What is the Dallas Achieves Commission?
The Dallas Achieves Commission was organized by Superintendent Hinojosa and approved by the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees in order to provide community support around the goal to transform the Dallas Independent School District into one of the country’s top performing urban school districts within the next five years.
This goal means that every child in the Dallas ISD system graduates and is college and work force ready. It is
a collaborative effort of the Foundation for Community Empowerment with the co-sponsorship of Dallas ISD, Texas Instruments and the National Center for Educational Accountability.
Why was the Commission formed?
The Commission was formed in order to bring the entire community together in support of Dallas ISD efforts to ensure that all children in Dallas have the opportunity to achieve their maximum life potential through high academic achievement.
What leads to high academic achievement?
The foundational premises leading to high academic achievement include:
- Empowered principals as instructional leaders
- Administrative structures supportive of campus leadership
- Data and best practices driven approaches
- Common curriculum and instruction across campuses
Who is serving on the Dallas Achieves Commission?
Over 60 members are currently serving on the Commission representing a cross-section of the community that includes: business and faith community, philanthropy and media; representation from key Dallas ISD related groups such as parents, principals, teachers, and students; political leaders and elected officials.
The Commission’s Co-Chairs are Arcilia Acosta, Pettis Norman and J. McDonald Williams
What is the structure of the Commission, how will it report its findings and than what will happen?
The project team will conduct the research and best practice study. Then they will make an initial set of recommendations to the Commission. The Commission will review the recommendations of the project team
and prepare a set of recommendations for the Superintendent. The Superintendent will review the Commissions recommendations and make the decision to accept or reject the Commission’s findings and will send them on to the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees for an up or down vote.
Will the report be made available to the public?
Absolutely. All findings will be released when the commission completes its work on Phase 1. It is very important that the community understand and works together to ensure that every student in the Dallas ISD graduates & is college and/or workforce ready.
There have been many committees, programs and commissions in the past, what makes the Dallas Achieves Commission different?
First of all everyone seems to be in agreement that we are after an “extreme makeover” for the Dallas ISD. We are not about tinkering on programs and revisiting the same old problems but the opposite, a transformational view is being taken by the Commission, the Superintendent and the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.
The Commission has the skills, experience, and resources to bring about the change required. There is strong support from the Dallas ISD management, board and the community. The pace is fast which allows change in the upcoming school year. Finally, the Commission has put into place a fair and just process to affect this makeover.