Dallas ISD Trustee Joyce Foreman, District 6 Students Continue to Show Improvement on State Exams

The Dallas ISD continues to meet all four of the state’s accountability standards according to the Texas Education Agency’s recently released school accountability standards ratings.

In all four categories-student achievement, student programs, closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness-the Dallas ISD outperformed thresholds set by the state.

In 2014, fifteen Dallas ISD schools earned the maximum number of distinctions rating school performance in reading/language arts, math, science, social studies, student progress, closing performance gaps and post-secondary readiness.

Eighty percent or 184 district schools met state requirements-125 elementary schools, 31 middle schools and 28 high schools. While there is much more work to be done, these results are encouraging, particularly considering the more rigorous accountability standards of the State of
Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and end-of-course exams.

`According to the results, the district’s strongest performance was in the category of student progress where more than 97 percent of district campuses met the performance targets set by the state. More than 200 district campuses met or exceeded state performance targets for closing
performance gaps and post-secondary readiness. With regard to Destination 2020, the accountability ratings support the district’s efforts to
help students move toward college and career readiness.

The community’s support is essential to keep our students moving forward. Never doubt that you can make a difference. Whether you choose to volunteer to tutor students, be more active in your own student’s education or to support Dallas ISD schools and programs in other ways, I hope you will do so with a spirit of accountability. Our students’ tomorrows depend on it.

In District 6 news: Jimmie Tyler Brashear Elementary School students received more than 100 backpacks and additional school supplies donated by the Kiest Park Community Group to help them start school with adequate resources.

Each year, Kroger, in conjunction with other community partners, donates thousands of dollars in school supplies to Dallas ISD schools. This year, the Stuff the School Bus event contributed more than $87,000 worth of free backpacks and school supplies to 44,000 district students, including students from the following District 6 elementary schools-John W. Carpenter, Barbara Jordan, Umphrey Lee, Clinton P. Russell, Leslie A. Stemmons, T.G. Terry, Thomas Tolbert, Mark Twain and Martin Weiss.

Many campuses are hosting open house/meet the teacher events. Call your student’s school to find out the time, date and location of the event and make plans to attend to meet your child’s teachers and school administrators.

The first six weeks of the school year will end on Oct. 3, parents are encouraged to get involved in your school’s Parent Teacher Association and register for Parent Portal, an online tool that allows parents to monitor grades, attendance and communicate with their student’s teachers.

All junior and senior level high school students in the Dallas ISD are invited to attend the District wide College Fair to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 17 at the Ellis Davis Fieldhouse located at 9191 S. Polk Street. Students can register for the event through their campus counselor. Registration and transportation to the event are free.

Following the loss of three student athletes at Justin F. Kimball High School, the school and community showed an outpouring of love and support to those families through events held in remembrance of the students at, both, the junior varsity and varsity games versus David W. Carter High School.

The school has begun raising money to support the families during this time. Those interested, may donate online at http://www.gofundme.com/dwttds or visit any Wells Fargo Bank and specify the Justin F. Kimball High School Fallen Knights account #6261652694. All funds received will be divided among the three families affected in this tragedy.