In the first public address of his second term, Mayor Eric Johnson joined Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and others to announce the scheduling of the 27th Annual Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair.
The annual fair — planned collaboratively by the City of Dallas, Dallas ISD, nonprofits, and volunteers — is known for providing over 10,000 “economically disadvantaged” students and their families, preparing them for the new school year by serving as a “one-stop shop for school supplies, valuable services, and community resource,” according to a press release from Mayor Johnson’s office.
Slated to take place on Friday, August 4, the fair will be held inside the Automobile Building and Centennial Hall at Fair Park.
In addition to school supplies, qualifying students will also be given access to vision exams, dental screenings, required immunizations, and other health services.
“I am consistently reminded that Dallas is strong because our people are strong,” Mayor Johnson said, per the press release. “The Dallas community’s support of this event is further proof. Together, we will ensure that Dallas children have the opportunities they need to learn and grow this upcoming school year.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas ISD has struggled academically for years, with the troubled district only managing to graduate around 20% of its Class of 2022 on time. Additionally, only about 40% of all Dallas ISD students scored at grade level on the STAAR exam last school year.
A lot of the district’s dedicated teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies for their students — many of whom are economically disadvantaged — despite Dallas ISD’s roughly $2.2 billion annual budget.
“The Dallas Mayor’s Back to School Fair shows how committed Dallas is to getting all our kids what they need to succeed in school,” Elizalde said, according to the press release. “Other cities don’t have mayors this dedicated to education, and we couldn’t be more grateful for Mayor Johnson’s partnership.”
Some of the upcoming event’s sponsors include Sewell Automotive, WFAA, Greater Texas Credit Union, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Southwest Beverages, Mattress Firm, Oncor, and Southern Methodist University, among others.
Junior League of Dallas will recruit and train more than 500 volunteers for the event.
“Education is one of our core impact areas, and we strongly believe that our children should have all the necessary tools to be successful in school. This annual fair is the perfect way to serve our community and leverage our trained volunteers to alleviate the financial burden of school supplies and other preparations required for students to achieve and excel throughout the school year,” said Junior League of Dallas President Christina Eubanks, per the press release.
Families must register online or at specific in-person events to receive free school supplies. Eligibility is dependent on students’ residency in Dallas or enrollment in a Dallas ISD school, with necessary proof required. Families must also prove that their household income is equal to or less than the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines for Texas.