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The Dallas Independent School District is the second-largest school district in Texas and the 12 largest in the United States. The district serves most of the city of Dallas and several surrounding cities, including Addison, Hutchins, and Wilmer. The Dallas Independent School District boasts a long and colorful history, which has brought it its current state today. While some would say the district still has a long way to go, with one of the highest dropout rates in the country, Dallas Independent School District also has a number of features of which it can be proud.

The Beginnings of Dallas Independent School District

Although Dallas Independent School District was not officially established until 1884, the states that private schools and academies were present in the city prior to that date. Six schools were also in existence at the time the district was established: four for white students and two for “colored” students, as segregation was very much in existence at that time. One of those schools is still in existence today, operating now as Booker T. Washington High School. The organization of the school district was done about the same time that the state of Texas created an education law that established school districts within the state.

Throughout its history, Dallas Independent School District has grown in part by absorbing other districts into its system, according to . At the same time, the district added more

One of the largest school districts in the country is in the midst of major renovations that will benefit the local economy, as well as its students. Orange County has announced the ongoing progress of 12 construction and renovation projects, with a hefty price tag of around $224 million. The district expects to pump many of those dollars right back into the local community, by creating more than 9,700 jobs to get the work done. The projects are being funded through a sales tax referendum that was approved by voters in 2002.

Construction Projects on the Way

Orange County Public Schools has approved the construction of two new schools that will handle the overflow of students in the growing school district. The first expansion school with be constructed near Lake Nona in the Dowden Road/Randal Park area. The second will be located on Hackney Prairie Road near Ocoee, according to the Orange County Public Schools .

Construction of the two new elementary schools will create more than 800 construction jobs and another 614 indirect jobs for the county. Jobs that fall into the indirect category include architects, engineers, landscapers and carpenters that are expected to work on the new buildings at some point in the process. It appears that the construction downturn in Florida has lent itself to available, highly skilled workers who can handle the new construction projects for the school now.

“Having spent my life in construction, I know how difficult downturns in

Detroit Public Schools is the largest school district in the state of Michigan and the 22^nd largest school district in the country. Throughout its history, this school district has overcome numerous obstacles to bring education to the young residents of Detroit. That process has not been without its share of challenges, which continue in Detroit schools today. However, the district remains strong despite its difficulties and is continuously looking for ways to improve educational quality for all Detroit students.

This video offers an overview of the Detroit Public Schools.

Early Schools in Detroit

According to the , early schools in the city began in the 19^th century, when private individuals began developing subscription schools for the purpose of educating the youth of the city. These schools would have a single schoolmaster, hired by a group of parents, and classes would be held at the home of the instructor or a location rented by subscribers. Parents of the students would also contribute to the school’s supply of firewood and candles.

Throughout that century, many private schools also came to the Detroit area. The schools were expensive and provided flexible schedules for those who had to work days to pay for their education. In 1832, the first school was established for children who could not afford private schools. These “society schools” quickly grew in number, as more families looked to the

Do not close any high schools in Chicago – that was the recommendation from a commission appointed by Chicago Public Schools Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Although many of the high schools in the city are underutilized at this time, the commission determined that closing any of them could pose a serious danger to students. Byrd-Bennett will now consider the recommendations made by the commission as she ponders what to do about underutilized schools and the district’s massive budget deficit.

The Commission on School Utilization

The Commission on School Utilization was formed by Byrd-Bennett to determine which schools should be consolidated and which should be closed. The district, currently facing a $1 billion budget deficit, has determined that something must be done about under-enrolled schools to close the deficit. Although the commission recently released early recommendations, the final report by the commission will not be out until March. Chicago Public Schools plans to release a preliminary list of schools slated for closure prior to that time, according to a report at Chicago Now.

Byrd-Bennett handpicked the members of the commission, including commission chairman Frank Clark. Clark is a retired CEO from ComEd and a mayoral appointee to the McCormick Place Board. Clark told the that the commission will not be providing a list of school closure recommendations, although that is what Byrd-Bennett originally wanted from the commission. Instead, early inklings from the report suggest the commission will be much more focused on schools that

Fairfax County, along with other school districts across the country, is considering a scheduling change that would allow high school students to head to class a bit later in the morning. While studies seem to support the idea of pushing back high school start times, the issue is a complex one that involves carpools, bus schedules, and after-school activities. Would a major rearrangement of high school schedules be worth the effort?

School Board Member Pushes for Later Start Times in Fairfax

The reports that the driving force behind later start times in Fairfax County is school board member Sandy Evans. Evans co-founded Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal (SLEEP) in 2004, and she has been advocating for a new schedule in her county since that time.

“It is beneficial to their physical health, their mental health, and their academic health,” Evans told the Washington Times. “This [early schedule] just can’t be good for teenagers,” Evans added.

Evans is not alone in her concern over sleep deprivation in teens today. Nearby Montgomery County has also formed a work group to study the impact of later start times in high school performance. The study was in response to a petition signed by more than 10,000 parents who want to see the county move the start time at high schools from 7:25 to at least 8:15. However, the county does not appear as quick to institute that type of change, since a new