24 Jan 2007
Recommendations include lowering the student/teacher ratio
DALLAS–The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees have received recommendations from a group of administrators to redesign the high schools academically.
After research, meetings and discussions, Dallas ISD administrators came up with several recommendations which include increasing the number of core content teachers to lower the student/teacher ratio.
Also, the plan would include adding a collaboration period for teachers to allow them the time to plan lessons and have discussions about the best ways to teach content. Another recommendation is to identify majors for high-skill, high wage careers and market them to parents and students in the same way that magnet programs are promoted.
"These changes would increase student achievement, would also bring a more rigorous and relevant learning environment to high school students so they can graduate and be ready for college," said Liliana Valadez, assistant superintendent, College and Career Readiness Department, who headed the steering committee as part of the district's curriculum realignment.
"Implementing these recommendations could take a couple of years because of the budget implied, but this is definitely a good start to help high school campuses in their quest for excellence," said Valadez.
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