Center on Communities and Education

Center on Communities and Education (CCE)

The School Zone

"It is difficult, often impossible, to raise healthy children in a disintegrated community. Without local institutions that draw families and young people together around common interests and activities…even the most heroic child-rearing is likely to fail. Conversely, by gathering and organizing members of the community around activities of common interest — particularly the healthy development of children — even the most devastating conditions can be reversed." -Harlem Children’s Zone, Inc.: Growth Plan FY 2001-2009

The Issue: In the 11.5 square mile area that comprises West Dallas, poverty and unemployment are more than double that of the city of Dallas. Fewer than 50% of residents have a high school diploma. Ten public schools serve the area; five elementary schools are or have been rated Exemplary or Recognized, but despite gains at the high school level, the academic performance of many students at middle and high school levels remains poor.

Background: In 2009, the West Dallas Education Task Force – a joint effort between community- based organizations and faith groups, West Dallas principals, DISD, DCCCD, SMU, other educators, the Dallas business community and concerned citizens engaged in education reform at the local and national level - committed to a collaborative transformation initiative built upon open dialogue, volunteerism and community engagement. A set of strategies was developed by the Task Force and is now known as The School Zone (part two of the three part West Dallas Community Collaborative for Schools, Jobs and Housing).

The Response: The School Zone (TSZ) is a partnership between 10 West Dallas public schools and 20 not-for-profit organizations, including two private schools and a charter school, with the goal of ensuring that all West Dallas children receive the “cradle to career” resources they need to graduate from high school ready for college. All 30 schools and organizations have jointly committed to provide resources to children and families of West Dallas in a way that supports the growth of healthy communities that are needed to drive education transformation and remove impediments to student performance. By focusing resources primarily on elementary school children and their families, TSZ organizations are intervening at the point where chances for long-term success are highest. The anticipated result is improved academic performance as students and educators are able to focus on learning rather than the students’ social service needs.

TSZ also addresses the persistent and pervasive educational issues that plague families and educators throughout Dallas; provides resources and partnership for ongoing DISD efforts; supports implementation of best practices learned from other school turnaround efforts; and helps to build an entrepreneurial culture that develops new solutions and positions Dallas and DISD as thought leaders in the school reform movement.

In February of 2011, TSZ partners began a 12-month process to develop metrics and measure their individual and collective impact on the quality of life in West Dallas, beginning with education. The Metrics Project will increase the capacity of TSZ partners to improve results for those served, and by engaging West Dallas residents, it will empower them to drive changes, especially in education.

TSZ was initially funded by The Rees-Jones Foundation, followed by support from The Boone Family Foundation and Texas Capital Bank in 2010.

Major Goals:

  • Build on three years of intense activity that has generated a strong core of not-for-profits and educators;
  • Build a critical mass of informed, empowered adults who are engaged in educational success;
  • Intervene early and progressively with strong parenting skills and early childhood education, powerful education support programs in elementary school, healthy homes, work-readiness, solid healthcare, and cross enrollment between providers to assure coverage for the multiple needs families encounter; and
  • Carefully evaluate effectiveness, strengthen effective programs and phase out ineffective ones.

Primary Outcomes:

  • A network of public and private schools with an enriched level of parent and community engagement, equipped with high levels of individual autonomy and freedom to innovate as conditions in West Dallas require;
  • Every school in West Dallas rated “Recognized” or “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency and every West Dallas high school graduate ready for college;
  • A “self-reinforcing community of families building a common future through their own efforts.”

Success To Date:

  • Program development and expansion
  • Growing leadership team
  • Strong backbone organization
  • 20 organizations offering a full array of interventions, programs and resources to modest income families

Next Steps 2011-12:

  • Focus on families with children aged 0-12 (adding older children as the initiative progresses);
  • Move The School Zone from a loosely knit collection of members to a tightly crafted set of collaborators with common goals and objectives and a focus on the most important challenge – quality education;
  • Develop and implement a set of critical metrics;
  • Begin evaluation of individual programs and collective impact;
  • Cross-market resources offered and boost cross-enrollment to assure no single obstacle is able to short-circuit a child’s educational success;
  • Institute a feedback loop to assure programs and resources accurately reflect community strengths and needs and adequately respond to community objectives; and
  • Continue to strengthen the backbone organization’s core management, staff and operating system.