Gwinnett Schools in national spotlight again

By D. Aileen Dodd

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It seems Gwinnett County Public Schools has landed a prime position in the national education spotlight reserved for VIDs — Very Important Districts.

This month, while students were settling into the first weeks of classes, talk of Gwinnett Schools and its progressive programs to close the achievement gap was on the lips of officials in national education circles.

Gwinnett Schools, the state’s largest system, has seen increases in standardized test scores and graduation rates as it aggressively works to target the achievement gap. Gwinnett is the first district in Georgia to receive flexibility from state mandates in exchange for greater accountability for student success. Last year, the graduation rate jumped from 79.1 percent to 79.8 percent for all students.

“I think it’s exciting,” said parent Toya Davidson, the mother of a third-grader. “It makes me feel good knowing the level of education in Gwinnett is being recognized nationwide.”

Less than two weeks ago, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich named Gwinnett County as one of the potential metro Atlanta stops on a new national tour promoting districts showing promise in reforming public education. The multicity tour pairs Gingrich with his political adversary the Rev. Al Sharpton and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on visits to innovative schools.

And as political leaders were eyeing Gwinnett for the multicity tour, judges for the $2 million Broad Prize for Urban Education began to consider the merits of the district, a finalist in the race to be named as the country’s top school system.

Gwinnett is one of five districts competing for the Broad Prize, presented to urban systems showing marked gains in student performance and a reduction in the achievement gap among low-income and minority children.

“We are indeed honored,” said Carole Boyce, chairwoman of the Gwinnett Board of Education. “This is a wonderful thing for our students, our teachers and our principals. ... We have been working to improve student achievement. It shows that we seem to be on the right track.”

Gwinnett Schools has not yet been contacted by Gingrich, Sharpton or Duncan about the possible visit. But if Gwinnett Schools wins the Broad Prize on Sept. 16, Duncan is scheduled to announce the victor on Capitol Hill.

“This award is considered as the Nobel Prize in education,” said Erica Lepping, Broad Foundation spokeswoman. “For prize winners, it is a reason for the metropolitan area to celebrate.”

Former Education Secretaries Rod Paige, Margaret Spellings and Richard Riley are among the judges picking the winner, who will receive $1 million. The money will fund college scholarships. The other finalists also each receive $250,000 for scholarships.

School Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said in a statement that he is pleased about the district’s successes and would “welcome” the opportunity to showcase them on a national stage whether it’s during a tour or with a Broad Prize win. “We see being named a finalist as a prestigious validation of the good work that we know is going on in Gwinnett classrooms every day,” he said.