As we advance through this school year and the challenges caused by the pandemic, Dallas ISD is committed to ensuring the safety of our students and staff while they are in school.
For this reason, from Feb. 6-18, nine Dallas ISD schools will host COVID-19 vaccine registration events for parents and community members without internet access.
In District 1, W.T. White High School will host a registration event from 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 13. Families can also visit the following websites to register and get more information: https://www.dallasisd.org/vaccineregistration (English) and https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/74062 (Spanish).
Mitigating learning loss
District data has shown the pandemic is having a significant impact on students’ academic progress, either as a result of the challenges of remote learning or because students have been absent. Testing results show 50% of our students are worse off in math compared to last school year, and 30% are worse off in reading. To address this issue, the district is developing plans to help students recover from learning loss related to disruptions in instruction this year.
First, Dallas ISD launched a month-long effort, Operation Comeback, to help students re-engage and get back on track to continue their education. This effort includes phone calls and contact-free home visits to provide families useful information about how to obtain meals, wifi hotspots and uniforms, and how to track their child’s attendance and grades, among other topics.
Additionally, the Board of Trustees voted to adopt two optional school calendars for the next two school years to help mitigate learning loss. While the majority of schools will remain under the traditional calendar, some will have the option to rethink the school year and opt between two new models: intersession and school-day redesign.
These models will include extending learning periods and offer more-personalized approaches to help students. The district is engaging in an extensive outreach process with families, teachers and campus staff to finalize the list of schools operating under each of these calendars to support students who need the most help.
What’s new in District 1
Starting next school year, Dallas ISD will have a new Montessori Dual Language school in District 1 at the current E.D. Walker Middle School campus. This new school will feature both a Montessori curriculum and a Two-Way Dual Language program, offering students an independent learning environment and the opportunity to acquire two languages. E.D. Walker will remain designated as a neighborhood school. E.D. Walker currently offers three different pathways, which are set up to align with the pathways at W.T. White High School: two in performing arts and a Two-Way Dual Language pathway.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to celebrate some distinguished members of our district:
- Dominic Patermo, Harry C. Withers Elementary School, winner of the 29th Annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition
- Jeremy Lopez, from Jerry Junkins Elementary School, winner of the Math Olympiad in the fourth-grade category during the STEM Expo
- Sheel Sureka and Viena Porchia, Walnut Hill Elementary, first place and third place in the Science Fair for 3rd grade and 4th grade, respectively.
Stay up-to-date with district news by following us on social media @Dallasisd and @dallasisdEspanol.
Dallas ISD Trustee
Edwin Flores, District 1
