The prize may well be one of the most important books on education to come. A conversation with dale russakoff rutgers university. Class struggle cory booker helped turn round newarks schools. In short, arguing that the book damns the education reformers agenda is to misread it. Chris christie talks about the states schools during a. The title of the prize refers to the one billion dollar budget that the newark schools have to spend and the race to get that money into private hands. The prize the unwritten appendix, by those inside newarks. The prize the unwritten appendix, by those inside newark. Sep 08, 2015 a new york times bestsellermark zuckerberg, chris christie, and cory booker were ready to reform our failing schools. Chris christie announced an ambitious plan to transform newark schools and make it a national model for reform. Dale russakoffs the prize offers an incisive account of what went wrong in reforming newark, n. Private interests and hedge fund groups are taking advantage of americas crumbling education system, because there is a opportunity to profit.
In newark school reform efforts, gains come at a price. In her masterful book, the prize, dale rousakoff documented the newark experiment and the political conflict it generated. In 2010, 26yearold mark zuckerberg announced on the oprah winfrey. Dale russakoff delivers a riveting drama of our times, encompassing the rise of celebrity politics, big philanthropy, extreme economic inequality, the charter school movement, and the struggles and triumphs of schools in one of the nations. The book tells the riveting story of a grand experiment conceived by an improbable alliance of former mayor cory booker, governor chris christie. Their plan is to make a big bet on the charter sector by closing down under. Cory booker, mark zuckerberg, and the newark schools.
What people are saying about the prize brilliantly reported. Its easy to feel cynical and even angry while reading the prize, a stunning. But no one, including russakoff, ever stops to ask if there is any more than anecdotal evidence that newarks teachers are inordinately lousy given the amount the state is willing to. Newark unified school district has undergone a massive overhaul in the nine years since booker sat on a couch with facebook founder mark zuckerberg and thennew jersey gov. Along comes dale russakoff s the prize, a brilliantly reported behindthescenes account of one citys attempt to right its failing public schools. Chris christie r on the oprah winfrey show and famously promised to turn newark schools into a. The prize, a new book by dale russakoff, examines the. Highly paid consultants were hired to manage the effort, while community groups and leaders with deep knowledge of newark and its schools felt cut out of the process. A new book, by dale russakoff, examines the pitfalls of mark zuckerbergs generous philanthropic gift to newark public schools. Author dale russakoff discusses fight for newark schools 1.
What other book might you compare the prize to and why. It is a candid, wellresearched examination of the school reform effort in newark, new jersey that failed to live up to its hype. Dale russakoffs the prize is such a good, and important book. The book opens as christie and booker join forces to change newarks schools. The book includes poignant and heartfelt sections on princess williams, a gifted kindergarten teacher and newark native, and alif beyah, a 14yearold reading at a secondgrade level. Sep 11, 2015 the book includes poignant and heartfelt sections on princess williams, a gifted kindergarten teacher and newark native, and alif beyah, a 14yearold reading at a secondgrade level. The subtitle of dale russakoffs book begs the question whos in charge of americas schools in the pushandpull system of school reformers vs. November 4, 2015, as the real prize in newark schools related stories newark schools journey to local control begins, september 9, 2015.
When russakoff began reporting this book in 2010, fewer than 40 percent of the students. Its a prize that, for generations, has enriched seemingly everyone, except newarks children. It all begins with the generous gift of mark zuckerberg who pledges one hundred million dollars to cory booker and chris christie to reform newark s public schools. Sep 27, 2015 dear commons community, i have just finished reading the prize. The subtitle of this invaluable book is whos in charge of americas schools. For the project, she gained remarkable access to not only zuckerberg but also new jersey gov. Cory bookers massive overhaul of the newark schools. Author dale russakoff discusses new book on newark school. The story likely will unnerve educators, reformers, taxpayers, politicians, parents and students anywhere even the books main title provokes distrust.
As mayor of newark, new jersey, cory booker took up the treacherous task of overhauling the citys schools, betting big on charter schools, teacher accountability, and philanthropy. Chris christie and facebook founder mark zuckerberg devised a plan to improve newarks failing schools. On other matters, the book presents a still stronger endorsement of reform. Dale russakoff recounts their efforts in the prize. I recommend you to read this book, because this book is one of best seller books in the world. Whos in charge of americas schools russakoff, dale. What the prize taught newark, and its author harvard. Sep 24, 2015 newark mayor cory booker, left, and mark zuckerberg, center, founder and ceo of facebook, listen as new jersey gov. The book tells the riveting story of a grand experiment conceived by an improbable alliance of former mayor cory booker, governor chris christie and facebook founder, mark zuckerberg, to save an. It is not just sticking to the facts and the avoidance of taking sides that makes the prize such a moving and thoughtprovoking book.
It hammers home the positive attributes of charter schools in newark and the recalcitrance of the traditional school district. Russakoff talked with the hechinger report about the prize and why newark did not become an education success story. Chris christie and newarks thenmayor cory booker set out not just to fix the newark schools, but to create a national model for how to turn around an entire urban school district. The melting of mark zuckerbergs donation to newark schools. Whos in charge of americas schools by dale russakoff houghton mifflin harcourt, 2015. Newark was a hard place to get a good public education, and it still is. Essentially, the charters drained the public schools of teacher and student talent and the best resources. The growth of charters forces the hand of newarks school superintendent cami. I hadnt thought about the economics and zero sum impact of charter schools. Sep 08, 2015 a new york times bestseller mark zuckerberg, chris christie, and cory booker were ready to reform our failing schools. But their plans soon ran into the citys seasoned education players, fierce protectors of their billiondollarayear system. All of the power players in the prize view teachers in the same way.
