Dallas Independent School District Research Articles

Academic and Attendance Outcomes after Participation in a School Breakfast Program.

Little is known about how school breakfast programs are associated with school attendance and academic performance. This study evaluated Dallas Independent School District's (DISD) breakfast after the bell (BATB) program that provides breakfast for both habitually tardy and non-tardy students on (1) academic performance and (2) student attendance over 2 school years. A pre-post study design evaluated the impact of the BATB program in elementary/middle/high schools on student attendance and academic outcomes. Paired t-tests evaluated changes in outcomes between 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 school years. The analytical sample consisted of 30,493 students (70.32% BATB participants, 50.47% male, 68.78% Hispanic). BATB participants were over 2.5 times more likely to attend school versus non-BATB participants (aOR=2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.23-2.92; p < .001). Compared to pre-participation (2017-2018), unadjusted models showed 2018 to 2019 BATB participants' mean reading scores increased from 1502.72 to 1545.76 during the 2018 to 2019 academic year (p < .001). There were no significant changes in reading and math scores over the 2-year implementation after adjustment. Results here showed that a school breakfast program that is housed in a large public school system that serves predominantly low resource, ethnically diverse students is associated with increased student attendance.

Allen R. Sullivan, PhD: 9th District

Allen R. Sullivan, PhD:9th District Judson L. Jeffries Allen R. Sullivan, PhD, a 2009 inductee into the African American Educators Hall of Fame, is a distinguished educator as well as administrator, having won many awards and honors over a long career. During his lifetime, Brother Sullivan racked up many honors, merits, commendations, and badges. In addition to being a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for nearly 60 years, he is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Psi Chi, two prestigious national honor societies for education and psychology, respectively. It should also be noted that Brother Sullivan has the distinction of being a former student-athlete. As a track athlete, Sullivan won many important races. In addition to his athletic exploits, Brother Sullivan excelled as a Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Retired since 2005, Brother Sullivan spent more than 30 years in the Dallas Independent School district in Dallas, Texas, ending his career as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Support and Advocacy Services. Brother Sullivan's impact on the lives of young people has been felt far and wide. Brother Sullivan has served as a public-school teacher, track and cross-country coach, as well as college professor. In fact, his work in the area of special education is widely documented in the form of reports, newspaper articles, books, and scholarly journal articles. As a doctoral student, during his days in Western New York, Dr. Sullivan was instrumental in reviving the Kappa chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which included securing a fraternity house that sat alongside other fraternity houses on the school's largely White fraternity row. Given the chilly reception that many African American students and faculty members encountered in the overwhelmingly White city of Syracuse, the acquisition of a house located on fraternity row is quite an accomplishment. As a former resident of Binghamton, NY, this writer is, in more ways than one, all too familiar with the frigid environs of Upstate New York. Winter comes early in that region of the Empire State and wears out its welcome long after spring makes an appearance in other tristate cities. Below is [End Page 347] material derived from several conversations between this writer and Dr. Sullivan in the spring of 2021. Judson L. Jeffries: Brother Sullivan, I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me and agreeing to participate in this important project. Allen R. Sullivan: Oh, no problem—my pleasure. JLJ: How's everything going? AS: I'm not fussing too much, how's everything going with you? JLJ: I can't complain none Brother Sullivan, can't complain one bit. AS: Alright, that's good to hear. JLJ: Ok, I understand you earned your doctorate at Syracuse, but where did you go to college? AS: I went to Northeastern University in Boston. JLJ: Are you an East Coast guy? AS: If by East Coast guy, you mean did I grow up there—the answer is yes. I grew up in Cambridge. JLJ: Oh, I see, I see! I lived in Cambridge for about a year and a half, off and on. AS: Oh, is that right? JLJ: Sure did. One year I lived on Garden Street, another time I lived on Channing Drive or something like that. AS: What were you doing there? JLJ: One year I had a fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, another year I held a fellowship at Tufts University. AS: Ok, I didn't live far from Harvard's campus. I could look out of my window and see the tower on Harvard's campus. JLJ: Because I'm fairly familiar with Cambridge, let's talk a little bit about that area. AS: Ok. JLJ: What high school did you attend? AS: I attended Rindge Technical High School. JLJ: Ok, you got me there. I don't know anything about that school. Never heard of it. AS: It was founded in 1888. At Rindge, students were afforded the opportunity to learn a trade as well as take the kinds of courses one would normally take in order to prepare for college. I should...

