TOP Community Conversation: Improving Dallas ISD through a TRE

Texas currently ranks 38th among the 50 states in average per-student spending.

On top of that, our state legislature is providing fewer dollars to school districts, shifting more of the burden for school funding to the local level.

Dallas ISD has been making important progress, despite facing recent budget cuts that will likely become even more severe. And because of the general under-funding of public education, especially from Austin, we must take action locally. As a community, we need to step up to ensure ALL our students, particularly students of color and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, receive an excellent education.

That’s why a diverse group of more than 16 local community organizations, including TOP, NAACP Dallas, Alliance AFT, North Texas LULAC, Leadership ISD, Stand for Children – Texas, Faith in Texas, For Oak Cliff, West Dallas 1, Our Communities, Our Schools, and others, announced the launch of the new Strong Schools Strong Dallas coalition on April 20, 2017. (Learn more at http://strongschoolsstrongdallas.org/)

This coalition was formed to advocate for equitable access to a quality education for ALL Dallas kids. Currently, the coalition is engaging with community members to support a Tax Ratification Election (TRE), which if approved could generate more than $100 million in additional funding annually to advance educational outcomes for Dallas ISD students. To make sure this effort is successful, we need to hear from you!

Take this quick, simple online survey to share your thoughts on Dallas ISD schools: http://bit.ly/2oFZatg

For more information, contact Empress Lindsey, (469) 203-0496, mlindsey@organizetexas.org.