A group of nearly 500 Dallas ISD teachers will gather tonight to review and weigh in on several district initiatives, including the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) plan that the district launched last week. The teachers known as Teacher Excellence Initiative (TEI) campus experts will weigh in on retention bonuses and stipends offered to DTR-eligible teachers who serve on the six ACE campuses. The ACE plan aims to equip campuses where students are struggling academically with strong leaders and teams of highly effective teachers. TEI campus experts will also provide input on the proposed changes for the 2015–16 school year regarding…

Pre-K Registration Week is underway in Dallas ISD, and district elementary schools are inviting parents to submit applications to enroll their child in pre-K for next school year. Registering your child for pre-K is an opportunity that parent Brittany Brown says is too good to pass up. Brown, whose daughter Za’naae attends pre-K at Arthur Kramer Elementary, says it’s crucial to ensure that students get the all-important academic head start that pre-K provides. She said she’s witnessed the benefits firsthand. Just since the start of school in August, Brown said her daughter has grown by leaps and bounds. “She speaks Spanish and…

As part of the Teacher Excellence Initiative, the district is committed to identifying, supporting and rewarding effective teachers. But how, exactly, are effective teachers identified? Teachers are evaluated on their performance in the classroom, student achievement results, and for many, the results of a confidential student perception survey that will be administered early next month. Here is what to know about the survey. What is the student perception survey? The student perception survey is a research-based survey that will be administered to students in grades 3-12 and be available in English and Spanish. Each student will complete two surveys. The…

From April 6–11, Dallas ISD is holding its weeklong effort to encourage parents to enroll their children in pre-K. Here are the details for Pre-K Registration Week. Why should I register my child in pre-K? Accepted research shows that 85 percent of a child’s brain development occurs in their first five years. Simply put, the research proves that quality early education is critical in preparing children for lifelong success. Where do I register? You can register your child for pre-K at your local elementary school. To learn your local elementary school and its location, click here. Can I register at…