Academic Services introduced Math Magic this past fall. Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD Hub.
Dallas ISD is off to a strong start in 2026. Below you can find a recap of what the board was up to in January:
Dallas ISD District 7 monthly update:
Magic of math fluency: Practice and confidence is the foundational equation of Dallas ISD’s Math Magic initiative. Building math fact fluency in early grades helps students free up valuable cognitive resources so they can better engage with complex concepts and problem solving.
Board recaps: Interested in joining us virtually for a board meeting? You can click on the district’s Board of Trustees meeting streaming channel during meeting days. If you cannot join, Commit to Leaders hosts a public recap to review key updates, progress toward student outcome goals, and upcoming decisions. Community members interested in attending future recaps are encouraged to click the link to be added to the briefing recap invitation list.
Deep dive: Dallas ISD Bond 2026
The board received an overview of the district’s final recommendation for a potential bond for voter consideration. Key specifics about the proposal are:
- Approximately a $6.2 billion bond, which would result in a 1-cent increase in our interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate
- This 1-cent property tax rate increase amounts to an increase of ~$2.79/month or ~$33.48 for the year for a home valued at $500,000. Homeowners over 65 years and older would see no increase, unless major improvements are made
The bond would:
- Build 26 brand-new replacement schools at these campuses
- Renovate and modernize all campuses (see proposed scope by campus)
- Remove the district’s 700 remaining school portables (used by nearly 10,000 students)
- Upgrade safety and security at all campuses
- Update school furniture, student technology and purchase new school buses
- Upgrade physical education facilities and repair the district’s swimming pools
- Dallas ISD’s overall tax rate is projected to decrease next year to an estimated $0.99 per $100 of value and remain the lowest among larger districts in Dallas County and North Texas.
- This bond would lower the average age of buildings from over 43 years to 33 years, remove every portable in the district, and nearly eliminate deferred maintenance.
January board meeting debrief: Dallas ISD had its regular board briefing and meeting in January, where we received two key reports, highlighted below:
Mid-Year student progress report: In both reading and math, middle of year student achievement results improved for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The positive progress showed up in two ways. It compared to the beginning of this school year, showing growth within the grade level, and it compared to results from the middle of last year, showing year over year growth.
Dallas Education Foundation update: Providing $3 million in additional support in the 2025 calendar year for our students and programs, the Dallas Education Foundation’s return on investment clocks in at 1,800%, providing support for campus book vending machines and career exploration mobile labs, among other investments. Click here to learn more.
As always, please reach out if you have thoughts, ideas, questions or concerns or just want to say hello.
Best,
Ben Mackey
Ben Mackey
As always, please reach out to me if you have thoughts, ideas, questions, concerns, or simply want to say hello. Just reach out to me at BenMackey@dallasisd.org
Best,
Ben Mackey
