1 Aug 2002
Superintendent Says Students, Teachers Must Strive To Improve As State Adopts New Assessment System
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Moses on Thursday said the work teachers and students have done to improve their accountability ratings is to be commended, and encouraged students and teachers to work harder in the next year as rising academic standards and expectations are included in the new state assessment called TAKS.
The accountability ratings released from the state on Thursday show that the district has 27 schools rated as "exemplary," 40 rated as "recognized" and 15 rated as "low-performing." District officials noted that the "hospital/home-bound school" noted by TEA is not a school and should not be counted.
The ratings are based on a statewide system that takes into account a school's TAAS scores and dropout rate. There are four classifications with exemplary being the highest, and low-performing being the lowest. Most DISD schools were rated as "acceptable."
Moses said the district likely would be making appeals for Pricilla L. Tyler Elementary, which was rated as recognized, and City Park Elementary, which was rated as low performing. The superintendent said the district also would consider removing Middle College out of an alternative certification program. Had the school not been in the program it would likely have been rated as exemplary and not acceptable.
The superintendent commended the board of trustees for its support for the district's staff and students, and said he looked forward to working with the newly elected board to address the challenges of the future.
"We have had a board of trustees that has understood the importance of focusing on academic achievement and ensuring that our boys and girls get the best education possible," Moses said. "I am sure the newly elected board will continue to share that commitment and dedication to excellence and achievement in the DISD."
The superintendent also said that the next couple of years are going to be challenging in light of the new state assessment and the rise in standards and expectations.
"Until our teachers and students are given the opportunity to make the shift between the TAAS and TAKS and the expectations that go along with the new test, there may be some anxiety among educators," Moses said. "We all must be mindful that the academic playing field is going to be readjusted and until everyone is able to adapt to the new system, there is going to be the appearance that school systems across the state are not doing as well. DISD is not likely to be an exception."
To help ease this situation, the Texas Education Agency already has announced a freeze on accountability ratings for next year. "But we're not going to rest on this as a crutch," Moses said. "We must always strive to do our best, whether we're a teacher, student or parent of a student in the district. We must always be finding new ways to challenge our students to do their best."
The superintendent said that 2002 has been a good year for DISD students. For the second consecutive year, district students in all accountability categories passed TAAS at the highest levels ever on all tests taken, reading and mathematics. In writing, African-American and white students scored at the highest levels ever.
Moses also pointed out that the district continues to narrow the achievement gap in reading and mathematics between white and minority students.
The district's exemplary schools are: School of Business and Management, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, School for the Talented and Gifted, School of Science and Engineering, Magnet Center for Public Services: Government, Law and Law Enforcement, School of Education and Social Services, School of Health Professions, Dealey 7-8, Harry Stone 7-8, Longfellow, Travis TAG 7-8, Dade, DeGolyer, Douglass, Frazier, James, Harris, Hotchkiss, Stonewall Jackson, Mount Auburn, Navarro, Pease, Rhoads, Rice, Starks, Travis TAG 4-6, and Wheatley.
The district's recognized schools are: Carter, A. Maceo Smith, Kimball, Lincoln, Seagoville, Skyline, W.T. White, School Community Guidance Center, Dallas Environmental Academy, Nathan Adams, Arlington Park, Bethune, Bonham, Bryan, Carpenter, Carr, Casa View, Darrell, Dealey K-6, DeZavala, Hexter, Hooe, Martin Luther King, Kleberg, Kramer, Marsalis, Marshall, Oliver, Patton, Peabody, Ray, Reagan, Reilly, Russell, Stone K-6, Seguin, Turner, Tyler, Walnut Hill, and Whitney Young.
The district's low-performing schools are North Dallas High School; Hulcy Middle School; Hospital Home Bound; and Blair, City Park, Henderson, Hernandez, Hogg, Houston, Macon, Milam, Peeler, Rowe, Truett, Withers elementary schools.
There are 218 schools in the DISD.
The superintendent said the district will continue to focus on all three of the basics and ensure that all students, teachers and administrators know that the district can still do much better when it comes to educating the 164,000 students in the district.