Professional experience helps build student skills in new program

Jason Hamilton, a graduate of Justin F. Kimball High School, is leveraging his 24 years of culinary experience and 18 years as an executive chef to spearhead Dallas ISD's Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiative. As a CTE coordinator, Hamilton oversees the district's food truck program, aiming to equip students with technical, culinary, management, and entrepreneurial skills. Intuit Inc. donated a fully operational food truck to the initiative, and the project has seen significant successes, offering students a learning opportunity and a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship.

Civic engagement clubs empower students

North Dallas High School's Student Voter Empowerment Club (SVEC) is engaging students in civic responsibility through a voter registration drive. Through monthly meetings and mentorship, students are empowered to lead the voter registration drive independently. The hope is that early exposure to voter education will foster lifelong engagement and empower students to make informed decisions about local and national elections.

Women’s History Month: She came, she swam, she conquered

Campbell C. from Woodrow Wilson High School recently made history at the UIL 5A Swimming State Championship, setting records in both the 200 Individual Medley and the 100m breaststroke. She has won the state title for the 200 IM all four years, and she is preparing to join the University of Texas swimming and diving team. Campbell looks forward to representing Dallas ISD at the 2024 Olympic swim trials in Indianapolis. 

Texas passes on $450 million summer lunch program for low-income families

Texas has chosen not to participate in a $2.5 billion federal nutrition program aimed at assisting low-income families during the summer months when free school meals are unavailable. Texas opted out due to concerns about the tight timeline provided by the USDA to implement the program, and the USDA only covering 50% of administrative expenses. However, alternative food assistance options, such as the Summer Meals Program and offerings from organizations like the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club, are available. 

No student left inside: Texas educators learn how to teach the April total solar eclipse

On April 8, North Texas will witness a rare total solar eclipse, an event that won't recur in the region for nearly 300 years. Educators are mobilizing to ensure students experience and understand the event safely, and teachers are urged to plan ahead, secure eclipse glasses or alternative viewing methods, and emphasize safety protocols to avoid direct sun exposure. While some districts may cancel classes, others will provide protected viewing opportunities with eclipse glasses. 

This teaching routine takes just 5 minutes. Its impact lasts much longer

The practice of daily individual greetings between teachers and students at the classroom door has shown remarkable benefits in improving student mood, behavior, and engagement in learning. Originating from social media, the practice is supported by solid research indicating its positive impact on classroom management and student-teacher relationships. The practice fosters a sense of belonging and rapport between students and teachers, leading to increased academic engagement and reduced disruptive behavior. 

States are making work-based learning a top policy priority

A report by Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education highlights the enactment of 115 policies related to career and technical education (CTE) and career readiness across 47 states in 2023. 40 percent of the enacted policies in 2023 concentrated on industry partnerships and work-based learning. Anticipated policy areas for 2024 include addressing new industries like sustainability and advanced manufacturing, enhancing teacher recruitment, and fostering alignment with postsecondary education to meet evolving workforce demands.

In a first, U.S. students will take the SAT entirely online (no pencils required)

The SAT, a long-standing college admissions exam traditionally done with paper and pencil, has transitioned to an all-digital format starting this week in the U.S. The new test is an hour shorter, incorporates digital tools like a highlighter and a graphing calculator, and features shorter reading passages. The College Board, which administers the SAT, aims to make cheating more difficult and grading easier with the digital format.