3 May 2007
Initiative's outcome will pave the way to district becoming the best in nation by 2010
DALLAS—The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees in their April board meeting approved a comprehensive reform initiative called Dallas Achieves!
Dallas Achieves is a transformation plan that incorporates the district's education guidelines and the alignment and use of resources to accomplish the goal of becoming the best urban school district in the country by 2010.
"A comprehensive change in the system is needed to get results. Despite some pockets of excellence throughout the district, the current system is falling below our aspirations," said Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. "To be the best from what we have been recently, we needed a robust plan to accomplish that goal, and it has taken 18-months to get to where we are with Dallas Achieves."
The Dallas Achieves commission studied how other high performing districts in the country have transformed their systems to get feedback. "Students in Dallas deserve the very best educational opportunities. If this initiative is implemented correctly, it will help each student in the years ahead and transform Dallas into the best urban school district in the country," said Hinojosa.
The plan was developed by a commission made up of 65 leaders representing business, higher education, civic and faith-based communities, as well as city and state officials, philanthropists and grassroots leaders. The commission partnered with some of the nation's top strategic consultants including The Boston Consulting Group, the Robinson Edwards Group, The Foundation for Community Empowerment, National Center for Educational Accountability, Institute for Learning from the University of Pittsburgh, Carol Reed Associates, Public Strategies Group, and Weaver and Tidwell.
"The goal of the commission, the board and this administration is to improve student performance throughout the district and ensure that all students graduate ready for college and the workforce," said Hinojosa. "When this is achieved, it will significantly improve their opportunities for the future as well as improve the city of Dallas."
Hinojosa and the board have also set a goal for Dallas ISD to win the coveted Broad Prize for Urban Education, which is presented to the highest performing and most improved school district in the nation.
The "Road to Broad" transformation focuses on four key components:
A list of frequently asked questions is attached.