Dallas ISD is expanding a program that has proven to significantly reduce the number of disciplinary issues that happen in a classroom. Restorative practices, which was formerly referred to as restorative discipline, is designed to proactively address disciplinary and behavioral issues before they escalate. Dallas ISD piloted restorative practices at six schools last year and is implementing the program at an additional 14 schools this year. The district has also added a restorative practices specialist to help implement the program at the schools. Middle school classrooms that used restorative practices last year saw a 64-percent reduction in in-school suspensions and…

The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees reorganizes with a new slate of officers, at the first board meeting of the academic year. The newly elected officers for the 2016-2017 school year are as follows: Dan Micciche, Board President Edwin Flores, First Vice President Audrey Pinkerton, Second Vice President Jaime Resendez, Secretary

Dallas ISD adds fun to learning by providing opportunities for every student to participate in an extracurricular activity. The district believes fun and learning go hand in hand, both in the classroom and after-school. That’s a reason trustees set a goal that all students will participate in at least one extracurricular or co-curricular activity. To make that happen, the Student Activities department provides dozens of creative, fun and challenging activities for elementary and secondary students. Options include chess, robotics, math and science and other academic contests, debate, cheerleading, yearbook, newspaper and— and many more.   The team at Student Activities coordinates a year-round…

Parents and community members are invited to talk with district trustees and the architects and project managers charged with making the school improvements funded by the district’s $1.6 billion bond program approved last November. Plans call for construction of several new schools. A number of existing schools will receive classroom additions and upgrades to their lobbies and facades; others will get less visible improvements such as heating and air conditioning or plumbing upgrades. The meetings will give parents and community members information about projects scheduled in their school communities and the opportunity to make suggestions and ask questions about the…