A Case Study in Academic and School Nursing Partnerships.

School nurses play a vital role in the lives of children and are guided by The National Association of School Nurses' Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice and its five major principles. School nurses practice independently and are often the sole healthcare provider at their designated schools, requiring them to be accomplished clinicians utilizing evidence-based practice in the care of children. When compared with nurses practicing in healthcare settings, school nurses may lack access to evidence-based continuing education and skill enhancement. One strategy proposed is the forming of partnerships with an academic institution, giving school nurses access to academic faculty and resources. This article highlights the collaboration and partnership between Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and the Dallas Independent School District, demonstrating that an academic partnership for the training of school nurses improves outcomes.

Allen R. Sullivan, PhD: 9th District

Allen R. Sullivan, PhD:9th District Judson L. Jeffries Allen R. Sullivan, PhD, a 2009 inductee into the African American Educators Hall of Fame, is a distinguished educator as well as administrator, having won many awards and honors over a long career. During his lifetime, Brother Sullivan racked up many honors, merits, commendations, and badges. In addition to being a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for nearly 60 years, he is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Psi Chi, two prestigious national honor societies for education and psychology, respectively. It should also be noted that Brother Sullivan has the distinction of being a former student-athlete. As a track athlete, Sullivan won many important races. In addition to his athletic exploits, Brother Sullivan excelled as a Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Retired since 2005, Brother Sullivan spent more than 30 years in the Dallas Independent School district in Dallas, Texas, ending his career as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Support and Advocacy Services. Brother Sullivan's impact on the lives of young people has been felt far and wide. Brother Sullivan has served as a public-school teacher, track and cross-country coach, as well as college professor. In fact, his work in the area of special education is widely documented in the form of reports, newspaper articles, books, and scholarly journal articles. As a doctoral student, during his days in Western New York, Dr. Sullivan was instrumental in reviving the Kappa chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which included securing a fraternity house that sat alongside other fraternity houses on the school's largely White fraternity row. Given the chilly reception that many African American students and faculty members encountered in the overwhelmingly White city of Syracuse, the acquisition of a house located on fraternity row is quite an accomplishment. As a former resident of Binghamton, NY, this writer is, in more ways than one, all too familiar with the frigid environs of Upstate New York. Winter comes early in that region of the Empire State and wears out its welcome long after spring makes an appearance in other tristate cities. Below is [End Page 347] material derived from several conversations between this writer and Dr. Sullivan in the spring of 2021. Judson L. Jeffries: Brother Sullivan, I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to me and agreeing to participate in this important project. Allen R. Sullivan: Oh, no problem—my pleasure. JLJ: How's everything going? AS: I'm not fussing too much, how's everything going with you? JLJ: I can't complain none Brother Sullivan, can't complain one bit. AS: Alright, that's good to hear. JLJ: Ok, I understand you earned your doctorate at Syracuse, but where did you go to college? AS: I went to Northeastern University in Boston. JLJ: Are you an East Coast guy? AS: If by East Coast guy, you mean did I grow up there—the answer is yes. I grew up in Cambridge. JLJ: Oh, I see, I see! I lived in Cambridge for about a year and a half, off and on. AS: Oh, is that right? JLJ: Sure did. One year I lived on Garden Street, another time I lived on Channing Drive or something like that. AS: What were you doing there? JLJ: One year I had a fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, another year I held a fellowship at Tufts University. AS: Ok, I didn't live far from Harvard's campus. I could look out of my window and see the tower on Harvard's campus. JLJ: Because I'm fairly familiar with Cambridge, let's talk a little bit about that area. AS: Ok. JLJ: What high school did you attend? AS: I attended Rindge Technical High School. JLJ: Ok, you got me there. I don't know anything about that school. Never heard of it. AS: It was founded in 1888. At Rindge, students were afforded the opportunity to learn a trade as well as take the kinds of courses one would normally take in order to prepare for college. I should...

