Inside Dallas ISD

A new policy will increase access to high-quality free pre-K for Dallas-area families. The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees Thursday night approved a pre-K scholarship program that could positively impact hundreds of families. Racial Equity Office Deputy Chief Leslie Williams and Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning Derek Little said the pre-K scholarship policy will help address structural racial inequities and bring the long-lasting benefits of Dallas ISD pre-K to more families. “It’s to the advantage of our district and our students to have as many students participate in our pre-K program as possible,” Williams said. “We know the data shows…

A free enrichment camp at Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center is keeping over 100 students engaged in learning during the summer break. In partnership with the non-profit Frazier Revitalization and Dallas ISD Extended Learning Opportunities Department, the elementary school is hosting activities for Dallas ISD students in pre-K through fifth-grade. The camp takes place Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. until Aug. 1. The campus offers breakfast, lunch and a grab-and-go supper bag, and several diverse activities throughout the day. “I really believe that it helps the parents because it gives them a place for the kids to go…

More than 500 Dallas ISD students have enjoyed the chance-of-a-lifetime to work with Emmy Award-winner Curtis King to hone their passions for theater and art in the spotlight. The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) 34th Annual Summer Arts Institute is hosted in partnership with the Dallas ISD Extended Learning Opportunities Department. Based on their area of interest, students have the opportunity to learn and participate in the various areas of a full-scale musical production, such as dance, music, theatre, costume design, makeup, lighting, stage management, photography and film production. This year’s program will pay tribute to one of…

About 100 first- and second-grade students are enrolled in a Spanish Immersion Camp helping them become bilingual and biliterate. The camp gives students enrolled in the Two-Way Dual Language program an opportunity to keep practicing their Spanish during the summer break. This is the first year Dallas ISD has organized the camp taking place at two schools. Throughout the day, the teachers solely speak in Spanish. They organize activities that not only teach the students about the language, but also about the different cultures where Spanish is spoken. One of the instructors taught her students how to sing traditional children’s…