Dallas ISD Prepares for New School Year with Low Teacher Vacancies and New Facilities

The start of the 2025–2026 school year brings more than just fresh notebooks and sharpened pencils — it comes with a wave of policy shifts, new school facilities, and legislative mandates that will be felt in every corner of Texas classrooms. From Dallas ISD to smaller suburban districts, changes in how students learn, connect, and even communicate during the day are about to take center stage.

The Final Countdown

For Dallas ISD families, the countdown to the first day of school — Tuesday, August 12 — began with the district’s Back-to-School Kickoff on August 2 at Ellis Davis Field House. As Dallas Weekly reported earlier this summer, the event served as a one-stop shop for parents and students to handle registration, meet teachers, and gather school supplies. It was also a moment for the district to set the tone for the year ahead: well-staffed classrooms, newly built learning environments, and compliance with a fresh round of state laws.

The More Teachers The Merrier 

This year, Dallas ISD is entering August with historically low teacher vacancies — fewer than 100 openings district-wide — a major improvement from past years. The district is also unveiling a slate of new facilities, including the $80 million John Lewis Social Justice Academy at O.W. Holmes, the $63 million Henry Longfellow Career Exploration Academy, and the newly opened Albert C. Black STEAM Academy. Renovations at Casa View and H.I. Holland Elementary Schools aim to modernize and expand space for students in growing neighborhoods.

New Rules From Austin

But not all the changes are local decisions. State lawmakers have put new rules in place that affect every public school in Texas. House Bill 1481 introduces a ban on personal communication devices — smartphones, smartwatches, tablets — during school hours. Schools have until September 18th to establish a written policy based on HB 1481.  

Elementary students will have their devices collected in their homeroom, while middle and high school students will store them in magnetic locking pouches. A retrieval fee starting at $5 will be charged for confiscated items, with costs increasing for repeat offenses. 

The all Republican-backed Senate Bill 10 requires every classroom to display a 16×20-inch copy of the Ten Commandments, while Senate Bill 12 prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, race-based hiring practices, and activities recognizing LGBTQ+ identities in schools.

Beyond Dallas Schools

These mandates are reshaping school policies well beyond Dallas. Fort Worth ISD is rolling out the same device restrictions while also extending the academic year for 15 campuses — adding 25 extra instructional days and pushing the school year through June 30.

In Arlington ISD, administrators are finalizing plans for how to display the required Ten Commandments plaques while also implementing an “Away For The Day” cellphone policy.

Mesquite ISD is implementing its own strict device collection system and reinforcing student dress codes in anticipation of more focused in-class learning time. 

Some school districts like Lancaster ISD, are offering communication systems like Let’s Talk to help students and parents navigate the district changes with state compliance. With tools like these, students, staff, community and parents may submit questions, concerns, suggestions or compliments through the online customer service and communication tool. This may be the only solution in the near future for maintaining community trust amid these macroscopic changes to school districts at the state level.

Eyes On A New Prize 

North Texas students will also see broader shifts in statewide education priorities. Governor Greg Abbott has called for a special legislative session to debate eliminating the STAAR test requirement — a move that could radically alter assessment standards in the coming years. Meanwhile, Dallas County is running back-to-school vaccination clinics to ensure students meet health requirements before stepping into the classroom. Schedule an appointment and find more information about getting your student vaccinated in time for the school year here. 

For parents and students, the message is clear: the 2025–2026 school year will not be “business as usual.” New facilities may offer more modern learning spaces, but the legislative changes will redefine daily routines, classroom environments, and even what hangs on the walls. Dallas Weekly will continue following how these adjustments play out — from the hallways of South Dallas’ newly built academies to the suburban schools adapting to the same statewide rules.

As families prepare for the first bell, one thing is certain: education in Texas is entering a new era, and every student, teacher, and parent will feel its impact.