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.
19 Jun 2001
The Dallas Independent School District has been awarded four 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Cumulative funding for the grants, which will benefit 28 schools, totals $12,200,000 for a period of three years. The announcement was made last week by the offices of United States Senators Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Congressman Martin Frost.
The focus of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is to provide expanded activities beyond school hours for children and their families in a safe, drug-free and supervised environment. Through extensive collaborations with community-based organizations including Camp Fire USA, ArtsPartners, Junior Players, and YMCA, the district's program enables schools to stay open longer, providing enrichment and academic activities to school-age children.
"We are delighted that our district will be able to expand learning opportunities that benefit children and their families," said Dr. Rosemarie Allen, Associate Superintendent—Student Support and Special Services. "These grants will strengthen our efforts to provide outstanding after-school programs in the community."
Elementary schools participating in the new grant award include: Anderson, Bayles, Chavez, Cowart, Darrell, DeGolyer, Dunbar, Earhart, Jones, Kahn, Kramer, Lanier, Lipscomb, Macon, Pease, Saldivar, Stemmons, Travis, Turner, Winnetka, Withers, and Zaragoza. The middle schools are Browne, Comstock, Florence, Greiner and Hill; and Sunset High School. (The district already has 17 Community Learning Centers in operation through a grant awarded in 1999).
Grant funding will be used to support the following projects which are supported by a host of collaborative partners. Activities will focus on basic skills tutoring, character education, and after-school sports, clubs and family enrichment programs. Service learning projects, theater and arts programs, and outdoor recreational opportunities, will serve both students and their parents.
• Communities of Light—Communities of Light will be established for 1,600 children and 300 adults at nine elementary community learning centers.
• Las Luces en la Noche (Lights at Night)—The Lights at Night will serve a 2,000 student population and 500 adults at three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.
• The New Neighborhood—The New Neighborhood will be established at five urban elementary community learning centers and will serve 1,600 children and 300 adults.
• Beacons in the Community—Beacons in the Community will serve more than 2000 students and 500 adults at five elementary and four secondary schools.