Aug 20, 2015 the story likely will unnerve educators, reformers, taxpayers, politicians, parents and students anywhere even the books main title provokes distrust. Aug 27, 2015 the opening scene of the prize is one of hope. Although the prize sometimes reads like an obituary for newark school reform, the book sells short the accomplishments that people have made over the past five years. Chris christie and facebook founder mark zuckerberg devised a plan to improve newark s failing schools. Chris christie and cory booker formerly newarks mayor and now a u. Chris christie talks about the states schools during a 2010 press conference. Private interests and hedge fund groups are taking advantage of americas crumbling education system. The book, which should be required reading for all k12.
Sep 22, 2015 newark was a hard place to get a good public education, and it still is. When russakoff began reporting this book in 2010, fewer than 40 percent of the students in the third through eighth grades in newark, n. The prize may well be one of the most important books on education to come along in years. He added that the districts charter schools now rank as the 2nd highest performers in the. That only four students were held back, a reduction by more than half, is a celebration at avon elementary school in newark public schools in new jersey. The prize is an absorbing portrait of a titanic struggle, indispensable for anyone who cares about the future of public education and the nations children. Are mark zuckerbergs facebook donations to newark schools.
In newark school reform efforts, gains come at a price pbs. Mar, 2019 as mayor of newark, new jersey, cory booker took up the treacherous task of overhauling the citys schools, betting big on charter schools, teacher accountability, and philanthropy. Whos in charge of americas schools by dale russakoff. Newark has seen a significant increase in graduation rates, notable growth in the number of highquality charter schools that serve poor kids, and critical upgrades in the. Chris christie, facebook founder mark zuckerberg and former mayor cory booker launched an ambitious plan to remake newarks schools by creating a network of charter schools. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. He is the 2016 national history day pennsylvania teacher of the year, 2017 nea global fellow to china, and in 2019 unsuccessfully ran. Oct, 2015 dale russakoffs the prize is an unsparing chronicle of five controversial years in newark that began in front of a cheering audience on oprah and ended this summer with the resignation of newark superintendent cami anderson. In 2010, facebooks mark zuckerberg, then newark mayor cory booker, and gov. Dale russakoff s the prize a chronicle of the education reform efforts in newark, nj that were supposed to be a model for the nation is as remarkable for what it doesnt report as it is as for what it does. Aug 23, 2015 when russakoff began reporting this book in 2010, fewer than 40 percent of the students in the third through eighth grades in newark, n.
Russakoffs book, built out of reporting she published last year in the new yorker, tells the tale of how a variety of actors managed to spin zuckerbergs gold into straw and newarks best laid plans into controversial chaos. On september 24, 2010, facebook founder mark zuckerberg. It all begins with the generous gift of mark zuckerberg who pledges one hundred million dollars to cory booker and chris christie to reform newarks public schools. The prize, a new book by dale russakoff, examines the pitfalls of. Oct 31, 2017 highly paid consultants were hired to manage the effort, while community groups and leaders with deep knowledge of newark and its schools felt cut out of the process. A new york times bestseller mark zuckerberg, chris christie, and cory booker were ready to reform our failing schools. It is an important, thoughtful, and wellresearched book, containing meaningful lessons for anyone with even a passing interest in. Russakoff, formerly a reporter for the washington post. Sep 21, 2015 in 2010, mayor cory booker, new jersey gov. A new york times bestsellermark zuckerberg, chris christie, and cory booker were ready to reform our failing schools. Some district schools in newark have improved on state tests in grades three. Newark mayor cory booker, left, and mark zuckerberg, center, founder and ceo of facebook, listen as new jersey gov. And yet, five years after newarks chance carpe diem moment, the reform efforts have generated far more heat than light.
But their plans soon ran into the citys seasoned education players, fierce protectors of. Sep 08, 2015 the fight for, or over, the children of newark might have been merely an important story about the future of public education in america, but in russakoffs accomplished handsand with a cast of characters including chris christie, cory booker, and mark zuckerbergit has become a shakespearean spectacle of crosspurposes. Sep 12, 2015 all of the power players in the prize view teachers in the same way. Parents in newark now have more high quality public school choices than before, zuckerberg said. Newark, new jerseys public schools were faced with a problem that districts and states all over the united states are either dealing with currently or will be soon enough. What the prize taught newark, and its author harvard gazette.
Some, but hardly all, of the charter schools are performing well, but test scores elsewhere are uneven. Jake miller teaches middle school history in central pennsylvania. Dale russakoff managed to get amazing access to the inside story of mark zuckerbergs giant gift to newark schools. But their plans soon ran into the citys seasoned education players, fierce protectors of their.
292 899 1279 66 110 1222 976 583 927 288 568 749 1344 530 1071 81 791 1095 462 1084 676 287 526 94 389 207 1450 311 14 596 350 794 400 605 820 593