News Briefs

Dallas ISD is inviting graduating seniors who practice recycling at their schools to apply for one of three $1,000 scholarships available from the district’s sanitation services vendor, Waste Management. Aaron Rankin, who coordinates Dallas ISD’s recycling programs, said Waste Management wants to recognize students who actively participate in school recycling efforts. “The company feels it’s important to reward these young people because they are our future,” he said. “Encouraging and rewarding them for taking part in recycling and green initiatives will hopefully motivate them to continue the behavior as adults.” Since not every school has a recycling program, Rankin said…

Barbara Jordan: Barbara Jordan was the first African-American congresswoman to be elected and then re-elected from the Deep South. Prior to her U.S. House election, she was the first African-American woman to be a Texas State Senator. Jordan retired from politics in 1978, but returned to Texas as a full-time professor and counselor to Texas Governor Anne Richards.

NBC DFW on Tuesday spotlighted an innovative district program that helps parents better prepare to work with their students at home. The news report details how the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program sends coaches to the homes of at-risk children between the ages of 3 and 5. The coaches then train the parents on how to teach their children in subjects such as reading and basic math. For the full report from NBC DFW, click here.

The Office of Family and Community Engagement is offering morning PREP U All-STAAR Workshops at various locations the week of Feb. 16-20 and March 23- 27 so parents can learn about changes for 2015 in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. The 2015 administration of STAAR will begin on March 30. During the workshops, parents will be able to view sample STAAR questions in reading, math and writing and learn about the passing standards for the test. Dallas ISD representatives will be on site to answer any questions parents might have, including how the STAAR impacts high school…