For students attending school in person, the district will continue to follow extensive safety protocols and, starting in late November and early December, will offer rapid COVID-19 tests as part of the pilot program created by Gov. Abbott, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. However, if parents want to go back to virtual learning, they can do so by contacting their child’s school. Please remember that, to revert back to in-person learning, students will have to wait until the end of the nine-week grading period.
Finally, to provide as much information as possible to the public, the district launched a COVID-19 dashboard to track positive cases at schools and facilities across the district. Data is derived from internally confirmed positive self-reporting information based on students attending in-person classes and extracurricular activities. The platform is available in English and Spanish, and is updated daily at 5 p.m.
To access the dashboard, visit the Dallas ISD main website, or click here.
Dallas ISD reaffirms its commitment to racial equity
On Monday, Oct. 19, Dallas ISD held the first in a series of meetings to address historic racial inequities that have negatively affected Black students and English learners. In this first session, titled “Using Cultural Intelligence to Create an Anti-Racist School Community,” our district leaders promised to improve the environment of equity in every aspect of district operations by training staff, enacting new norms and actively measuring progress and accountability.
As part of these efforts, the district’s Communication Services launched the “Voices” initiative—a one-stop webpage designed to highlight and share stories that promote understanding, hope, unity, and equity throughout the district. To learn more about Voices, visit the website https://www.dallasisd.org/voices. Likewise, the district’s Teaching and Learning Division launched the initiative “I Matter, We Matter, Words Matter.” This program will prepare teachers to use culturally authentic texts written by Black authors to help students see themselves mirrored in the books they read.
Through these and other initiatives, Dallas ISD reaffirms its commitment to amplify the diverse backgrounds, ideas, voices and perspectives that need to be heard in our district.
Discover Dallas ISD goes virtual this year
The application period is now open for students and their families to apply for one of Dallas ISD’s specialty school programs for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents can join a virtual Discover Dallas ISD webinar to learn more about the more than 100 choice and specialty school programs offered in the district, as well as the new one-stop online application form. Webinars are scheduled throughout the application period, from Nov. 3 to Jan. 31. To register for these events, visit the website https://www.dallasisd.org/choosedallasisd.
Stay up to date with district news by following us on social media @Dallasisd and @dallasisdEspanol.
Edwin Flores, Trustee District 1
