1
A. VISION
(A)(1) Articulating a comprehensive and coherent reform vision
(10 points)
The extent to which the applicant has set forth a comprehensive and coherent reform vision that builds on its work in four coreeducational assurance areas (as defined in this notice) and articulates a clear and credible approach to the goals of accelerating studentachievement, deepening student learning, and increasing equity through personalized student support grounded in common andindividual tasks that are based on student academic interests.
(A)(2) Applicant’s approach to implementation
(10 points)
The extent to which the applicant’s approach to implementing its reform proposal (e.g., schools, grade bands, or subject areas) willsupport high-quality LEA-level and school-level implementation of that proposal, including— (a) A description of the process that the applicant used or will use to select schools to participate. The process must ensurethat the participating schools (as defined in this notice) collectively meet the competition’s eligibility requirements;(b) A list of the schools that will participate in grant activities (as available); and(c) The total number of participating students (as defined in this notice), participating students (as defined in this notice) fromlow-income families, participating students (as defined in this notice) who are high-need students (as defined in this notice),and participating educators (as defined in this notice). If participating schools (as defined in this notice) have yet to beselected, the applicant may provide approximate numbers.
(A)(3) LEA-wide reform & change
(10 points)
The extent to which the application includes a high-quality plan describing how the reform proposal will be scaled up and translatedinto meaningful reform to support district-wide change beyond the participating schools (as defined in this notice), and will help theapplicant reach its outcome goals (e.g., the applicant’s logic model or theory of change of how its plan will improve student learningoutcomes for all students who would be served by the applicant).
(A)(4) LEA-wide goals for improved student outcomes
(10 points)
The extent to which the applicant’s vision is likely to result in improved student learning and performance and increased equity asdemonstrated by ambitious yet achievable annual goals that are equal to or exceed State ESEA targets for the LEA(s), overall and by
2student subgroup (as defined in this notice), for each participating LEA in the following areas:(a) Performance on summative assessments (proficiency status and growth).(b) Decreasing achievement gaps (as defined in this notice).(c) Graduation rates (as defined in this notice).(d) College enrollment (as defined in this notice) rates.Optional: The extent to which the applicant’s vision is likely to result in improved student learning and performance and increasedequity as demonstrated by ambitious yet achievable annual goals for each participating LEA in the following area:(e) Postsecondary degree attainment.
In the text box below, the applicant should describe its current status in meeting the criteria and/or provide its high-quality plan for meeting the criteria.The narrative or attachments should also include any supporting evidence the applicant believes will be helpful to peer reviewers,including at a minimum the evidence listed in the criterion (if any), and how each piece of evidence demonstrates the applicant’s success in meeting the criterion. Evidence or attachments must be described in the narrative and, where relevant, included in the Appendix. For evidence or attachments included in the Appendix, note in the narrative the location where the information can be found and provide a table of contents for the Appendix.To provide a high-quality plan, the applicant should describe, at a minimum, the goals, activities, timelines, deliverables, and responsible parties (for further detail, see Scoring Instructions in Part XV or Appendix A in the NIA). The narrative and attachmentsmay also include any additional information the applicant believes will be helpful to peer reviewers. Peer reviewers will reward applicants for developing goals that – in light of the applicant's proposal – are “ambitious yet achievable.” In determining whether an applicant has “ambitious yet achievable” annual goals, peer reviewers will examine theapplicant's goals in the context of the applicant's proposal and the evidence submitted in support of the proposal. There is no specific goal that peer reviewers will be looking for here; nor will higher goals necessarily be rewarded above lower ones.
For optional goal (A)(4)(e): Applicants scores will not be adversely impacted if they choose not to address optional goal (A)(4)(e). Recommended maximum response length: Eight pages (excluding tables)
(A)(1).
Student achievement in the Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) has steadily improved over the last five years,e.g., math scores on standardized tests have risen, the graduation rate has increased from 62.5% to 77.3% and the percentage of
3college-ready graduates (per the standards of the Texas Education Agency) has doubled from 20% to 40%
1
. Yet significant work remains. Dallas ISD students scored 13% below statewide achievement on 2011 standardized tests and only 10% of our studentsscored at the commended level
2
. The District’s size (157,575 students in Pre-K through 12
th
grade) and the non-academic challengesthat burden our students (87.1% are economically disadvantaged and 66.4% meet the state’s definition of being at-risk of schoolfailure or dropping out) are consistent impediments to greater, faster progress.In an effort to accelerate success, Dallas ISD established a bold reform agenda --
Destination 2020
– that will improve student performance, close a long-standing achievement gap for African American, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged and specialeducation students, and significantly increase personalized learning and college and career readiness for all students. The rapidattainment of these student-centric outcomes is jeopardized, however, by three institutional challenges. 1)
An insufficient number of proficient and highly qualified teachers
. This is a challenge in all Dallas ISD schools but particularly in under-performing feeder patterns where the majority of students are African American or Hispanic and economically disadvantaged. However, maximizing theeffectiveness of Dallas ISD’s teaching corps is not possible within the current evaluation and compensation system, which isdisconnected from what we value most – well-prepared students. 2)
A non-existent system for fostering instructional leadership
.Campus staffing patterns do not enable the identification or promotion of teacher leaders who can share their proven instructional practices with their peers. Also, because Dallas ISD does not reward their greater capacities with differentiated compensation, we losemany of our excellent educators to other districts. 3)
Technology infrastructure that is ten years out of date.
Maximizing theeffectiveness of all Dallas ISD teachers will require universal access to the 21
st
century learning tools that advance personalizedlearning and college and career readiness. Unfortunately, the District has a dated and inefficient technology infrastructure, too fewdigital learning resources in the classroom, and minimal professional development to enable optimal use of the resources that exist.In addition to offering a well-defined pathway to educational excellence for all Dallas ISD students, Destination 2020 is
fully
1
Texas Education Agency. 201l and 2007 Academic Excellence Indicator System, District Performance Ratings.www.tea.state.tx.us.
2
Texas Education Agency. 2010-11 Academic Excellence Indicator System.www.tea.state.tx.us.
Search History:
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
p.
Dallas ISD Race to the Top application
892
Reads
1
Readcasts
29.1K
Embed Views
Recommended
More From This User
Notes
Load more