The Value of Alpha SPF Roofing: An Alpha Case Study at William Lipscomb Elementary School

An Alpha roof is a type of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) roofing system that has been documented to be one of the highest performing roofs in the industry. Despite the high level of performance of the Alpha SPF roofs, owners still try to protect themselves by purchasing warranties. When the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) did not receive enough funding to purchase the Alpha roofs for their school buildings, general contractors started shopping the Alpha contractors. The demand for Alpha roofs during DISD bond programs exceeded the supply of Alpha vendors. DISD lowered the requirements and the contractors and manufacturers delivered lower quality roofs. DISD still required the performance of the Alpha roofing system, even though they bought lower performing systems without the quality control requirements of the higher performing Alpha roofs. DISD was not happy with the lower performance on some of the inexpensive roofs. This paper describes a case study that proposes that high roof performance is a result of expert contractors proving their past performance, detailed preplanning, manufacturers doing quality control, contractors tracking their time and cost deviations and independent third party inspections. The expert Alpha contractor completed the project with the best dimensional stability metrics (dimensional stability is a metric of long lasting roofs). The roof installation was completed in 20 days and saved DISD over 20% of the cost of the roof, despite an increase in the scope of work. It was the first DISD project that had no punch-list items after the final walkthrough. DISD was extremely satisfied with the roof and the Alpha program demonstrated its effectiveness in the installation of roofs.

Molecular Modeling of the PTF‐J and PTF‐L Heterotrimeric Complexes, 3‐D Printing, Overexpression, Purification and Structural Analysis of the Complexes using Cryo‐Electron Microscopy and Ptf1a gene Expression Patterns During Pancreas Development in Zebrafish

Dallas Independent School District biomedical research students study the master regulatory transcription factor heterotrimeric complexes PTF‐J and PTF‐L that are required for the early and late developmental cascade of the pancreas. The PTF‐J and PTF‐L complexes are composed of a common E‐box protein E12/47, Ptf1a. and either RbpJ or RbpL. The PTF‐J complex is required for the early developmental stage of the pancreas and during the secondary transition of pancreas development, RbpJ is replaced by RbpL generating the PTF‐L complex, which is required for the final maturation steps for the development of the exocrine pancreas. In the current studies biomedical research student utilized the known structures for RbpJ, RpbL, the MyoD bHLH domain and E12/47 bHLH domain to generate molecular models bound to the enhancer sequence found in genes regulated by the heterotrimeric complexes during pancreas development. The PTF‐J and PTF‐L enhancer sequence is composed of an E‐box sequence separated by one to three helical turns from a TC‐box sequence. Biomedical research students performed energy minimization of the complexes and generate a model using 3‐D printing technology. Biomedical research students also study the temporal and spatial expression patterns of the PTF‐J and PTF‐L complexes during pancreas development in Zebrafish using immunofluorescence. The overall goals the program are threefold: first, to expose enthusiastic high school students to an authentic hands‐on biomedical research project, second, to solve the structure of the complexes using Cryo‐Electron Microscopy and third to identify the temporal and spatial expression pattern of the Ptf1a protein during pancreas development in Zebrafish.Support or Funding InformationJunior League of DallasThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Dallas Students Take Flights

In 1954, when Brown vs. Board of Education (Brown) ruled that segregation was illegal, Dallas, like most southern cities, was very residentially segregated and not eager to welcome black children into white schools as mandated. The city dragged its feet far longer than others, and in 1961 it was the very last large school district in the country to allow black students to attend white schools (SMU Law 1). Busing for integration was implemented even farther behind other cities, but white flight out of the school district occurred in Dallas to a greater degree than most other metropolitan areas. Currently, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the Dallas school district has the second lowest percentage of white students, only behind Detroit (“Status and Trends”). There is no question that residential segregation in Dallas was happening long before segregated schools became illegal, leaving uncertainty about the true causes of the wholesale abandoning of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) by whites. Some researchers believe that the fear of integration doomed the process before it started, while others believe that the flawed implementation is responsible for its failure. I believe that the racial and political atmosphere in Dallas at the time supports a combination of both explanations, as the resisted, prolonged roll-out facilitated a level of fear that the actual implementation could never overcome.

