Employees, parents, students and community members are invited to provide feedback on proposed academic calendars for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. The features of the two calendars are virtually identical in terms of the number of student school days, holidays and winter breaks, teacher professional development days, etc. Copies of the calendars, a brief list of highlights, and a survey to collect feedback on the proposed calendars are available here through Friday, Nov. 10. The administration expects to submit the calendars to trustees for consideration at the December board meeting.

The Office of Transformation and Innovation (OTI) has kicked off the Public School Choice 4.0 Proposal Process. Through this process, educators have the opportunity to create high-quality, best-fit options for Dallas ISD students to realize their full academic potential. The past Public School Choice competitive proposal processes have ushered in schools ranging from those that anchor teaching and learning under a Personalized Learning model to a Leadership school to schools driven by a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) framework. Twenty-six interested applicants submitted Letters of Intent to OTI on Sept. 7. Of those, 18 were submitted for Innovation Schools,…

This week, students across Dallas ISD are sporting their favorite team jerseys, wearing their pajamas and having fun at activities planned to observe Red Ribbon Week. Behind this lighthearted celebration is the deadly serious issue of youth alcohol and drug abuse. To help educate students and parents, many schools are hosting assemblies and presentations about the benefits of living free of drugs and alcohol and the dangers of abuse. Since 1985, Red Ribbon Week has focused public attention on these dangers. Created in response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, Red Ribbon Week is now famous for the thousands who wear…