Central Staff News

Dallas ISD is expanding an initiative that helps boost student achievement by staffing struggling schools with strong leaders and high-performing teachers.

The district launched the ACE program, which stands for Accelerating Campus Excellence, in the 2016–2017 school year at seven historically low-performing schools. Dallas ISD this school year added an additional six schools to the ACE program. With ACE campuses showing significant improvement in student achievement, the district is building on this success by bringing these additional six schools into the ACE program for the 2018–2019 school year:

• Cesar Chavez Learning Center
• Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center
• L.L Hotchkiss Elementary School
• Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
• Elisa M. Pease Elementary School
• Joseph J. Rhoads Learning Center

These six schools will be part of an ACE 3.0 hybrid model call “ACE Leadership” aimed at continuing to improve student achievement with a focus on building a foundation for college readiness with a strong focus on developing teacher leadership. The ACE 3.0 program will incentivize top teacher leaders, principals and campus leaders to study leadership, curriculum alignment, data and other best practices and then apply these practices to improve teaching and learning on their campuses.

ACE is part of Dallas ISD’s vision to prepare every student for college and the workforce based on placing an effective teacher in every classroom, equipping schools with strong leadership teams, and holding high expectations for both staff and students. The ACE plan was developed to help schools improve academically and better serve district students.

For those interested in learning more about the ACE program, visit http://dallasisd.org/ace.

Dallas ISD trustees were briefed on a proposal to open three new transformation schools in August with learning models that have been successful on other campuses.

Transformation schools offer specialized academic programming, similar to magnet schools, but without academic entry requirements. The three new proposed transformation schools are:

• A single-gender elementary school for boys that would mirror the successful model of Solar Preparatory School for Girls;
• A personalized learning elementary school that would mirror the successful model of Dan D. Rogers Elementary School. The new school would feed into Ignite Middle Schooland IDEA;
• A pre-K–8 Montessori school in northwest Dallas.

If approved, the schools would open in August and serve students in grades pre-K–2, and then build out in following years to serve additional grades.

Under the current proposal, Sam Houston Elementary would consolidate with Esperanza Medrano Elementary and Onesimo Hernandez Elementary would consolidate with Maple Lawn Elementary. The Houston and Hernandez campuses would then house two of those transformation schools.

Dallas ISD will hold a public hearing to share information with the community about the recommended school consolidation plans for Houston and Hernandez elementary schools. The hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., March 22, 2018, at 5151 Samuell Blvd.

Persons interested in making comments at the public hearing must register to speak by contacting the Board Services office at 972-925-3720, starting Monday, March 19 through 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

The campuses will also host community meetings:

Hernandez: 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, at the school, 5555 Maple Ave.

Houston: 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 20, at the school, 2827 Throckmorton St.

Medrano Elementary: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the school, 2221 Lucas Drive.

Maple Lawn: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the school, 3120 Inwood Road.

Details on the proposed new schools followed a presentation to trustees on the high interest in Dallas ISD choice schools. More than 13,500 students applied to attend a Dallas ISD choice school—which includes magnets, early college high schools and transformation schools—during the application window that was open Dec. 1–Jan. 31.

Here is a breakdown on how many students applied to the choice schools:

• 5,235 students applied to early college high schools;
• 9,535 students applied to magnet schools
• 2,305 students applied to transformation schools

These presentations were part of a March 8 board workshop on how Dallas ISD can bring more students into the district. Go here to see the details of the board workshop.

The Dallas ISD United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Workplace Campaign kicked off on Feb. 15. The campaign is an opportunity for district employees to donate to scholarships to help deserving Dallas ISD seniors of all races attend college.

Dallas ISD campus employees can donate to the campaign by contacting their campus or department’s UNCF Representative.

This year’s UNCF Workplace Campaign theme is Ready. Set. Give!, and the goal this year is to raise $50,000.

Funds raised by each campus will be used as scholarships for the graduating students of the high school within the feeder.  A running scoreboard on how much each high school feeder has raised is available here.

Go here to learn more about the UNCF Workplace Campaign. April 16 is the deadline to contribute to the campaign.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has issued a statement about the Feb. 14 shootings at a high school in Florida.

“Amidst heavy hearts today, Dallas ISD joins in mourning with the Broward County community in the wake of Wednesday’s tragic attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The senseless loss of so many lives is a national tragedy that is especially difficult for everyone connected to schools.

“Student safety is Dallas ISD’s top priority. Campuses are trained and equipped to support students by teaching and modeling social and emotional skills. Teachers, students and staff are always encouraged to monitor the school environment and to bring to the attention of administrators and security any potentially troubling behavior.

“In the wake of this horrible event, Dallas ISD is reviewing all safety and security procedures to ensure students, staff and community remain safe. Additionally, counselors stand ready to assist any students experiencing emotional distress.”

In an effort to ease the uncertainty that many families throughout the county, including those in Dallas ISD, face due to the recent changes to the DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Act), Dallas ISD launched dallasisd.org/daca, a web page with resources, and information for those who are impacted.

“I’ve had a lot of questions from the community about what will happen to them if DACA goes away,” said Superintendent Michael Hinojosa during a presentation of the resources page to the Board of Trustees. I tell them “do not panic!”

Hinojosa stated that if the federal government does not approve a plan for individuals under DACA, many school districts would be impacted in multiple ways.

While Dallas ISD does not track the number of undocumented students, the district has around 70,000 English Language Learners (not all under DACA). Meanwhile, the district has 78 employees under DACA, 36 of them are teachers.

“Their contributions, both in and outside the classroom, are vital to prepare our students to become future leaders,” said Superintendent Hinojosa in a letter included on the web page. “As Congress makes a decision on the future of DACA, our attorneys will continue working to determine how we can best support these valuable employees.”

The page, which is in English and Spanish, includes frequently asked questions to help school staff address questions from their specific community. A list of community organizations, which provide immigration services is also included, as well as a list of scholarship opportunities for undocumented students and personal stories.