Dallas ISD Wins 2023 TAEA District of Distinction Award

Dallas ISD has won the TAEA District of Distinction Award for its leadership in promoting visual arts education integrated with a well-rounded curriculum. With 285 art teachers on 220 campuses, Dallas ISD emphasizes self-expression, creativity, and problem-solving through various artistic mediums. The program fosters critical thinking and communication through art, making it popular among the district's student population.

10 Dallas ISD Programs or Schools You Should Know About That Aren’t Magnet Schools

Dallas ISD offers a wide range of innovative educational opportunities for its students, beyond just the magnet schools. These opportunities include the Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern, Dallas ISD STEM Environmental Center, Montessori schools, career institutes, early college programs, and more. Programs such as these promote science and medicine, technology and STEM, college credit, etc.

Dallas ISD is focused on wellness across the district

The Dallas ISD emphasizes wellness techniques for students, teachers, and team members with some classrooms starting the day with mindfulness exercises led by teachers. Bishop Arts STEAM Academy holds morning meetings for sharing thoughts and emotions, fostering social and emotional growth. DISD central offices even provide private wellness rooms for meditation and self-care.

Governor Abbott Announces Over $2.8 Million In Career Training Grants To Southeast Texas Schools

Governor Greg Abbott announced the allocation of over $2.8 million in Jobs and Education for Texans grants to five Southeast Texas schools. The grants, presented by the Texas Workforce Commission, will facilitate career and technical education programs by funding equipment for training over 890 students in high-demand occupations. The goal is to provide Texas students with skills for well-paying careers, supporting both economic growth and job creation. The funded programs cover various fields such as electricians, registered nurses, production workers, industrial engineers, nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, and specialized roles.

Texas school districts sue state education commissioner over changes to A-F accountability system

Seven Texas school districts have filed a lawsuit against the state's education officials, challenging modifications to the A-F accountability system that grades school performance. The changes are feared to negatively impact districts' grades. The key issue is the retroactive application of higher standards for assessing high schools' preparation of students for post-graduation life. The lawsuit claims inadequate notice and violation of state law, and the districts seek a year's delay in implementing the new grading criteria for fairness.

Will Texas’ new fentanyl awareness curriculum for public schools succeed where other anti-drug messaging failed?

Texas has introduced the "One Pill Kills" anti-drug program in response to the fentanyl epidemic, aiming to educate students about the dangers of the synthetic opioid. This initiative is driven by rising fentanyl-related deaths among young people; however, mental health experts are concerned that the program might overlook underlying mental health issues that contribute to drug use. They suggest that addressing emotional regulation and mental health literacy might be more effective in combating substance abuse.

Teens Need to Start School Later. No More Excuses, Experts Say

Many teenagers struggle with early school start times that don't match their natural sleep patterns, and research suggests later start times benefit teens' health and academics. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends start times of 8:30 a.m. or later for middle and high schools. However, many districts are unable to implement this change due to obstacles like bus schedules and childcare disruptions.

Five things we’re watching as kids return to school

As schools reopen, they face significant challenges, including low test scores, school violence, teacher shortages, last year of Coronavirus relief money, and lagging enrollment. The pandemic has led to lower national test scores in reading and math, and enhanced security measures are being implemented due to youth violence. Despite fewer teacher resignations in some areas, thousands of vacancies remain, and K-12 public school enrollment still falls behind pre-pandemic levels by 3%.

Professional Development That Matters: What Teachers Say They Want

Teachers often find mandatory professional development (PD) unhelpful and not applicable to their needs. Teacher-led PD is becoming a trend, with some districts incorporating coaching cycles and in-house strategies to support teacher growth, creating platforms like DoubleDutyTeachers and organizing teacher conferences that focus on topics requested by teachers themselves. A growing number of educators also seek out useful informal PD through platforms like TikTok.