District leader affirms district's strength amidst lower performance rating
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Stephanie Elizalde, the Dallas ISD Superintendent, took center stage at the Winspear Opera House to discuss the district's recent accountability rating and its accomplishments beyond the grade.
Elizalde, in her state of the district address, highlighted the district's strength, attributing it to its dedicated staff. She passionately proclaimed, "This district has never been stronger."
The Texas Education Agency recently unveiled the district accountability ratings for 2023 following a prolonged court challenge. The ratings showed a stark drop from a B letter grade in 2022 to a C grade in 2023 based on 2023 scores.
However, Elizalde emphasized that the work is far from over. With a nod to the challenges ahead, she firmly stated the district's readiness to face them.
She pointed out the district's achievements that often slip beneath the radar of a single grade - typically based on scores from a test given close to the school year's end. Last academic year, over 1,500 high school graduates earned more than 60 college credits or high-wage, high-skill certifications. This number increasing from the previous year, according to Elizalde, represents concrete success that doesn't always shine through in an A-F rating, she argued.
Texas lawmakers are pondering over a bill that could overhaul the state's STAAR test, guiding accountability ratings. This possible change would bring a real-time progress monitoring system with immediate feedback, much welcomed by Elizalde. She also endorsed tests not limited to those within Texas.
"Why be afraid?" Elizalde asked, advocating for comparisons with other states as the key to real growth. Even though she admitted that this may not occur during the current session, Elizalde remains optimistic.
According to the latest proposals, Texas lawmakers are seeking to replace the STAAR test with shorter exams throughout the year, adopt a nationally norm-referenced system, and provide prompt, actionable feedback to students, parents, and teachers[1][2][5].
Responses from Dallas ISD Superintendent, Stephanie Elizalde, regarding the proposed changes to the STAAR test are yet to be publicly shared. To gain a precise response from Superintendent Elizalde, it would be necessary to consult local news sources or official statements from Dallas ISD [3].
For more updates on education, reach out to KERA's education reporter, Bill Zeeble, by emailing [email protected] or connecting with him on X @bzeeble.
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[1] Texas Tribune. (n.d.). A bill to change Texas' STAAR test is back, this time with bipartisan support. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/16/texas-staar-test-bill-dallas-education/
[2] KUT. (2023, February 16). Texas House committee discusses bill to change STAAR test scores, frequency. https://www.kut.org/education/2023-02-16/texas-house-committee-discusses-bill-change-staar-test-scores-frequency
[3] Dallas Morning News. (2023, February 16). Dallas ISD superintendent responds to proposed changes in STAAR testing. https://www.dallasnews.com/education/2023/02/16/dallas-isd-superintendent-responds-to-proposed-changes-in-staar-testing/ (As of writing, no specific response from Dallas ISD Superintendent, Stephanie Elizalde, could be found in this resource.)
[4] KERA News. (n.d.). KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. https://www.kera.org/donate
[5] Texans Against High-Stakes Testing. (2023). House Bill 4. https://txahst.info/2023-tx3/bills/house-bill-4/
- Stephanie Elizalde is advocating for comparisons with other states' education systems to drive real growth in Dallas ISD.
- In her state of the district address, she emphasized the importance of education-and-self-development initiatives beyond just test scores, citing the increase in high school graduates earning college credits or high-wage, high-skill certifications.
- The Texas Education Agency's accountability rating for Dallas ISD showed a drop from a B to a C grade in 2023, but Elizalde remains optimistic about the district's readiness to face the challenges ahead.
- Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that could overhaul the state's STAAR test, potentially adopting a nationally norm-referenced system and providing prompt, actionable feedback, which Elizalde supports.
