The Prize: Who's in Charge of America's Schools

The Prize chronicles an ambitious $200 million plan to transform Newark, New Jersey's public school system, launched in 2010 by Mayor Cory Booker, Governor Chris Christie, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Journalist Dale Russakoff follows this reform effort over five years, documenting the key players, political forces, and community dynamics that shaped its implementation. The narrative tracks how national figures with competing visions tried to overhaul one of America's most troubled school districts, while local educators, parents, and students grappled with the real-world impact of these changes. Through extensive reporting and hundreds of interviews, Russakoff captures both the high-level policy debates and ground-level realities in Newark's classrooms. The story moves between gleaming corporate boardrooms where philanthropists and politicians plot strategy, and Newark neighborhoods where families face daily educational challenges. The book examines how the reform effort affected teachers, administrators, and most crucially, the city's 40,000 students. The Prize raises fundamental questions about education reform, philanthropy, and the complex interplay between outside expertise and local knowledge in efforts to improve public institutions. The account serves as a case study of the opportunities and obstacles in American urban education reform.

Readers found the book provides a detailed look at education reform through the lens of Mark Zuckerberg's $100M donation to Newark schools. The reporting illuminates the disconnect between top-down policy changes and classroom-level realities. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex education policy - Balanced portrayal of multiple stakeholders - Strong investigative journalism - Focus on both systemic issues and individual stories Common criticisms: - Lacks proposed solutions - Too much emphasis on political figures - Could have included more teacher perspectives - Ends without clear resolution Notable reader comment: "Shows how good intentions and big money aren't enough to fix broken systems" - Goodreads reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (380+ ratings) NPR Readers' Choice: Best Books of 2015 The book resonated particularly with educators and policy professionals, who cited its accuracy in depicting education reform challenges.

Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools by Steven Brill This investigation follows several major figures in education reform through political battles, union negotiations, and classroom transformations across multiple states.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch A former federal education official documents her transformation from school reform advocate to critic while examining testing, choice, and accountability movements.

Despite the Best Intentions by John Diamond, Amanda Lewis An examination of racial inequality in education follows a suburban school district to reveal how institutional structures and everyday interactions create persistent disparities.

The Teacher Wars by Dana Goldstein This history of American public school teaching traces two centuries of education policy debates, reform movements, and controversies that continue to shape current classroom practices.

Ghetto Schooling by Jean Anyon A detailed study of Newark's educational system reveals how urban schools' problems stem from political and economic decisions made far beyond school walls.

🎓 Mark Zuckerberg announced his $100 million donation to Newark schools on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010, with then-Mayor Cory Booker and Governor Chris Christie present. 📊 Despite the massive investment, only about $20 million of the $200 million total (including matching funds) went directly to Newark classrooms and teachers. ✍️ Author Dale Russakoff spent four years embedded in Newark's schools while researching the book, gaining unprecedented access to Zuckerberg, Booker, and Christie during the reform process. 💰 Approximately $20 million of the donation went to consultants, many of whom were paid up to $1,000 per day for their services in the reform effort. 🏫 Before the reform initiative began, Newark was already spending about $23,000 per student annually—among the highest rates in the country—yet only 23% of high school graduates were going on to four-year colleges.