Dear Rockwall ISD Families and Supporters, With the start of a new school year, we are honored to welcome our students, families, and community members to our journey together along the educational pathway. Monday is the first day of classes, and we are ready to greet our students on all our campuses. We are eager to create new relationships, renew old ones, and begin rewarding experiences that will reinforce student development, generate positive relationships, and build upon our district’s goals for excellence.
This past Monday, our entire staff gathered for our annual convocation. Yearly, we identify a theme related to an area of growth that will benefit us. Our current theme emphasizes the need for all of us to be ambassadors. As educators, we must be strong representatives for our students and our district. Our number one purpose is to be advocates for education with the central focus always on the students with whom we are entrusted. I invite you to join us in our quest to be good ambassadors.
Our teachers and principals have been preparing for this school year since last year ended. Our staff participated in many professional education sessions and conferences this summer. Many of our courses were geared toward creating active and engaged learning environments for our students. Studies continue to show that students who participate actively in learning retain more than those who passively listen to teacher lectures. Of course, one of our key goals is to help prepare students for the complexities of the work setting they will experience after graduation. By offering active-engagement opportunities, we know we are enhancing the potential for future success.
Certainly there are some critics of public education. However, in Rockwall and throughout much of our nation, we are proud that we are preparing students for life after graduation, and we are doing it better than at any other time in history. A specific example of this improved preparation is our International Baccalaureate (IB) Program that we’ve been working for three years to make a reality. Starting this fall, high school students will be able to choose this challenging program where they can earn up to 24 college credits while in high school. The IB Program differs from Advanced Placement (AP) Courses in that students must complete the entire program of courses. Students may choose AP on a course by course basis. I hope you will join our staff in sharing the many outstanding offerings we have for students as well as the positive experiences students are having.
In January, the Texas Legislature will be back in session. Each session brings significant new laws that impact public schools. We expect the same this session. One important issue we expect to be addressed is school funding. During the 2011 session, the legislature removed $15.3 million from Rockwall ISD’s funds. During the 2013 session, they restored less than 25% of that funding, so there is still an obvious deficit in available resources. Because of this shortfall, Rockwall ISD joined with other school districts in Texas to sue the state for not providing adequate funding for public education. A decision in the trial has been delayed for more than a year, but we expect to get a ruling on August 29, and any outcome is expected to be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.
Despite funding issues or regulations from Austin, I want to leave you with a bit of good news. Our students earned higher marks on the STAAR test this year than in any previous year. In addition, groups of students who have historically performed below the general student population are making strong gains in closing that gap. Our graduation rate has also climbed to 99%. I hope you join us in celebrating our student success.
This is a great time to be a part of Rockwall ISD. Thank you for the strong support you’ve given our students and district. Together we’ll make this school year one of the best ever.
Jeff Bailey
Superintendent of Schools