SDUSD Is In Running for $550K Award

The San Diego Unified School District will learn Wednesday if it is the winner of the 2013 Broad Prize for Urban Education, which carries a $550,000 award.

The district is one of four finalists for the prize honoring districts that demonstrate improved student achievement, especially for minorities and students from low-income families.

San Diego Unified was one of six big-city districts in which black students improved their scores on advanced placement tests, according to a report by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

The organization also cited the SDUSD for outperforming similar districts around California in standardized test scores, narrowing the achievement gap for Hispanic and low-income pupils, and improvements in science by black, Hispanic and low-income high school students.

The foundation credits rigorous classes starting in elementary school, access to gifted programs, and identifying and recruiting potential high- performing students to enroll in Advanced Placement courses for the academic improvements.

Schools with improved test scores were also more likely to provide extra academic and social support to students, increase AP course offerings, offer more teacher training, instill confidence in students about their college prospects and educate parents about the benefits of AP courses, according to its report.

A 17-member review board of education leaders and civil rights advocates picked the SDUSD out of a field of 75 districts that qualified for consideration.

Other finalists include the Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, the Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina, and the Houston Independent School District.

The foundation will award a total of $1 million, making it the nation's largest prize for education. After the grand prize, the three other districts will receive $150,000.

The SDUSD has scheduled a party to watch the prize announcement -- via a live video hookup -- from Washington, D.C. The gathering will start at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow at school district headquarters on Normal Street. The announcement is set for 8 a.m. local time.

—City News Service