5/4/2006
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Mayor's charter schools initiative named finalist for prestigious Harvard award
City's cutting-edge charter program garners national recognition for second time this week INDIANAPOLIS- Mayor Bart Peterson's charter schools initiative today was honored as a finalist for the prestigious 2006 Innovations in American Government Award. The charter school initiative was one of eighteen nationally recognized programs to advance in the competition, which has been dubbed the "Oscars" for government initiatives.
Peterson's charter schools initiative is the only finalist from Indiana.
The Innovations in American Government Awards, founded in 1986, is a program of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The award is administered in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government in Washington.
"It is great to see our innovative charter schools initiative continue to garner national praise and recognition as a model program for cities and states across the country," said Mayor Peterson. "Being one of the finalists for the Innovations in American Government award is a tremendous honor for our schools; their boards, teachers and students; and the entire city."
Earlier this week, The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools presented Peterson with its first-ever "Champion for Charters" award during its annual reception celebrating National Charters Schools Week in Washington, D.C.
More than 1,000 government programs from across the country submitted applications to compete for this year's Innovation in American Government Awards.
"Each of the eighteen finalists are the best and brightest, and represent government's great capacity for creating positive change and achieving results," said Gowher Rizvi, Director of Harvard's Ash Institute. "Each takes a creative approach to a significant problem and demonstrates that their solution works."
The 18 finalists include four federal, six state, two county, and six municipal programs from around the country.
The awardees will be announced on July 10 at a dinner ceremony in Washington, D.C., during the 2006 Excellence in Government Conference. The final winners will receive a $100,000 prize to support the teaching of their model to other jurisdictions.
About The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government fosters excellence in government around the world in order to generate and strengthen democracy.
Through its awards program, research, publications, curriculum support, and global network, the Institute champions critical milestones in creative and effective governance and democratic practice.
The Council for Excellence in Government is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to improve government performance by strengthening results-oriented management and creative leadership in the public sector, and to build understanding by focusing public discussion on government's role and responsibilities.
For more information on the Innovations in American Government program and this year's finalists, please visit www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu or www.excelgov.org.
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