New York, NY (October 18, 2006) -- Scholastic Education, a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, has presented Michael Casserly, Executive Director of The Council of the Great City Schools, with the first-ever Scholastic Leadership in Urban Education Award (The URBIE™).  Mr. Casserly was honored for his ongoing leadership and commitment to raising academic achievement for urban students in communities around the country.
 
As Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, the nation’s primary coalition of large urban public school systems, since January 1992, and as the organization's Director of Legislation and Research for 15 years prior, Mr. Casserly has unified urban schools nationwide around a vision of reform and improvement. He is currently spearheading efforts to boost academic performance in the nation’s biggest city schools, strengthening management and operations, challenging inequitable state financing systems, and improving the public’s image of urban education.
 
“Scholastic salutes Michael Casserly and the Council of the Great City Schools for their ground-breaking work to identify common practices among the nation’s fastest-improving urban school districts, as well as their ongoing efforts to raise national awareness on achievement gaps, professional development and education for English language learners in urban schools,” said Ernest Fleishman, Senior Vice President, Education and Corporate Relations, Scholastic.  “We are honored to present Mr. Casserly and the Council with the first URBIE, for their relentless determination to ensure that every student can be a successful reader and learner.”
 
The URBIE award was created by Scholastic to honor individuals or organizations making significant contributions to improving urban education in the United States. The award also recognizes leaders who are focused on student achievement and have demonstrated that they have the vision, wisdom and persistence to improve education for those students who are in the greatest need.
 
About Scholastic Education
Scholastic Education, a leader in the education marketplace, provides learning solutions through research-based technology products and multimedia supplemental instructional materials that support student achievement in grades pre-K through high school.  Grounded in the most current scientific research, Scholastic Education develops technology products and services that include intervention, assessment, instruction, data management and professional development.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology.  Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.  The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

 

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