Welcome Back!

Dallas neighbors, I want to thank you for your continued support of Dallas ISD schools. The support I have seen from community groups and churches is unmatched, and I am truly grateful.  Returning students to in-person learning is a community effort.  It requires clear communication of important information and an understanding that situations can change rapidly.  I want to thank you for helping share information and for being there for each other throughout these first months of the semester.   This type of community collaboration will be needed throughout the school year to make this academic year a success.

As a reminder, there are three different Dallas ISD 2021-2022 school year calendars. The majority of campuses are on a base calendar but nine District 8 schools have adopted an alternative school year calendar to help combat missed learning. One alternative calendar is the intercession calendar. Sept. 20-24 marked the first of the intersession weeks, granting select students the opportunity for more personalized attention and fun instruction in small groups. Learn more and verify your school’s calendar at dallasisd.org/schoolcalendars.

Redistricting

Every 10 years, Dallas ISD participates in redistricting to better ensure appropriate representation based on the shifts in population trends. Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees Single Member Districts (SMDs) are periodically redrawn in response to changes in population as measured by the decennial federal census. This fall, we will have the opportunity to update the boundaries of District 8 and all trustee districts.  

What would you like to see? What would be best for our neighborhoods and community?

In the coming weeks and months, Dallas ISD will have a series of community meetings, tele-townhalls, and surveys to capture community feedback on what our trustee districts should look like for the next 10 years. Let us know your thoughts and stay tuned for ways to get involved at https://www.dallasisd.org/redistricting.

Project R.E.A.D.

An exciting transformation could be coming to a Dallas ISD library near you! District libraries will soon be reimagined through Project R.E.A.D., Dallas ISD’s library redesign initiative, the outcome of a yearlong partnership between Apple and Dallas ISD.

District 8 Project R.E.A.D. schools include Gabe P. Allen Elementary, Maple Lawn Elementary,  Eladio R. Martinez Elementary, Joe May Elementary, Montessori Academy at Onesimo Hernandez, Julian T. Saldivar Elementary, Ignite Middle, Spence Middle, and the Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy. Learn more at dallasisd.org/projectread.

Spanish Website for Dallas ISD Parents

As part of the Dallas ISD Hispanic Heritage Month campaign and the racial equity effort, the Dallas ISD Parent Advocacy Department has launched a Spanish web page where parents can find the most culturally relevant and current information. The page, dallasisd.org/PADRES, will include the Spanish weekly information sessions broadcast live on Facebook, Spanish podcast episodes, parent resources and Dallas ISD Department links all on one page.

For the latest districtwide information and events, parents may also visit the district’s main Spanish web page: www.dallasisd.org/espanol.

Teamwork helps eliminate backlog for unprocessed SPED referrals

Thanks to a team collaborating and working together, Dallas ISD has successfully eliminated a backlog of about 2,000 unprocessed referrals for Special Education services. Nearly 400 Dallas ISD employees have worked since late May to process the backlog.

As part of the district’s ongoing commitment to educate all students, last spring Dallas ISD discovered the backlog of about 2,000 unprocessed evaluations and referrals for Special Education services. The program is one of the district’s fastest-growing areas.

To process the backlog, the Dallas ISD Special Education team reached out by phone, email and in person to connect with every family with an unprocessed evaluation or referral. Parents then decided whether to consent or decline a student evaluation for Special Education services. The district has up to 45 days to complete the evaluation after the parent consents but is working to complete evaluations much sooner.