Learning, diversity and choice

The notion of "school choice" stirs up heated debates.

Still, when the goal of choice in public education is to achieve more socio-economic diversity for the good of all students, we should pay attention.

Schools with a mixed population economically perform better for everyone.

  Let me know what you think of this?

 

Important school bond issue coming in November!

In August, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees voted to bring a $1.6 billion bond proposal to the citizens of Dallas on November 3. The proposal is based on the recommendations of the Future Facilities Task Force, commissioned last fall by the superintendent and comprised of community members appointed by the Board of Trustees to represent each of their districts.

  The proposed bond for Dallas ISD is anticipated to fund new schools, expanded academic programs, and facility improvements at almost every district school.

The Hub contains an interactive online map that details the proposed projects that are currently anticipated to be funded with bond proceeds. Click here to view the map and learn more.

If you need additional information, please visit www.dallasisd.org/bond2015. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at pblackmon@dallasisd.org.

Thank you, Paula C. Blackmon
Senior Executive Director Intergovernmental Affairs and Community Relations
Dallas Independent School District
 

The challenges facing our children. . .and us

Consider the statistical dimensions of our challenge in Dallas County:

• 2.5 million people live in the County
• 800.000 students aged 0-22
• 500,000 children in grades K-12
• 91% attend public schools
• 70% qualify for free and reduced lunch program
• 12 of 15 school districts have more than 50% of children in poverty; 70% are economically disadvantaged
• Only 13% of students graduate college/career ready with only 4% of our African American/Hispanic students who represent 80% of all 1st graders
• By 4th grade only 1 in 3 students read at a level on track for college
• Only 1 of 7 early childcare centers have any type of quality rating
• Every year 5,000 students fail to graduate from high school
• Fewer than 50% of higher ed students graduate with a degree
• $5 billion of lifetime income loss to our region of each annual class of high school dropouts
• 344,314 total students not attaining post secondary readiness by high schcool graduation

--Source:  Commit!

Screening "Revisionaries"

CitySquare is hosting a fundraiser and movie screening of Scott Thurman's important documentary!

When:   Thursday, October 11, 2012

Where:  The Magnolia - West Village 3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite #100, Dallas, Texas

Agenda:
6:30 - 7:00 – Doors Open
7:15 - 8:45 – Movie Screening
8:45 - 9:30 – Community Conversation/Town Hall - Style Discussion

Featured guests include: Scott Thurman – the film's director; Mavis Knight – Board Member, Texas State Board of Education; Ron Wetherington – Board Member of Texas Freedom Network, Professor at Southern Methodist University; Rev Gerald Britt – VP of Programs and Public Policy (CitySquare), and  moderated by James Washington - Publisher with the Dallas Weekly

 Cost: $20 Price includes small popcorn and a drink.

About the Film:  Once every decade or so, 15 elected citizens influence what is taught to every child in the state of Texas. The often highly politicized, state education board does so by rewriting the teaching and text book standards for millions of children with most of America following suit. Because Texas is one of the nation’s largest textbook markets, as well as the deciding factor on which books its public schools buy, publishers typically print editions for all of America based on the Board’s rulings. “The Revisionaries”, a new, award-winning documentary, tracks the rise and fall of these controversial, secreted figures in American education while proving that political power and ideological beliefs indeed still have an immense effect on what our children are learning every day. It is the first-ever film to spotlight all that surrounds Texas’ bruising textbook battles, and to take seriously their far-reaching impact on public education across the country.