Inside Dallas ISD

A leadership educational model coming to Julius Dorsey Elementary School next school year will expand innovative learning options for students in that community. “We are excited about the opportunity to provide the Pleasant Grove community with a great innovation school in their neighborhood,” said Principal Rubinna Sanchez. Dorsey Elementary, a neighborhood campus, will be an innovation school under the district’s Public School Choice initiative. Innovation schools are non-application based and offer additional educational models within their traditional curriculum, in order to provide more innovative options for families in their own backyard.  Staff at Dorsey Elementary will combine academics with social…

The Dallas ISD Special Education Department is excited to announce the upcoming Special Education Transition Fair 2021, taking place April 13–15 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. each day. This event will focus on helping families of students receiving special education services prepare their child for life after high school.  The three-day fair will feature guest speakers and interactive activities that target key topics and areas of support to ensure families are knowledgeable of resources needed for students to reach lifelong goals. Day #1–April 13th: GET READY Vocational and Information Sessions Day #2–April 14th: GET SET College, Career, and Military Readiness Day…

The application window is now open for students interested in joining the Oliver Wendell Holmes Humanities and Communications Academy family. Click here to apply! On her journey toward getting second place in the Dallas ISD spelling bee and then fifth place in the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee, Tanaya Walker thought several times about giving up. The Oliver W. Holmes Humanities/Communications Academy eighth-grader spent countless hours with her mentor, Jessica Govan, studying page after page of hard-to-spell words. And when she learned that the county spelling bee would be virtual, she wished she could compete on-stage in person. But Walker kept going and,…

A survey of about 60,000 Dallas ISD students in grades 3–12 shows promising results that the district’s comprehensive efforts to focus on social and emotional learning is paying off. In three out of four categories, district students report having a more positive view than the average national student in areas such as social awareness and supportive relationships. Dallas ISD adopted an SEL policy in 2016. From respect agreements and weekly lessons to family engagement, SEL practices are built into instruction throughout the day. The district prioritized SEL during the pandemic for both at-home and on-campus learners. “We know that our…