Urban Education

City Views: Three new reports from the Council of the Great
City Schools offer a mixed picture of administrative attitudes,
funding, and other trends in America's urban schools.

One survey of 225 urban educational leaders found 85 percent of them
"optimistic" or "somewhat optimistic" about the future of city schools
in 1999-2000—slightly more than the 82 percent in 1997-98 and
well above the 62 percent giving those responses in 1995-96.

"It shows that the people now on the job feel good about what
they're doing and the job they're doing," said Sharon Lewis, the
research director for the 57-member coalition of city school systems,
based in Washington.

On the other hand, the average tenure for an urban superintendent
was just two years and four months in 1999, six months shorter than in
1997. For women, the average was 11/2 years. Nationwide, the tenure of
a district chief averages about seven years.

The frequent turnover at the top in many urban districts has often
hindered efforts to improve schools. Ms. Lewis said there is no easy
explanation for the declining tenure, though a council task force is
studying the issue.

The salaries of superintendents of the council's member districts
increased an average of 6 percent from 1997 to 1999, she noted.

The optimism shown by urban school leaders is tempered by stagnant
spending. Between 1989 and 1996, per-pupil spending on children in the
member districts rose just 1.8 percent when adjusted for inflation, to
$6,095. Nationally, per-pupil funding rose 25 percent during that time,
to $5,923.

Here are some other findings from the surveys:

Business leaders and foundations were rated as the most helpful
at aiding school leaders in fulfilling their missions. Teachers'
unions came in ninth of 17 groups, while the news media came in last,
right behind Congress.

Academic achievement was the most pressing need in city schools.
Recruiting teachers rose to second, its highest place since the
survey began in 1993.

A 10-year snapshot found that enrollment in the city schools rose
by 13.4 percent, to 6.6 million, between 1987-88 and 1997-98. The
Clark County, Nev., schools grew the most, nearly doubling to 191,000
students during that period.

Some urban systems lost students. Enrollment in Dayton, Ohio, fell
15 percent, to 27,000, while the number of students in Newark, N.J.,
declined 13 percent, to 44,000.

Copies of the reports are available on the council's World Wide Web
site at www.cgcs.org.