To hardly anyone's surprise, the Houston Independent School District won the first $500,000 Broad Prize for Urban Education. Funded by Los Angeles billionaire education reformer Eli Broad, the prize recognized Houston for improving student achievement and narrowing its achievement gaps, gains achieved largely through the leadership of then-superintendent Rod Paige. The money will be distributed to graduates of the class of 2003 in the form of scholarships based on scholastic achievement and financial need. "Houston hailed as nation's best urban school district," by Joshua Benton, The Dallas Morning News, October 3, 2002
