Local News

Metal detectors, door checks, iPads: How Dallas plans to keep kids safe this school year

Dallas ISD is stepping up security measures to keep students and teachers safe. All middle school and high school students are required to use clear or mesh backpacks and the district plans to inspect all exterior doors twice a week. All campuses will conduct four safety drills during the first month of school.

Read More From The Dallas Morning News

Dallas ISD unveils guide to building a successful Racial Equity Office

Together with Education Resource Strategies, Dallas ISD’s Racial Equity Office (REO) has released a guide for districts across the country ready to begin racial equity work. The REO is charged with creating high-quality learning experiences for all students, particularly those historically underserved such as Black and Emergent Bilingual students.

Read More From The Dallas ISD Hub
View the Guide Here

Dallas parents flocking to schools that pull students from both rich and poor parts of town

Dallas ISD currently has thirteen 50/50 Transformation schools where half of the students admitted must reside in one of Dallas’ socioeconomically disadvantaged census blocks, while the other half are drawn from more affluent areas. Students are admitted through a lottery system placing applicants in buckets based on neighborhood, level of parent education, median income, and other factors allowing for a more diverse student population. Research shows that kids from both low-income and affluent families do better in school when they’re in socioeconomically mixed classrooms.

Read More From The Hechinger Report
Statewide News

Texas schools grapple with teacher shortages as students return

Schools across Texas are working to fill positions amid a national teacher shortage. According to TEA, 12% of teachers left the profession during the 2021-2022 school year. Districts are upping recruitment efforts by offering signing bonuses, hiring retirees, and waiving certification requirements.

Read More From The Dallas Morning News

Not enough Texas? Concerns over history derail social studies revamp

The State Board of Education held a public hearing to address the draft of the new proposed social students curriculum that would eliminate stand-alone Texas history classes and instead address state history chronologically across several grades. Critics fear the new TEKs will water down Texas history lessons while supporters argue that Texas history should not be isolated from other history. SBOE is expected to complete revisions by the end of 2022 with new lessons rolling out in 2025.

Read More From The Dallas Morning News

Texas school ratings show improvement compared to 2019, but those in poorer neighborhoods still lag

According to the school ratings released by the Texas Education Agency, the number of schools that received the highest rating increased from 2019. Schools are rated A-C based largely on STAAR test results. Almost half of Texas schools received a B, while 7% were labeled “not rated”. Of those labeled “not rate”, over half of them were high-poverty schools. Results show large gains in reading and smaller improvements in math.  

Read More From The Texas Tribune
Find School Accountability Ratings Here
National News

Trained, Armed and Ready. To Teach Kindergarten

More school employees across the nation are carrying guns to defend against school shootings. 29 states allow individuals other than police or security officials to carry guns on school grounds. Ohio recently passed a new law allowing staff members to carry a weapon with no more than 24 hours of training, down from the previously required 700 hours. Limited research has found little evidence that armed staff members effectively prevent school shootings.

Read More From The New York Times

Unstructured, longer play time called key to early learning

Early Childhood experts are highlighting valuable skills learned through student-directed play that contribute to development in math and reading. With teachers serving as “guides on the sides”, students are given space to engage in deep learning and peer interaction. Using this method, children are free to develop skills such as self agency, collaboration, and risk-taking.  

Read More From K-12 Dive

Nearly $300 Million in New Grants Aim to Bolster Mental Health Services in Schools

The U.S. Department of Education announced two new grants that will offer nearly $300 million for mental health support in schools. These grants will fund efforts to increase the number of mental health professionals serving schools by focusing on recruitment and training. The Whitehouse also issued guidance to governors on how they can leverage Medicaid funding to deliver mental health services to students.

Read More From Education Week
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