As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
17 Jan 2001
DISD Students Receive Help To Pass TAASTo help students who have not yet passed the Texas Academic Assessment Skills (TAAS) test, the Dallas Independent School District, in a partnership with Parker College of Chiropractic, will offer one-on-one tutorials from Jan. 22 to Feb. 17. Parker College graduate students will tutor approximately 100 district seniors and out-of-school seniors in math, reading and writing. These DISD students only need to pass the TAAS to receive their high school diploma. The tutoring is free.
The TAAS tutorial initiative is to give the students the support they need to complete their high school career and move on to college or the workplace, said H. B. Bell, associate superintendent–Dropout Prevention, Intervention and Recovery.
"All participants benefit from this community service project," he said. "The DISD students will improve their TAAS mastery skills and gain self-esteem from the tutor's emotional support and example. The Parker graduate students will have the opportunity to experience interpersonal interaction and share their learning experiences from the classroom."
An orientation and training session for Parker College graduate students is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the South Building at Parker College, 2500 Walnut Hill Lane. (Mapsco key 25Q)
The tutorials will be held at six DISD campuses: H. Grady Spruce, Thomas Jefferson, Justin F. Kimball, North Dallas, Barbara M. Manns and Metropolitan Educational Center. The Monday through Thursday classes are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to the tutorials, assistance will be available for any student who needs help passing the TAAS. During the hours of operation, any students who have not been scheduled for one-on-one tutorials may drop in for help with any part of the TAAS exam.
For information about the tutorial initiative, call the Dropout Prevention Department at (972) 925-4878.