1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1095
Fax 212 512 3514

For Immediate Release

New York, N.Y., January 29, 2002 — Recipients of the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education for the Year 2001 were announced today by Mr. McGraw in whose honor the Prize was established thirteen years ago. The awards are given annually to individuals who have shown an extraordinary commitment to the improvement of education. The announcement of the 2001 honorees was delayed due to the September 11th tragedy.

"Mary Catherine Swanson and Drs. Carl Cohn and Freeman Hrabowski work tirelessly to provide educational opportunities for our nation's young people. Their vision and commitment to ensuring all children succeed academically—regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic background—has improved the lives of thousands of students. Each honoree is an inspiration to all who care about America's future," said Harold W. McGraw, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

"The board of judges chose to focus on those who have made a commitment to "Closing the Gap" for the 2001 Prize and are recognizing three individuals who have made raising achievement among underserved students one of their primary goals," said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies. "We hope that by spotlighting the accomplishments the 2001 recipients have made to America's students, others will take notice of their efforts and will work towards a similar purpose."

A dinner at the New York City Public Library will be held this evening in the recipients' honor. Each will receive a $25,000 gift and commemorative sculpture. Guests will hear a performance by the LaGuardia High School Jazz Ensemble. In addition, principals and superintendents will be recognized for their courage on September 11th and their perseverance to continue their normal routines and uphold high educational standards in the weeks following the terrorists attacks.

The 2001 honorees are:

• Dr. Carl Cohn. As America's longest serving urban superintendent, Dr. Carl A. Cohn has made the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) a model for high academic standards and accountability. In Long Beach, with the most diverse population of any large city in America, Dr. Cohn has focused his efforts on transforming the district into a place where high expectations are set and students and teachers are given the resources to succeed.
  
  Cohn's district-wide accomplishments in the Long Beach public schools include record attendance, the lowest rate of student suspensions in a decade, a decrease in both the student failure and dropout rates, an end to social promotion, an increase in the number of students taking college preparatory courses, higher student achievement and significantly safer schools. His efforts have inspired leaders across the country to pursue meaningful school reform.
  

The Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education was established in 1988 to mark the Corporation's 100th anniversary, and to honor Mr. McGraw's lifelong commitment to education. The prestigious Prize, judged by a distinguished panel of educators, annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education in this country and whose accomplishments are making a difference today.

The two most recent U.S. Secretaries of Education were honored with the McGraw Prize in Education before each was appointed to their Cabinet positions. Richard Riley, who served as U.S. Secretary of Education from 1992 - 2000, received the Prize in 1989 for his work in raising educational standards in South Carolina where he was governor. Current U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige was honored last year for his success as superintendent of the Houston public schools.

Other past honorees include: The Honorable James B. Hunt Jr., former Governor of North Carolina; Barbara Bush, founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy; James P. Comer, M.D., Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University Child Study Center; Yvonne Chan, Ed.D., Principal, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center; and Mary E. Diaz, Ph.D., Dean of Education, Alverno College.

McGraw-Hill is now accepting nominations for the 2002 McGraw Prize in Education. Only individuals who are presently committed to the cause of education are eligible for nomination, and the deadline for this year's nomination forms is March 15, 2001. The 2002 honorees will be announced on September 24, 2002. Nomination forms can be downloaded from The McGraw-Hill Companies Web site at www.mcgraw-hill.com/prize2002.

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. Sales in 2000 were $4.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.