Forty-one schools have adopted an intersession calendar, which extends the school year to start at the beginning of August and end in late June. These are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the intersession calendar. Why are the schools extending the school year? Data shows the pandemic has seriously impacted student learning. Creating more time to learn is part of a comprehensive strategy Dallas ISD is taking to ensure students don’t fall behind because of the pandemic. What is the intersession calendar? The intersession calendar extends the school year to start Aug. 9 and end June 23. Select…

With data showing that prenatal to three-years-old is a critical period in a child’s educational development, Dallas ISD is launching an effort to connect young families with high quality early learning opportunities. District leaders briefed trustees on April 8 on Project Legacy 2050. Along with the coalition of partners, Dallas ISD wants to expand early learning opportunities to younger children to get them pre-k ready. “We want to make the experience of raising children easier for families by connecting them with partners and places that offer crucial services for the development of our youngest children,” Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova said.…

Dallas ISD has established an aggressive timeline to complete conversations toward a goal and support plan to eliminate suspensions in the 2021–2022 school year, while still having any serious infraction go through the disciplinary alternative education program. At the April 8 board briefing, district leaders told trustees that local and national data shows that Black and Hispanic students are disproportionately suspended. Acting Chief of School Leadership Orlando Riddick said it’s a moral imperative to rethink school discipline. “This is a different mindset,” Riddick said. “But we need to work to resolve the underlying issues students face instead of watching them…

As part of the “Finish Strong ‘21” campaign, Dallas ISD is urging all seniors to return to on-campus learning full time starting Monday, April 12. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this campaign. What is the “Finish Strong ‘21” campaign? The Finish Strong ‘21 campaign is Dallas ISD’s effort to get as many high school students as possible back to in-person instruction, 5 days a week, beginning on April 12th.  The priority will be for seniors to return to ensure they are on-track to graduate and to give them a memorable end to their…