September 29, 2003

On the eve of the Mayors' Education Summit, the Broad Foundation announced that the Long Beach Unified School District was being awarded the nation's largest national education award, the Broad Prize for Urban Education. The prize is awarded to the urban school district making the greatest overall improvement in student achievement while at the same time reducing achievement gaps across ethnic groups and between high- and low-income students.

The success of the Long Beach school system is in part due to the leadership and involvement of Mayor Beverly O'Neill who has had education as a one of her center-piece priorities. O'Neill has been instrumental in forming and facilitating a city-wide partnership on education that includes the mayor's office, school superintendent, college presidents, business and community organizations. O"Neill was present at the award ceremony.

Three other Conference cities were finalists for the prize — Boston, Louisville and Norfolk. The winning district receives $500,000 towards college scholarships or other post'secondary education. The other finalist districts receive $125,000 for scholarships. The Prize is an incentive for excellence and a reward for achievement in urban education.