The Dallas school district says it has verified the required number of signatures needed to move forward with an effort to create a home-rule school charter.
More than 24,650 signatures have been verified – that represents more than 5 percent of the district’s registered voters, the threshold required in order to move forward.
The Dallas school board now has 30 days to appoint a 15-member commission of district residents. A majority of commission members must be parents of school-age children who attend public school, while 25 percent of the commission must be classroom teachers.
The Dallas school board has called a special meeting for 9 p.m. Thursday to discuss how it will appoint the commission.
Supporters of home-rule hope the matter is placed on a November ballot.
More than 49,000 lines were reviewed, the district announced in a news release. Of those, 11,431 signatures came from people not registered to vote; 4,537 came from people who didn’t live within the district; 2,984 came from people with questionable addresses; 1,914 came from people whose voter registration had apparently been cancelled; and 940 signatures appeared more than once.
DISD has set up a web page to explain home-rule.
KERA's Bill Zeeble explains the home-rule proposal:
It would be a new way to run the school district, allowing it to avoid certain state rules. The Texas legislature approved home-rule charter districts 19 years ago. But no Texas district has ever passed it, perhaps because it takes a lot of signatures -- 5 percent of registered voters -- to get it on the ballot. After that, a quarter of registered voters must turn out when it’s on the ballot. A petition drive is underway. About 25,000 signatures need to be collected. If it's successful, DISD trustees would appoint a 15-member charter commission that would create a governance plan over which trustees would have no power or control. ... Trustees question those behind the effort. The push comes from a group called Support Our Public Schools, which says it wants to work with the board to improve education. ... The home-rule charter would then appear on November’s ballot. If at least a quarter of Dallas’ registered voters turn out and approve it, the district would follow those new rules. The process has led to loud rallies, such as one held a few weeks ago.
Catch up on KERA's coverage of the home-rule proposal:
- Supporters Of Home-Rule Proposal Explain Why They Want To Reform Dallas Schools
- Dallas Home-Rule School Opponents Fear They'll Lose Representation And Rights
Bush Center President Margaret Spellings Discusses Home-Rule Law She Helped Write
Dallas Mayor Rawlings Tells KERA: Toyota Chose Plano Over Dallas Because Of DISD
