2012-13 Calendar Change04/12/12
Due to a change in the state's STAAR testing calendar, RISD's 2012-13 Student Academic Calendar has been revised. A snow make up day previously scheduled on Monday, April 1, 2013 has been moved to Friday, May 24, 2013.
Monday, April 1, 2013 will now be a normal school day for students and staff, while Friday, May 24, 2013 will now be a student and staff holiday unless it is needed as a snow make up day.
Hard copies of the 2012-13 Student Academic Calendar are now being printed and will be available to parents through their child's school toward the end of this school year or as part of enrollment materials for next year.
Participation in School Finance Litigation 12/06/11
The Board voted unanimously for RISD to join school finance litigation against the State of Texas. RISD will join a coalition of school districts represented by Haynes and Boone, LLP. The district asserts that the current school finance system impairs its ability to provide adequate education to students and that the current financing model constitutes an unconstitutional statewide property tax.
The coalition that RISD will join is one of several that have filed or plan to file suit against the State of Texas. Haynes and Boone previously represented districts, including RISD, in litigation filed in 2005 that was ultimately successful in challenging the State's previous school finance system.
RISD is hopeful that the litigation will result in additional funds from the state, which will allow districts to provide a quality education and to meet the higher expectations that are required under the newly implemented school accountability program.
"If they are successful on adequacy, it will be a win for every school district in the state," Dr. Waggoner said.
Joining the litigation will cost RISD approximately $43,000, based upon a $1 per WADA fee that all participating districts will pay.
Current News
RISD to Implement Text/SMS Messaging to Parents04/18/12
On April 27, Richardson ISD will enable text/SMS messaging from their child's school to parents and guardians as another way to share information with parents. The messages will be part of the existing Blackboard Connect automated notification system that RISD uses to send telephone and email messages to parents and employees. Messages may include emergency alerts and reminders about school events.
All automated messages to parents and guardians are currently delivered via telephone, with some messages also being sent as an email. Starting April 27, schools will also have the option of sending an abbreviated version of telephone messages as a text/SMS message.
In the afternoon of April 27, all parent and guardian primary telephone contact numbers will be sent an initial confirmation text message from RISD notifying them that text service has begun, and including simple reply instructions to opt out from future text messages if the parent or guardian desires.
Parents and guardians who wish to continue receiving text/SMS messages from their child's school will not need to do anything.
As with any text/SMS messages, normal message or usage rates may apply depending on the mobile service plan that a parent or guardian uses.
To receive text/SMS messages, the primary phone number on file with the child's school must be enabled to receive text/SMS messages, which is typically a mobile phone or device. Parents who wish to change the primary contact number on file with their child's school should contact the student data specialist at that school.
2012 STARS Teachers Named 03/27/12
Ten Richardson ISD teachers were honored as the 2011-12 STARS (Superior Teaching Achievements in RISD) teachers of the year.
Selection committee members, Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner and representatives of the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation surprised the winners with classroom visits on March 23.
The RISD Excellence in Education Foundation, the district's non-profit foundation working directly for all RISD students and staff, administered the selection and recognition of this year's STARS teachers. Students and colleagues cheered as the teachers were surprised at their schools with flowers, balloons and an oversized check for $1,000. The STARS Program was again generously sponsored this year by M & A Technologies.
STARS winners were nominated by their schools and will be honored at the Excellence in Education Foundation Gala on April 13, and the REA/Board of Trustees Banquet on May 17.
Congratulations to all the winners, who represent some of this year's best teachers in a district known for excellent educators:
Alisa Bettega – Merriman Park Elementary – 3rd Grade Carol Davies – Richardson North Junior High - Spanish Kathryn Fisher – Richardson High School – AP Calculus/AVID 3/Peer Mediators Kyle Griffis – Forest Meadow Junior High – Texas History/TAP Mentor Teacher Katy Phinney – Skyview Elementary – Pre-Kindergarten Alison Reams – Richardson West Junior High – 7th Grade Math Ashley Rich – Moss Haven Elementary – 5th Grade Rachel San Jose – Forestridge Elementary – 3rd Grade Karen Wilson – Parkhill Junior High – 8th Grade Science Hunter Wood – Lake Highlands High School – AP English/English III/Debate
Progressing with STAAR/EOC Implementation02/27/12
End-of-Course (EOC) exams that are a part of the new State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) standardized testing program will not be required to count as 15 percent of high school students' class grades, as had been previously expected. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott recently announced that the rule would be waived for the 2011-12 school year.
The change will allow RISD to carefully evaluate the effect STAAR implementation will have on grades during this transition year. However, students will still be required to perform well on EOC exams to meet graduation standards.
Students currently in ninth grade will begin to take EOC exams this spring, while students in 10th-12th grades will continue to take Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests. Elementary and junior high school students will take STAAR tests, a more rigorous, comprehensive assessment than TAKS.
RISD is informing parents about STAAR and EOC implementation through several communication platforms, including fliers, phone messages and risd.org. In addition, information sessions about EOC exams will be held at all secondary schools this spring in conjunction with Open Houses.
For information about EOC and STAAR at the high school level, please click here. For
information about STAAR for 3rd-8th grades, please click here.
Academic Calendar
May
June
May 28
Memorial Day Holiday
May 28-31
Exams Week No Evening Events.
May 31
Six Weeks Ends (34 days) Last Day of Classes
All RISD staff members can access the RISD Intranet using the link above. However, in order to access
the Intranet
from home, you must first make a VPN connection to the district's computer network.
