There’s a solution to the education crisis. It’s simpler than you think!

Read our Founder & CEO Abigail Williams's piece that was published in The Dallas Morning News making a compelling case for how community partnerships with Dallas ISD can close gaps and accelerate learning across our schools.

Three Dallas ISD schools named the best high schools in Texas and among the best in the nation

Thirty-six Dallas ISD schools were recognized in U.S. News & World Report's 2022 Best High Schools state and national ranking list of Texas Best High School rankings. Three scholars secured honors among the national rankings. Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center (TAG) has been named the best high school in Texas (No.11 nationally). Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School came in second place (No. 20 nationally), and the School of Science and Engineering (SEM) at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in third (No. 22 nationally). 

Dallas philanthropists Abby and Todd Williams receive 92nd Linz Award for contributions to education

For their continued philanthropic contributions to education in Dallas, Abby and Todd Williams received the 92nd Linz Award. The couple's contributions include: founding a K-12 public school that primarily serves low-income families in northwest Dallas, pushing the Texas Legislature for investments in education, sponsoring hundreds of scholarships to increase college accessibility for local students, supporting the Dallas Morning News Education Lab, and founding philanthropic organizations including United to Learn and The Commit Partnership.

North Texas election results: School districts

Saturday, North Texas voters went to elect school board trustees and city council members. The unofficial results are posted. In District 4, Camile White defeated incumbent, Karla Garcia.

Texas educators say immigrant children aren’t as much of a worry as state funding

Gov. Greg Abbott wants to overturn a 1982 court case that banned denying enrollment to unauthorized immigrant students, because of its ‘extraordinary’ expense. Many educators say those students aren’t a financial burden.

Texas moves one step closer to adopting a new, more rigorous teacher certification exam

The State Board for Educator Certification, voted to require a new teacher certification exam. The Educative Teacher Performance Assessment or edTPA exam, would replace the old Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam in hopes to better prepare new teachers for the profession. If considered and approved in June by the State Board of Education, the edTPA will become an optional test next year and fully implemented in 2024-25.

STAAR quickly approaching for Texas students. Schools brace for more low scores due to pandemic

Students across Texas are beginning to take their STAAR test in early May. This year's test will give educators a better idea of challenges and how to pivot pandemic recovery after two tough years of dealing with COVID-19 disruptions. The TEA will grade campuses for the first time since the pandemic issuing letter-grades A through C, other grades will instead receive “Not Rated” labels. 

The pandemic erased a decade of public preschool gains

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University, found in its 2020-2021 annual review that state-based preschool programs suffered a large decline in enrollment, causing drops in state funding. Pre-K enrollment dropped 18% from the year prior and for the first time in 20 years.

Seeking College-Admissions Edge, More Students Take Gap Year

With some highly desired schools accepting below 4% of applicants, more students are pursuing a gap year to play the odds and apply to elite schools later on. According the the nonprofit Gap Year Association, during the 2020-2021 school year, 130,000 students deferred enrollment and took a gap year to have the full experience. This year, the number of gap year students is on pace to be the same or even higher.

What if College Were Free? This State Is Trying to Find Out.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced a multi-billion dollar federal initiative to renovate schools across the United States. Funds are spread across several government agencies and include grants for HVAC upgrades, the purchase of electric buses, and lower power costs by introducing LED lights and solar panels to campuses. K-12 school buildings currently consume 8% of fuel used by non-residential buildings in the U.S.