DISD Asks Parents To Take Active Role In Students’ Education

With less than a week before Dallas Independent School District students head back to the classroom, the district is reaching out to parents to help the district improve in the 2012-2013 school year.

At a news conference Tuesday, superintendent Mike Miles laid out three things he says every parent/guardian must do. It includes getting kids to school on-time everyday, making sure homework is completed and asking students to read each night.

"Those three things we recommended, we hope we get from every parent," said Miles.

"It does seem very basic," said W.H. Adamson High School Spanish teacher Katie Brittain.

"Show up. Show up on time. But without those basics covered, we cannot progress and reach the higher goals that we also have," said Brittain.

This year, DISD expects enrollment to top 157,000 students. Of those, nearly 30,000 will likely be absent on the first day of school.

Many of the absences are because parents fail to get their kids immunizations, so the district took Tuesday to remind parents of the need to get vaccinations ahead of time to avoid long lines at the health department.