Boston welcomed more than 1,000 school leaders and other participants for a national urban education conference this week, with Mayor Michelle Wu emphasizing the pressures facing public schools as the gathering turned to artificial intelligence, academic achievement and district operations.
Boston Public Schools is hosting the Council of the Great City Schools’ 70th annual fall gathering. The conference began Oct. 21 and continues through Oct. 25 at the Boston Marriott Copley, bringing educators and administrators from large urban districts around the country to the city.
Speaking Thursday morning in a hotel ballroom, Wu described a difficult climate for public education and public service, according to the Boston Herald. She urged schools to serve as supportive places for their communities and stressed Boston’s commitment to strengthening public education.
The five-day program includes more than 200 presentations, the Herald reported. Topics range from academic performance and school security to support for English learners, disability services, school board leadership and decisions about school capacity.
AI takes a prominent place
Artificial intelligence accounts for nearly one-quarter of the planned presentations, BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper previously said, according to the Herald. Its role in education also extends beyond the conference’s administrator-focused sessions.
The council and the National Speech & Debate Association have organized a student showcase examining whether AI will strengthen or weaken democratic participation. Students representing Dallas and Denver will debate that question, with Boston students also participating in the program. Harvard freshman Anthony Babu is scheduled to moderate.
The conference’s featured speakers also include journalist Jorge Ramos and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, along with the musical act Black Violin, according to the council.
Boston highlights local work
For Boston, the gathering offers an opportunity to discuss district initiatives with peers. Wu returned to several themes from her Monday address on the city’s schools, highlighting recent BPS progress, the Herald reported.
Skipper pointed to Boston Family Days, which provides students with free admission to museums and cultural institutions. She also described school construction and renovation work over the past four years: two building openings, four substantial renovations and six additional new buildings in development, according to the Herald.
The council already has a connection to Boston’s school improvement efforts. In 2022 and 2023, it reviewed district transportation, safety programming and inclusive education. Those reviews helped shape subsequent BPS updates, the Herald reported.
The gathering also includes recognition for district leadership. Four superintendents were named finalists for the 2026 Green-Garner urban educator award: San Diego’s Fabi Bagula, Nashville’s Adrienne Battle, Denver’s Alex Marrero and Birmingham’s Mark Sullivan. The award presentation was scheduled for an Oct. 22 ceremony.
According to the council, each finalist receives a $2,500 scholarship funded by HMH to award to a student in their district. Scholastic funds an additional $10,000 scholarship for the winner to award.
What’s next: The debate showcase is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the conference hotel. Conference activities are set to conclude Sunday morning.
