Task Forces The Council of the Great City Schools established five special task forces in 1998 and 1999 to address major issues facing big-city school districts. Created were a School Finance Task Force to explore ways to challenge urban school funding inequities around the nation and an English Language Learners and Bilingual Education Task Force to focus on issues around the education of English language learners. A Task Force on Achievement Gaps was established to eliminate gaps in the academic achievement of students by race. A Task Force on Leadership and Governance addresses the increasing concern about issues surrounding urban school leadership and management; and a Task Force on Professional Development explores ways to give teachers and administrators the latest tools and techniques to improve student achievement.