Photo courtesy of Fox 4 News
FORT WORTH, Texas – Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) is taking bold action to combat its literacy challenges with the approval of a new strategic plan, endorsed by the school board on Tuesday night. This comprehensive roadmap aims to improve reading proficiency and bolster overall student achievement.
The initiative follows an alarming revelation: less than half of FWISD students are reading at grade level. Interim Superintendent Karen Molinar emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling it the district’s most critical challenge.
The strategic plan is built on four key priorities:
- Student Academic Excellence
- Student and Family Engagement
- Employee Effectiveness and Retention
- Operational Alignment and Efficiency
Molinar expressed confidence in the plan, underscoring the district’s commitment to supporting its educators. “Our teachers and leaders are the most important people in this district. We work for them,” she said. “This plan shows how we’ll turn things around by equipping them with the tools and resources they need.”
Community Feedback and Collaboration
Tuesday night’s board meeting featured robust feedback from parents and stakeholders, highlighting the importance of collaboration in implementing the plan.
“I’m eager to say that this plan mirrors much of the work Parent Shield has been advocating for,” said parent Trenace Dorsey-Hollins. “Providing assessments to students and ensuring parents receive reports is key to driving progress.”
However, other parents urged the district to enhance how feedback is collected. “We need to be very thoughtful about engaging parents,” one parent said. “Many of them are working multiple jobs and don’t have time to complete emailed surveys.”
City leaders have also thrown their support behind the initiative, recognizing its broader implications. “If we continue to have generations of kids not reading at grade level, we won’t attract the companies we want in Fort Worth and beyond,” warned Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens. “This issue is critical.”
Stakeholder Engagement
Molinar noted the extensive input received during the plan’s development. “We want the public to know that we heard you,” she said. “More than 3,000 stakeholders – parents, community members, teachers, and district employees – provided valuable feedback.”
A Literacy Crisis with Long-Term Impact
Fort Worth ISD serves approximately 70,000 students, the majority of whom are African American or Hispanic and come from underserved communities. Addressing the district’s literacy crisis is not just an educational priority but a socioeconomic imperative for the city’s future.
Background
The development of this literacy roadmap follows more than a year of planning and discussions. It comes after criticism of former Superintendent Angelica Ramsey, who faced backlash in 2024 for presenting a proposal late in the summer that was ultimately rejected due to a lack of transparency.
With the new plan in place, FWISD is taking a decisive step toward ensuring its students are equipped with the literacy skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
