Greetings, District 2! I hope your new year is off to a strong start and that your heart is in it as we head into February. Please find news on what the Dallas ISD Board has been up to below.
Dallas ISD District 2 Monthly Updates:
- Retention Attention: Dallas ISD is retaining our most effective teachers at a rate above 90% annually, with a lower attrition rate than peers across the state, as reported in the most recent Texas Academic Performance Reports, published by the Texas Education Agency. Identifying and retaining effective teachers and providing financial incentives for them to work in lagging schools raises achievement, as discussed in this National Bureau of Economic Research Study.
- Inspired: Writing to help others by sharing her story, Woodrow Wilson High School senior Delila V.was inspired by a caring fourth grade teacher to write her recently published story for children, “In Charge of My Life.”
January Board Meeting Debrief: During last month’s Dallas ISD Board of Trustees meeting, several key topics were discussed. Here are a few highlights:
- College enrollment progress: Last year, 59.4% of Dallas ISD 2023 seniors enrolled in college, up 3% from the prior year. An amazing $425 million in scholarships were offered, which was a 37% increase from $310 million the year before. Additionally, 88% of seniors applied to three or more colleges, and fewer students needed remedial classes as measured by an increase in TSI readiness from 33% to 58%. This progress is a direct result of board Investment in greater student access to college counseling.
- Student Academic Progress Report: Mid-year kindergarten through eighth grade student progress measures in reading and math showed progress in both areas across all grades. Strategic adjustments are being made based on data to support and accelerate progress.
- Strategic staffing: Measuring teacher effectiveness allows us to assess progress in our effort to have strong educators in our highest needs classrooms. With active recruiting, curricular support, hand scheduling, stipends and targeted professional development strategies aimed at increasing the number of proficient teachers paired with highest need classrooms, we are still working to close the gap.
- Dallas ISD Bond Construction update: Across the district, campus upgrades funded by the proceeds from the 2020 Bond continue. More details can be found on the Bond 2020 dashboard.
Best,
Sarah Weinberg
Stay up to date on the news from the district by following us on social media @Dallasisd and @dallasisdEspanol.
