DALLAS ISD AND DISTRICT 6 Gearing up for STAAR

Gearing up for STAAR

The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams are quickly approaching and Dallas ISD students and staff have been working hard to prepare for success. STAAR replaced TAKS in 2012, and is designed to measure how well students have mastered the content taught during the current year, rather than the knowledge and skills learned over multiple years as in the previous state test. STAAR is a more rigorous test which better aligns with college and career readiness standards and puts a heavier focus on critical thinking.

This year, students will find a few changes to STAAR including a time limit for completing the test and a decrease in the number of End of Course exams. Students will have a four-hour time limit, with the exception of English I and II, which will have a five-hour limit. Another change of interest is the number of End of Course (EOC) exams high school students must take. Students are required to take five EOC exams, which include Algebra I, English I and II, Biology and U.S. History.

In addition to working with students to help them improve their academic performance, Dallas ISD held workshops and a live forum for parents earlier this month to provide information and strategies they can use to help their students prepare for the exams. Additional workshops are scheduled, 6 – 7:30 p.m., at the following locations:

•Seagoville High School, 15920 Seagoville Road — March 2

•W.H. Adamson High School, 309 E. Ninth St. — March 25

•Emmett J. Conrad High School, 7502 Fair Oaks Ave., — March 25

•Molina E Moises High School, 2355 Duncanville Rd., — March 26

•David W. Carter High School, 1819 W. Wheatland Rd., — March 27

You are encouraged to take advantage of all the resources you can find to help your student. Many schools provide after-school tutoring or Saturday school to reinforce what students are learning inthe classroom and assist those who may need additional help. Review sample test questions, student tutorials, answers to frequently asked questions, testing dates and other valuable resources at: www.dallasisd.org/staar

In school news in District 6…

This month, Ronald E. McNair, Leslie A. Stemmons, Umphrey Lee, Thomas L. Marsalis and Barbara Jordan elementary school students received free eyeglasses compliments of the Essilor Foundation’s Kids Vision for Life program during mobile eye clinic visits at Dallas ISD elementary campuses.

Send a big cheer to David W. Carter and Justin F. Kimball athletes who signed college athletic scholarships at Dallas ISD’s National Signing Day Event, a memorable milestone opening the door to the promise of a college education through athletics.

February 28, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center features film-documented experiences of students district high schools represented,
including Carter and Kimball students who participated in a three-city tour reenacting the historic Freedom Rides.

Ronald McNair Elementary School and William H. Atwell Middle School are presenting a “living museum,” commemorating African American History Month at their campuses. Atwell students will dress up as important figures in Black history. The event includes student head-to-head trivia of Black history facts and a staff luncheon on February 21.

Dallas ISD Language and Literacy Arts Department is sponsoring a district participation of Read Across America. “Read Across Dallas ISD” will take place at many schools across the district on from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., February 28.

If you are interested in reading with our students for the event, sign up online via
https://www2.dallasisd.org/partners/careerday.cfm. Be sure to contact the school directly to confirm participation. For more information, call 972-925-2166.

Birdie Alexander Elementary School will host Muffins for Moms, also scheduled for February 28.

Dallas ISD’s 2014 graduating seniors are invited to apply for one of three $10,000 scholarships offered by the Sulentic Family Foundation. The deadline for submission of the application to high school counselors is Wednesday, Feb. 26. Winners will be notified by March 28, and scholarships will be awarded at the Dallas ISD 2014 Superintendent’s Scholarship Reception April 15, 2014.

Look for applications here http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX0100147/Centricity/Domain/3068/FINAL_2014_sulentic_scholar_application.pdf.