members Overwhelming Vote to Authorize Strike
For the second time in less than year, the majority of the members of the Chicago Teachers' Union cast ballots in favor of a strike.
School & District Management
Chicago Mayor Pledges $36 Million to Mentor Youths in Effort to Curb Violence
In an address focused on curbing the gun violence that has plagued Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel pledged $36 million in city and philanthropic funds to expand mentoring programs to 7,200 boys and male youths. He also plans to expand a similar program for women and opportunities for unemployed and out-of-school youths.
Equity & Diversity
Oakland, Calif. School District Launches Effort to Support Black Girls
Oakland was the first school district in the nation to create a department with the sole focus of helping black males. Now, it wants to do the same for black girls.
School & District Management
New Website to Compare Cities' Education Results Makes Debut
The interactive "State of Our Cities" website, released Tuesday by the George W. Bush Institute, provides comparable education data for 114 cities across more than a dozen indicators.
School & District Management
Three Ex-Detroit Principals Sentenced to Prison for Role in Kickback Scheme
In addition to prison time, the three former principals who were sentenced on Wednesday have been ordered to pay thousands in restitution to the financially strapped school district.