Dallas ISD’s STAAR gains prove reform works
Over the weekend, the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board spotlighted Dallas ISD’s impressive gains on the 2024–25 STAAR test, crediting the district’s focused investments in early learning, high-quality instructional materials and teacher support.
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde told the DMN that this strategic approach led to a three-percentage-point increase in the number of students meeting state standards. That progress is especially meaningful in a district where nearly 90% of students are economically disadvantaged, compared to 62% statewide. Even modest gains represent real progress for hundreds of Dallas students.
The editorial noted that DISD now outperforms the state in all three STAAR performance categories: approaching, meeting and mastering grade-level material. This shows that when schools rethink how they deliver education, especially in urban settings, assessments like STAAR can serve as valuable tools to measure and improve student success.
So how did DISD do it? Here’s a look at the three key areas the district focused on, and why Texas 2036 supports each one.
Early Learning
After realizing half-day pre-K programs didn’t meet the needs of working families, DISD expanded to offer full-day options for 3-year-olds. According to the editorial, more than 11,000 students are now enrolled in pre-K 3 and pre-K 4. As these students move through the system, the district expects continued academic growth.
Why we support it: A strong academic foundation is key to long-term success. When students fall behind early, it is hard to catch up. In 2023, the kindergarten readiness gap between students who attended pre-K and those who grew to nearly 26 percentage points. That’s why we pushed for data-driven solutions this session to help more Texas students start strong and stay on track.
High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM)
Elizalde told the editorial board that a consistent curriculum supported by high-quality instructional materials helped create more structured and connected learning across subjects. Paired with personalized lab time, the approach supported both struggling and advanced students while keeping instruction aligned to state standards.
Why we support it: State assessments provide essential, objective data on student performance. That information helps parents and policymakers make informed decisions to improve outcomes. While nearly 90% of parents believe their child is on grade level, only 47% of Texas students actually meet grade-level expectations. Investing in materials that align with standards and support learning is one way to close that gap.
Teacher Pay
The editorial also highlighted teacher retention as a major driver of DISD’s progress. The district was one of the first in Texas to adopt a performance-based pay model when it launched its Teacher Excellence Initiative in 2014. Since then, it has retained at least 90% of its highest-performing teachers each year.
Why we support it: Teachers are the most important in-school factor in a child’s education. When schools invest in great educators and give them a reason to stay, students benefit.
Texas 2036 agrees with the Dallas Morning News editorial: public schools can succeed when the right reforms are in place. The gains in STAAR scores are more than numbers. They reflect what’s possible when schools use clear data to guide decisions and invest in what works.
STAAR helps identify which students need support and which strategies are working, giving every student a better chance at success. Because when students are successful, they’ll ensure a better brighter future for Texas.
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PRESIDENT at CARDENAS DEVELOPMENT CO., INC.
1wCongratulations to Dallas ISD on getting better results by using data to determine what supports are needed for each student to succeed