HomeEducationDRC's Statement of Principles

The Dallas Regional Chamber is an organization dedicated to making this region the most economically prosperous region and the most desirable place to live and work in the United States. 

The Dallas Regional Chamber believes strongly that our children deserve an excellent public education. Public education has served this nation, our state, and our region well.

To remain competitive and to accomplish our mission of this region becoming the most economically prosperous region in the United States, we must have an excellent urban school district.  Accordingly, the Dallas Independent School District will need to continue to become and then remain an excellent school district so that the students may have a successful life and the community will have the workforce available to achieve our goal.

That a well educated workforce is essential for our region to become a more prosperous one for all.   It will help our companies and institutions grow and become more productive. Based on current College Readiness levels, Dallas and North Texas will not have the qualified workforce it needs for the future and thus will limit business growth in our area and cause companies to relocate elsewhere resulting in fewer jobs for our residents;

That the Dallas Independent School District must build on the progress made and continue to move forward to meet the needs of all students. We believe that the trustees and the District must have the courage to open the education system to global best practices for the benefit of all students. This includes support to leverage quality education models, inside or outside the Dallas Independent School District, and to ensure our education systems are addressing the needs of all our students;

That the District should make a commitment to adopt clear and measurable goals for student achievement. The goals should be transparent and accountability based and plans should be implemented to drive the district toward achieving those goals; 

That effective outcomes from our public education system are directly correlated to the quality of its human capital at every level; the board of trustees, the administration and the entire staff, its principals and their support teams, and, most importantly, the teachers.  We believe the district should implement steps at every level to enhance and improve the quality of its human capital. Only with outstanding principals and teachers can our public schools become great school systems that meet the needs of our students;

That focused goal driven parental involvement with both students and teachers is an essential element of student success. Parents must be aware of the academic achievement of their schools, must be involved in the schools and must feel welcomed by the schools;

That stability and effectiveness of administrative leadership over an extended period of time and commitment to transforming public education provides the best way forward for significant improvement and is a vital factor leading to an outstanding school system; 

That the Board of Trustees, by adhering to a well defined role in governance should exercise leadership through policy making, delegate administrative action to administrators, and make each of its decisions based on the goal of raising student achievement. 

Adopted 12/1/10