A new Dallas ISD Montessori school is coming to Downtown Dallas.  The Board of Trustees on Dec. 19 approved a proposal to open the Montessori school next school year. With 2,035 applications for 400 seats this year at four schools, Dallas ISD has seen a big demand for its Montessori program. Montessori schools are designed for independent thinkers who enjoy hands-on, collaborative learning. “Montessori is sought out in our communities, no matter what part of town or what feeder pattern you look at,” said Dallas ISD Chief of Strategic Initiatives Brian Lusk. “This is one step toward making this innovative learning…

Dallas ISD encourages teachers and campus instructional coaches who aspire to be campus leaders to apply to one of the district’s partner principal preparation master’s programs. Dallas ISD partners with three university master’s degree programs: The Texas Principal Leadership Academy at the University of Texas at Austin, the Future Leaders Academy at the University of North Texas at Dallas and the Aspiring Leaders Program at Southern Methodist University. UT and SMU are currently accepting applications into their programs. Dallas ISD offers partial tuition reimbursement to district employees who go through one of its partner programs. Each partner program offers unique…

More than 20 schools during winter break will offer morning snack and lunch to all children and youth through age 18 to ensure no kid goes hungry over the holidays. Meals will be served Dec. 23, 26, 27 and 30 and Jan. 2 and 3. The morning snack will be served from 9–9:30 a.m. and lunch will be served from 12:30–1 p.m. The meals will provide an optimal blend of whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables, aimed at fighting hunger. Go here to learn more and see the schools participating in the winter break meals program.

For the first time since 2015, the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) received a rating increase by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global to AA+, one notch below the highest possible rating. The district previously held steady at a AA rating over the last four years. Additionally, S&P Global Ratings assigned its ‘AAA’ long-term and ‘AA+’ underlying ratings to Dallas ISD’S unlimited-tax school building bonds, series 2019. “The rating is confirmation of the strong financial condition, district leadership and overall market outlook for the Dallas community,” said Dwayne Thompson, chief financial officer for Dallas ISD.  “The stronger rating provides additional…