Overview

The $2 million Broad Prize for Urban Education, established in 2002, is the largest education award in the country given to school districts. The Broad Prize is awarded each year to honor urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among low-income and minority students.

The Broad Prize for Urban Education has four goals:

• Reward districts that improve achievement levels of disadvantaged students
• Restore the public’s confidence in our nation’s public schools by highlighting successful urban districts
• Create competition and provide incentives for districts to improve
• Showcase the best practices of successful districts

Each year, Broad Prize scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors in the finalist and winning districts who demonstrate a record of academic improvement during their high school careers, as well as have a financial need. Seniors from the winning and finalist districts are eligible for two- or four-year scholarships of up to $20,000 depending on the type of higher education institution they choose to attend.