The Cost Effectiveness of Alpha SPF Roofs: Casa View Elementary School Roofing Case Study

The performance of the Alpha Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) roofing system is perceived as not an economical option when compared to a 20-year modified roofing system. The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) is replacing the existing Alpha SPF roof systems with new roof systems rather than recoating the existing systems at a cost that is 100% more than the recoating costs. The DISD is in a heavy hail area, and the proven hail resistance of the Alpha SPF roof system is an additional benefit for DISD who is self-insured. The Casa View Elementary School roof system was installed with a Neogard Permathane roof system in 1987. This roof was hail tested with ten drops from 17 feet 9 inches of 1-3/4-inch steel ball (9 out of 10 passed) and three drops from 17 feet 9 inches with a 3-inch diameter steel ball (1 out of 3 passed). The analysis of the passing and failing core samples show that the thickness of the top and base Alpha SPF coating is one of the major differences in a roof passing or failing the FM-SH hail test. The current potential cost savings of purchasing a 61,000 square feet Alpha SPF roof versus modified bitumen roof is approximately $610,000 for DISD. The past hail tests on Alpha SPF roof systems show high customer satisfaction (9.8 out of 10) and an over 40-year service life after a $6.00/SF recoat.

Hail Study on a 15 Year Old Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Roofing System

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has utilized Alpha sprayed polyurethane (SPF) roof systems since the 1980s. Alpha SPF roof systems are high performing roof systems if installed properly and are very resistant to hail damage (hail damage is significant in the Dallas area). However, DISD, due to their low bid award procurement system, have had some poor performing roof systems installed by contractors who did not utilize performing materials and processes. The Alpha SPF roof system is now being questioned by designers who are not aware of their high performance and wanted to tear-off one of the oldest SPF roofing systems after a hail storm. This case study is on one of DISD roofs which were studied to determine the actual and potential service period based on actual performance. It was concluded that the roof is capable of lasting another 15 more years with a simple recoat (resulting in 38 years of performance at a fraction of the cost of a traditional modified roof).

Commentary—Sorting It Out

One of the most challenging decisions made by school system administrators each year is how to assign students to teachers. This decision, usually guided by the administrator’s beliefs and values, has major implications for the teacher and the student. Collins and Gan undertook a complex study to examine the impact of grouping practices on student achievement within 135 schools in the Dallas independent school district. Their study addressed three issues: (a) how schools sort students into classes, (b) the effect of these sorting practices on student performance, and (c) differences in effects for different groups of students. They looked at the “tracking effect” on high- and low-achieving students, students who had been identified for special (SPED) and gifted (GT) education, and for students with limited English proficiency (LEP). This commentary explores the implications of this study for students with gifts and talents.

The Replacement of Warranties with Logic and Common Sense

Many problems are caused by owners specifying project technical requirements to expert vendors, then picking the low-price vendor, assuming that all the vendors are providing the same quality of product. Research over the last 20 years has identified that when working with highly technical areas, this practice brings high risk to the owner because the vendors do not have the expertise to understand the requirements. The Alpha sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) roof system has brought the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) high value but also occasional risk caused by the low-price vendor. The authors are proposing that DISD’s effort to buy the Alpha SPF roof system through the low-price competition will cause DISD risk. A new approach is proposed to DISD: the Alpha SPF roof system only be used as an alternate value added option. This approach assumes that the only way the Alpha SPF system can be procured is if it is in the best interest of the owner due to dominant value. This approach minimizes the risk that DISD has encountered from low-price contractors who have not been able to minimize risk through the use of expertise and experience because their low-price was directly related to practices which are related to a lack of experience and expertise.

Sustaining the Heart: Attracting Latino Families to Inner-City Catholic Schools

More than ever, the challenges facing Catholic schools and Catholic school leaders require a “readiness to renew and adapt” (Vatican Council II, 1965). The skills and dispositions developed through applied action research—inquiry that is systematic, practitioner driven, and change oriented—are integral to the formation of teachers and leaders who will meet these challenges head on and strengthen Catholic schools for generations to come. The following action research project was conducted by a Catholic school leader who is a recent graduate of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame. The article you will read is one product of the comprehensive, four-course action research sequence that is a hallmark of the Remick Leadership Program, and is discussed in greater detail in the focus section overview. As you read on, you will notice that action research is highly contextualized—responsive to the specific needs in a particular school community—but also reflective of the broader educational research literature, and the rich traditions and teachings of our Catholic faith. We hope this action research inquiry informs your own practice, and inspires you to pursue mission driven and data informed leadership practices to bring about positive change in your own school or community.Like many urban Catholic schools, St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School in Dallas, Texas, is faced with many challenges: filling empty seats; supporting increased costs; and, possible closure. The small parish is primarily Latino, but few parish families are enrolled in the school. This action research project used in-depth interviews to examine parishioner-parent perspectives on the importance of Catholic education in the Latino community. Understanding the perspectives of parishioner-parents is a key step toward the ultimate goal of developing a marketing plan that attracts and engages Latino families. Participant interviews show that Latino parents believe Catholic schools are better than area Dallas Independent School District (DISD) schools in academics and preparing students for high school, and better than other religious education programs in teaching the Catholic faith. Ultimately, the study showed that these Latino parents strongly desire to send their children to Catholic schools.

