Start with strong foundations
Let’s provide students and families with more access to high-quality educational opportunities.
Developing a brighter future
To meet the goals of our mission we must provide quality early learning opportunities, build strong reading and math foundations in the early grades, ensure continued access to rigorous learning opportunities and instruction through secondary, and connect graduates to higher ed and workforce opportunities to continue their journey towards a living wage.
formed by age 5
Data inform our educational priorities
We measure critical indicators we know drive progress towards our True North Goal.
Early Learning
Ensuring students have a strong foundation in academic, emotional and social skills is necessary for success in later grades. 90% of a child’s brain is developed before Kindergarten and students who are not reading on grade level by third grade are ~4 times more likely to drop out of high school. To ensure students have strong foundations, Commit works with district and community partners to increase enrollment in high-quality Pre-K and support more students to reach grade level standards in K-3rd grade math and reading.
Collaboration is critical
A crucial component of the work of Commit's Early Learning team is to convene practitioners to discover and promote effective practices for growing student success:
The Dallas County PK-3 Literacy Director Community of Practice
The Literacy Director Series provides research-based approaches to building literacy skills and offers guidance for practical implementation.
Early Matters Dallas
Commit leads Early Matters Dallas, a broad-based coalition working together to raise awareness about, and advocate for, the importance of high-quality, early education for a strong economy by improving existing structures, piloting innovative strategies, and equipping district partners with data-driven insights.
The Dallas County Literacy Coaching Fellowship
The Dallas County Literacy Coaching Fellowship impacts nearly 50,000 elementary students by working alongside a cohort of instructional coaches to build their knowledge and capacity in best practices grounded in the Science of Teaching Reading.
Pre-K DFW
Pre-K DFW is a yearly campaign promoting Pre-K enrollment for eligible students across Dallas County.
Strong Readers
Strong Readers champions public awareness of Dallas County's early literacy crisis, advocating for policies that ensure every child's right to read.
The Early Learning team also provides support for the implementation of:
- Instructional materials reviews and implementation support
- Literacy learning labs
- Statewide advocacy as part of the Early Matters Texas coalition
- Support in developing childcare and district Pre-K partnerships
Interested in partnering with Commit's Early Learning team?
Reach out to Managing Director Amber Shields.
Middle Grades Initiatives
With a strong academic foundation, students are better prepared to achieve 4th-12th milestones in math, reading, and writing. Commit's Middle Grades Initiatives team focuses on high-quality secondary education aligned to academic and holistic student supports that prepare students for college and career.
Inviting bigger conversations
As with Commit's Early Learning team, the work of Middle Grades Initiatives is made possible by the collaboration with school system partners fostered in our regular convening and learning communities:
The Math Learning Series
The Math Learning Series builds rigorous math content knowledge for coaches and leaders to improve vertical alignment of math curriculum and instruction across K-12.
Advanced Academic Analyses
Our Advanced Academic Analyses provide support to district leaders for auditing access to and effectiveness of advanced academic pathways.
CCMR District Leader Meetings
The CCMR District Leader Meetings bring together district personnel in CCMR, advanced academics, and counseling to support students in college and career aspirations.
Holistic Student Support
The Holistic Student Support work aims to improve attendance and culture in secondary schools and implement evidence-based academic interventions.
The Middles Grades Initiatives team also provides support for the implementation of:
- Academic Readiness & Access Support:
- Thought Partnership: Advanced Academic Audits
- Policy Implementation: (SB 2124) and Opt-Out Policy Implementation
- Data Analysis: Instructional Materials Reviews
- Systems Support:
- Thought Partnership: CCMR Financial Assessments
- Data Analysis: Chronic Absenteeism
- Policy Implementation: High-Impact Tutoring Support
After having the opportunity to collaborate across districts I'm personally operating less out of fear now, and I'm more focused on beating poverty than on beating my neighbors. It took time to build that trust, and Commit helped make it happen.
Interested in partnering with Middle Grades Initiatives?
Reach out to MGI Managing Director Sile Robinson
Educator Effectiveness
Teachers are the number one in-school factor impacting student outcomes. Our Educator Effectiveness team aims to improve the preparation, development and retention of North Texas’ teaching talent.
Working together so the future works for everyone
Our Educator Effectiveness work is dependent on the partnership both PK-12 school systems and higher education institutions, who we are honored to bring together in several collaborative settings:
Human Capital Management Convenings
Human Capital Management Convenings bring together human capital management leaders from school systems across Dallas County to share best practices to strengthen educator quality and retention.
The Educator Preparation Program Working Group
The Educator Preparation Program Working Group gathers deans and directors from educator preparation programs to strengthen teacher candidate preparation across Dallas County utilizing insights provided by Commit data analysis.
The Educator Effectiveness team also provides support for implementation of:
- The Teacher Incentive Allotment - House Bill 3 (86R)
- Strategic staffing models such as Accelerating Campus Excellence or Opportunity Culture
Interested in partnering with Educator Effectiveness?
Reach out to Director Chelsea Valdez
Latest Learnings
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