SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today commended distinguished California educator Carl Cohn on being appointed to the National Technical Advisory Council. The appointment, made by United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, names Cohn to a 16 person council created to advise the United States Department of Education on complex and technical issues regarding the design and implementation of state standards, assessments, and accountability systems.

"Carl Cohn is one of California's outstanding education leaders, and I applaud Secretary Spellings for appointing him to the National Technical Advisory Council," O'Connell said. "Carl's work as superintendent in both the Long Beach Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District provides an example of what can be done to improve student achievement at schools with some of our most diverse student populations. His commitment to closing the achievement gap is longstanding and well-known. He was recognized in both San Diego and Long Beach for using data and for reaching out to parents, classroom educators, and the community to find ways to improve schools. In 2002, Long Beach Unified School District was granted the Broad Prize, a national award for efforts to close achievement gaps. Carl Cohn's leadership was a major factor in making the district eligible for this distinction.

"Carl's experience and leadership skills will provide an invaluable voice to the National Technical Advisory Council as it grapples with ways to improve the federal accountability system leading up to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Carl's participation ensures that the Council will keep improvement of achievement for all students in the forefront of its efforts."