“Children At Risk”: Development, Implementation, and Effectiveness of a School-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

Violence impacts the lives of children on a daily basis. In their communities, they witness drive-by shootings, drug deals, and violence in their schools while many endure abuse, neglect, and violent behavior in their homes. Because the traumatizing impact of such exposure disrupts a child's ability to concentrate and learn, the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) sought content expertise to develop a training vehicle for school district professionals. The program aimed to raise the awareness of educators to problems related to domestic violence and the myriad of circumstances at home and in the community that lead to exposure to violence. Approximately 15,000 faculty and staff of Dallas ISD were educated in the identification, intervention, and prevention of exposure to violence. Referrals and inquiries related to abuse have increased (approximately 70%) while the city of Dallas has witnessed a drop in the number of domestic violence and child abuse offenses.

Children With Asthma Miss More School: Fact or Fiction?

<h3>Background</h3> It is widely believed that children with asthma miss considerably more school than children without asthma. Previous surveys have indicated that 49% of children with asthma miss school (Asthma in America, 1998), but only a few studies have attempted to quantify the amount of school missed. Understanding the role of asthma in school attendance will help direct limited health-care resources to the children who need them most. <h3>Methods</h3> We investigated school absence rates in fourth- through sixth-grade students in 19 inner-city schools in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The sample consisted of 353 students who were identified as possibly having asthma based on responses to a modified Brief Pediatric Screen instrument and who underwent spirometry and/or exercise challenge (EC) testing to confirm the diagnosis of asthma: 25 students were excluded for FEV₁ < 70% and without bronchodilator response, while 157 students had EC-positive test results, and 171 students had EC-negative test results. We compared yearly absences for these students with each other, with all fourth- through sixth-grade students in the 19 study schools, and with all fourth- through sixth-grade students in the district. We also tabulated data from a separate database that included asthma patients identified by the school registered nurse (RN). Absence data by school and by grade level were provided by the school district for the 2002–2003 school year. <h3>Results</h3> Absence rates were as follows: 2.54% (EC positive), 2.12% (EC negative), 2.59% (abnormal FEV₁), 2.86% (RN identified), 2.85% (all fourth- through sixth-grade students in study schools), and 2.95% (all fourth- through sixth-grade students in the DISD). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Students with asthma in the DISD miss no more school their classmates without asthma.

Competitive sealed proposal process: A new approach in facilities construction for the Dallas Independent School District

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) is the 12th largest school district in the US with an operating budget of approximately $1.04bn and a diverse enrolment of more than 158,000 students. The district encompasses roughly 351 square miles, primarily within the boundaries of the City of Dallas, Texas. In November 2001, the Board of Trustees requested a bond election be held to address overcrowding with additions and new construction, and to improve existing buildings. Voters showed strong confidence and trust in the district when, in January 2002, they approved a $1.37bn bond programme to build 21 new facilities and add to or renovate all existing schools. The DISD Board of Trustees has selected competitive sealed proposal as the primary contracting method for construction under the 2002 Bond Programme. This method allows selection of qualified and competent general contractors who can meet the rigorous schedule and complex demands of multiple urban construction and renovation–construction projects. The intent of this paper is to give the reader a brief overview of the competitive sealed proposal process as it relates to school construction in the state of Texas, and how DISD has implemented this procurement method for its recent bond programme.

