By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-816772.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas School district has received a grant of nearly 4 million dollars to rapidly gather and distribute vital student information. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.
The money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund and organize research about students' strengths & weaknesses. The data - based on test scores, attendance records and other information - will be analyzed & put into an easily usable computer program. Teachers will be trained to use it.
Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa says the result will result in great coherence and discipline across n the entire school system. And will help identify particular student problems faster, leading to a quicker solution
Hinojosa: It has trend data and current data. So the teacher can make better decisions. "What I've tried before with this child didn't work. I'm going to have to go somewhere else and get that support." Right now they have to get it in 3, 4 or 5 different places. This will be on their computer and they can click on that one item and can click down on that one item.
The pilot program is in 20 DISD schools. It'll go district wide next year. It's designed to help more students graduate high school ready for college or a job.