Theory of Action Newsletter

Welcome back to the Theory of Action newsletter. We are excited to continue sharing with you the latest updates on supports and autonomies, as well as all other aspects of the Theory of Action.

This newsletter will be shared at the end of each month between August and May.

We appreciate your feedback! Please share your thoughts, ideas, and questions about the Theory of Action via this survey. If you're interested in having information added to an upcoming newsletter, please submit a request here.

In January 2022, the Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program (ACP) was redesigned to attract more applicants. This redesign includes free tuition for candidates seeking certifications in critical need areas. The Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program enhances the alternative teaching route by providing intentional content test preparation and a standards driven training program where future educators can engage with others, explore and practice the newest and innovative approaches to teaching, and develop a deeper understanding of their impact on student achievement in the Dallas Independent School District.

As interns are available for selection the recruitment team will continue to source Dallas ACP candidates to principals with preferential sourcing to HPC and ACE campuses.

For additional information about this program please click here.

The Home2Home Visits Program is an intentional, respectful partnership between families and teachers that improves the child’s well-being and enhances home-school connections. The Family & Community Engagement (FCE) Office & The Early Learning Department have committed to prioritizing the expansion of the Home2Home Visit Program across the district.

The goals of the Home2Home Visit Program are to:

• Build relationships between home and school
• Create a comprehensive picture of each participating child and identify needed support systems
• Understand parents’ hopes and dreams for their child

For more information about programming, click here.

An Opportunity for Assistant Principals

The Personalized Learning Department is partnering with the Stanford Design School (d.school) and IDEO to bring the seventh cohort of School Retool to Dallas ISD. This fellowship trains educators to take a design thinking approach to creatively tackle campus challenges using small experiences called "hacks."

Applications are currently being accepted until Wednesday, September 21st at 5:00 PM. Assistant principals from High Priority Campuses will be prioritized during the selection process. Follow this link to learn more and apply.

All Dallas ISD elementary students who are identified as gifted/talented participate in a minimum of two hours of pull out services each week. During this time, G/T teachers engage students in critical and creative thinking tasks, problem solving, research, and creation of innovative products using the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) as a curricular framework.

Each year, Advanced Academic Services selects and supports G/T teachers in facilitating two TEKS-aligned units for students in grades 1-5. Accomplished and Breakthrough campuses have earned the autonomy to select the TPSP unit/s of their choice for approval by Advanced Academic Services.

For more information, click here.

The Student Tech Assistant Resource (STAR) program identifies and engages future Dallas ISD talent at an early age, hopefully inspiring an interest in a career in Technology.

Not only do students get to have fun and enjoy their work, but also become eligible for a paid summer internship!

This autonomy is available to Accomplished and Breakthrough high school campuses.

For more details, please email Britannica Scott at Britascott@dallasisd.org.

In accordance with the Long Range Plan for Technology, all schools were equipped with interactive teaching displays beginning school year 2019-2020 and starting core classrooms, Special Education classrooms and library/media center spaces (with full-time media specialists) and eventually reaching all elective classrooms.

Information Technology is currently deploying interactive teaching displays to schools that submitted a request based on additional need due to increased enrollment.

For more information about these interactive teaching displays and the guidelines for making a request, click here.

We are excited to announce that the Dual Language Academy for the 2022-2023 bilingual stipend is now available on Cornerstone. This 3.5 hour professional development module is required each year for eligible bilingual teachers and certified and/or licensed bilingual professional support who meet the bilingual stipend requirements as listed on pages 52-53 of the 2022-2023 Board Approved Compensation Handbook.

The deadline to complete this professional development is November 1, 2022.

For further information on this requirement, please click here.

Our Local Accountability System exudes the Dallas ISD philosophy of educating the Whole Child. The diagram above represents the breakdown of metrics used for LAS rating calculations as approved by the Texas Education Agency. All campuses with a state rating of A, B, or C will receive the additional local metrics as part of the Dallas ISD Local Accountability System (LAS). For additional details through the 2022 LAS Manual, click here.

Local Accountability System Ratings

• Accomplished
• Breakthrough
• Competing
• Developing
• Focus

Campus Theory of Action Scorecards are currently being generated and will be available in the next couple of weeks. Visit the Theory of Action Resources page, here, to access your scorecard.

Note: For state accountability, all districts and campuses received a label of A, B, C, or Not Rated for 2022.

You can find more information about the Theory of Action below. This newsletter is for you and we appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts and ideas about the Theory of Action via this feedback form. If you're interested in seeing information from previous editions, you can access them below:

2021-2022 Newsletters

• May
• April
• March
• February
• December/January
• November
• October

Email: theoryofaction@dallasisd.org
Website: dallasisd.org/TheoryofAction
Phone: 9729253700