Dispelling the Myths of Exercise and Asthma

A 16-year-old boy comes into your office and says he needs inhaled albuterol. He wants to play soccer but becomes short of breath when he is out on the soccer field. He currently uses the drug once a week during exercise, and he tells you that his albuterol keeps him from being so short of breath. When you listen to his chest, it is clear. His history includes no complaints of wheeze or cough; he has had no emergency department visits, hospital visits, or even sick days related to asthma. How would you proceed with this patient? With the paradigm of adolescence revolving around sports, it is not unusual for children to come into a primary care office with shortness of breath related to exercise. Right now, 20% of all children enrolled in the Dallas Independent School District have a history of asthma or current symptoms. Yet it is important to clarify the role of exercise in asthma and to dispel some commonly held misconceptions about exercise and asthma. This article deals with 3 such myths: that asthma stops patients in their tracks, that patients are “allergic” to exercise, and that managing exercise-triggered asthma requires specialized help.

The Use of Multivariate Generated Regressors in the Presence of Heteroskedasticity

This paper describes the estimation and testing of regression models that include multivariate generated or computed regressors in the presence of heteroskedasticity in the cross-section case. Hetero- skedasticity is often a problem in cross-section data and the usual tests for its presence cannot be applied when the heteroskedasticity is in some measure due to computed regressors. We investigate the case of multiple computed regressors that are generated from the results of a system of seemingly unrelated regressions and we propose a method to test and correct the covariance estimates for unknown heteroskedasticity in the errors of the model of interest. In contrast to most time-series applications, we allow for the observations in the first step regression to be different from those for the second stage regression. We present an application in which a hedonic model of home purchases is estimated with a set of computed regressors defined from a multivariate regression of school quality. We demonstrate that property values do reflect the characteristics of the neighborhood school. We find evidence that property values can reflect the peer effect of a public school in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD).

A Randomized Controlled Trial Using the School for Anti-inflammatory Therapy in Asthma

This study investigated the impact of providing low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) at school or at home to asthmatic inner city children over a 14-week period, compared with the existing community standard. Eight elementary schools in the Dallas Independent School District with a high incidence of asthma located in predominantly urban African-American communities were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The treatment arms were school-based delivery of inhaled steroids, home-based delivery of inhaled steroids, and home-based delivery of inhaled steroids with school-based asthma education, and the control group was no change in current therapy. Fifty students were objectively diagnosed with mild, persistent asthma and participated in the study. Students in the treatment arms received beclomethasone (42 mcg/puff) 4 puffs, twice a day, either at school or at home. Students in the control, “community standard of care” group received no additional medical intervention. Higher peak flows for the treatment groups were seen in the first week and maintained throughout the study (P = .047). By week 5 significant differences were found in frequency of bronchodilator use (P = .025), episodes of nocturnal awakening with asthma symptoms (P = .022), and visits to the primary health care provider (P = .022). Treatment groups rated their asthma as “better than the week before” more frequently than the control group (P = .001). Delivering ICS in school is associated with improved asthma control than when anti-inflammatory medication was delivered to children with asthma in a home-based setting, and both are superior when compared with a control, “community standard of care” group in which no additional medical intervention occurred.

Threats of violence in schools: The Dallas independent school district's response

AbstractSchool violence has become a primary concern for parents, students, school personnel, and the public. As a result, educators are searching for methods to prevent violent acts perpetrated by youth. Dallas Public Schools developed procedures for assessing the potential for violence among children who express intent to harm others. The Dallas Violence Risk Assessment (DVRA) was developed to evaluate students who have made verbal or written threats of violence and to assist school staff in determining appropriate intervention strategies. This article describes the development of the DVRA, and presents case studies utilizing the DVRA procedures. Challenges and implications of the use of the DVRA are also discussed. © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.

Coaches: A Missing Link in the Health Care System-Reply

In Reply. —We applaud the administrative and educational support that Mr Kincaide provides for the coaches who work in the Dallas Independent School District. Clearly, certification does not guarantee that any individual coach will demonstrate the attributes that we described in our article. However, certification offers the simplest way to expose coaches to uniform standards of coaching that have been proved effective. We assume that this exposure can only increase the effectiveness and enthusiasm that coaches bring to the playing field. These coaches are then in a position to form a critical mass that can recruit the administrative infrastructure where they work, the parents of the athletes who play under them, and, most importantly, the athletes themselves, in a coordinated effort to better meet the health care needs of students.