WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE EDUCATION GAP IN DALLAS' UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
COMMUNITY. CATALYST. CONVENER. CONNECTOR. ABOUTJOIN THE COLLECTIVEAbout
The DALLAS EDUCATION COLLECTIVE (DEC) is a dynamic 501(c)(3) that works with high-performing charter school operators to build and open high-performing public schools in Dallas’ most underserved educational environments. DEC will continue to do so until every student in Dallas has access to a high-quality education.
Working alongside other education and family-services non-profits, we are innovators and activators of policy and strategies supporting community, family, and student needs that enable learning and growth.
We are currently raising funds to purchase land for the construction of an innovative, high-performing, public elementary charter school. This school will be designed to address the unique needs of economically disadvantaged students, their families, and the community it serves. Opening in 2026!
“Improving our public schools is a moral imperative and an economic necessity.”
– Darren Woodson
Welcome letter from Darren WOODSON
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our new website and to our new non-profit organization. At Dallas Education Collective, we will work with high-performing public charter school operators to build and open public schools in Dallas’ most underserved educational environments. Our work will not stop until every child in Dallas has access to a high-performing public school.
The need for better public schools is great! I am a proud product of public schools as are my fellow partners in this organization. In our target areas of greatest need, there are five zip codes in South and East Dallas where 65% of students are not at grade level, and 40% of students are not prepared for primary school.
We can’t stand by and allow this to continue. Our children are our future, and every child deserves the wonderful and rich experience that only a great education can provide. Improving our public schools is a moral imperative and an economic necessity.
Please join us in changing the public-school paradigm in the areas of greatest need by donating today. We need your help!
Sincerely,
Darren Woodson
Chairman
Dallas Education Collective
Situation
Every day, tens of thousands of public school students are likely to attend one of the 111 public schools with failing student achievement scores, located within the boundaries of the Dallas Independent School District. These underperforming (or undersupported) systems primarily serve economically disadvantaged communities, further entrenching social and economic disparity.
*Source: Texas Education Agency
By the numbers
Economically disadvantaged public school students live within DISD boundaries
%
Of public school students living in five under-resourced zip codes are not performing at grade level
%
Of children living in poverty are not prepared for primary schooling
*Source: Texas Education Agency
AMONG THE 44 ZIP CODES WITHIN DALLAS ISD, THESE AREAS ARE THE MOST IN NEED OF NEW EDUCATION-BASED STRATEGIES
Solution
Creating solutions that will transform the public education landscape in the areas of greatest need within the City of Dallas will require innovative, holistic, and integrated plans and actions. It will require an understanding and approach to the unique dynamics of effectively educating those shackled by poverty, crime, violence, and inaccessibility to basic goods and services essential to living and learning.
The sustainable and scalable solutions to improving public education today cannot be, and should not be, the sole responsibility of current education frameworks and state education agencies. Rather, it must be expanded to include innovative talent, innovative resources, innovative thinking, innovative perspectives, innovative partnerships, innovative designs, innovative applications, innovative methods, and innovative models that will result in new student-centric and evidence-based solutions to close the gaps in public education and the quality of life that exist in Dallas.
Our Work
Implement education-based strategies in areas of greatest need, thereby ending the cycle of poverty for many while preparing the next generation of Dallas’ workforce. Dallas Education Collective shall build and open high-performing public schools in Dallas’ most underserved educational environments and shall continue to do so until every student in Dallas has access to a high-quality education. To achieve this, we have five primary roles and responsibilities: