Since school buildings unexpectedly closed in March due to the Covid-19 threat, Dallas ISD has distributed over 22,000 mobile internet hotspots and cellular-enabled devices to students lacking reliable internet service at home. This week Dallas ISD received its Operation Connectivity order of 10,000 additional mobile internet hotspots and plans to expedite processing by shipping those units directly to student homes. Dallas ISD Chief Technology Officer Jack Kelanic said a vigorous communications campaign sponsored by local elected officials regarding connectivity in late August led to a surge in demand. “To that point we weren’t sure exactly which students needed the hotspots.…

Three Dallas ISD schools have earned the National Blue Ribbon School award! Henry W. Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College High School, and Edward Titche Elementary School are the district winners. The U.S. Department of Education awards the Blue Ribbon recognition to schools where students perform at very high levels or where exemplary progress is being made toward closing achievement gaps. Damien Stovall, who served as principal of Titche Elementary until becoming a Dallas ISD executive director this school year, said he is still in disbelief about the Blue Ribbon nomination. After constantly being rated as…

With students moving between certain grade levels having the option of on-campus learning starting Monday, Sept. 28 and many other students returning to school the following week, we have compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about on-campus learning. Visit www.dallasisd.org/reentry for a continually updated FAQ. Do students and staff have to wear face masks at school? All students and staff are required to wear face masks at school. Health experts say that mask wearing is one of the most effective tools available to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The district will issue each student and…

After meeting with principals and focus groups, preparing safety protocols, and reviewing campus space available for social distancing, Dallas ISD is proposing a hybrid learning model for all high schools and at least one elementary school when students return for on-campus learning Oct. 5. The proposed hybrid model is designed to reduce the number of students on campus at any one time by dividing students into two cohorts and alternating time on campus and distance learning for each cohort. High school principals strongly support this model as important to promoting safety because they expect that more students will return to…