Dallas School Leaders Overhaul Support for Struggling Schools
Dallas school leaders are revamping their approach to supporting struggling schools, a move that will reduce the number of campuses receiving intensive resources and limit the number of teachers eligible for bonuses.
The district is transitioning into a new three-tiered model, which will target only about 20% of its 233 campuses. The new initiative, called the District Support Initiative, will focus on low-performing elementary schools, many of which are in high-poverty communities.
The Old Model: Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE)
Over the past decade, district leaders have credited the ACE model for several campus turnaround success stories. The program, launched in 2015, centered on flooding a small number of struggling schools with extra time, money, and some of the best teachers in the district. Officials persuaded effective educators to work in ACE schools by offering them large bonuses intended to compensate for the extra work.
The ACE program relied on a districtwide pay-for-performance evaluation system to define which educators were the "best." This model led to a statewide merit pay push, with lawmakers funneling millions of dollars a year toward such stipends.
The New Model: District Support Initiative
The new initiative will target only about 20% of Dallas’ 233 campuses, with a focus on low-performing elementary schools. Nine of these schools will receive the highest level of support, with funding for two literacy specialists and one math expert, as well as expanded afterschool sessions, a mentoring book club, and more. Highly effective teachers at these campuses will be eligible for stipends between $4,000 and $12,000.
Thirty elementary and middle schools will receive a second-tier of support, while 10 high schools were chosen for staffing help, including stipends for some teachers.
Impact on Teachers and Schools
The change means that 48 schools that were previously included in the Accelerating Campus Excellence program will no longer receive the same level of support. Teachers at these campuses will instead receive a "bridge year stipend," valued at half of their previous amount. This money will end in the 2026-27 school year, with bonuses continuing only for campuses that are part of the new model.
Conclusion
The District Support Initiative aims to prioritize campuses of greatest need, providing targeted support to help them improve. While the change may be challenging for some teachers and schools, it is an opportunity to refocus resources and support the most vulnerable students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the district changing its approach to supporting struggling schools?
A: The district is evolving its model to provide more targeted support to the most vulnerable students and schools.
Q: What is the new model called?
A: The new model is called the District Support Initiative.
Q: How many schools will be included in the new model?
A: Only about 20% of Dallas’ 233 campuses will be included in the new model.
Q: What kind of support will be provided to schools in the new model?
A: The new model will provide funding for literacy specialists, math experts, and other supports, as well as expanded afterschool sessions and other resources.
Q: What happens to teachers at schools that are no longer part of the ACE program?
A: Teachers at these schools will receive a "bridge year stipend," valued at half of their previous amount.
