North Texas:

Monumental Cities

Struggling Schools

Together we have built

world-class bridges, parks

and museums and yet we

still have public education

systems that fail thousands

of students every year.

Why?

DISD • 157,000 students; 7,000 Anglo (5%) • 87% free and reduced-price lunch

City of Dallas • 50.7% Anglo • 22.3% below poverty line

We cannot blame teachers

or school leaders for failing

to do alone that which we

ourselves have not valued.

Our public schools are not

the problem of “other

people’s children.” There

are no other people’s

children.

In Dallas County • 13% of all public school students graduate

college ready (ACT/SAT) after four years • 4% of Hispanic and African American

students are college ready after four years

In Dallas County in 2009 and again in 2010, 5,000 students per year did not graduate from high school within four years.

In addition to the outright

injustice of failing so

many children, the

economic impact is

devastating.

Our drop-out rates cost us $5,000,000,000 each year in lost wages

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge $182,000,000 Dallas Museum of Art $ 60,000,000 AT&T Performing Arts Center $354,000,000 Meyerson Symphony Center $110,000,000 Nasher Sculpture Garden $ 70,000,000

$776,000,000

The Texas State

Legislature has not

been a friend of our

public schools.

We know that..

…students who attend pre-k are more likely to have higher reading skills by the third grade than students who attend full-day kindergarten alone; and

the impact of pre-k is the greatest for Hispanic children, black children, English Language Learners (ELL) and children from low-income families.

…and yet the Texas

legislature eliminated

$200MM for full-day pre-k.

Texas school districts

were forced to cut 1,132

pre-k teachers.

We know that..

…more time learning equals improved academic achievement and enhanced student learning…and low-income and minority students benefit most from extended learning time…

…and yet, Texas schools

had to cut 10,717 teachers

in 2011. Educational aides

were also among the most

heavily cut positions.

Fewer teachers, fewer

aides to assist struggling

students, less time on

task…what happens next?

Trinity Tollway $1,800,000,000

Dallas is undertaking one of

the largest urban

redevelopment efforts IN

THE WORLD.

We have engaged the

federal government, the

private sector, the State

of Texas and experts from

dozens of fields…

…if we can accomplish a

project of this magnitude,

we can have THE BEST

public schools in the

country. Great schools,

even more than any of our

great monuments, require

all of us to work together.

With six of Texas’ top 20 high schools, we already have great models: • Cedar Hill Collegiate

• Irma Rangel Young Women’s

Leadership School (DISD)

• School for the Talented and

Gifted (DISD)

• School of Science and

Engineering (DISD)

• Peak Academy (Uplift)

• Highland Park High School

What can we do?

VOTE! DISD’s Board of

Trustees election is May 12

Volunteer – get to know a

school, its leaders,

teachers and students

Engage – be part of the

national conversation

Trinity Tollway $1,800,000,000

Great public schools:

Priceless!