Latest news with #FWISD
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Fort Worth ISD sees reading gains on STAAR test after months of struggles
Fort Worth ISD is celebrating signs of academic progress following a difficult year marked by accountability concerns and performance challenges. New STAAR results released this week show reading scores have improved across grades three through eight, surpassing the district's literacy goal by four percentage points. "We're very happy to see gains across the board in literacy, which has definitely been a focus this school year," Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar said. District faces recent scrutiny CBS News Texas The district has faced increased scrutiny in recent months. In April, it received a "D" accountability rating for the first time, based on 2023 data. In May, state leaders raised the possibility of a takeover. However, the latest scores offer a sense of momentum. "I am proud, not only of our school district, but our city for standing behind FWISD," Molinar said. "Everyone has a goal, and that's students in mind." Math gains and gaps In addition to literacy improvements, fourth-grade math scores also showed gains. "The data shows us exactly where we already knew we had gaps, especially in our math area," Molinar said. "We pivoted early on with small group interventions for identified students and intensive campus-level support." Statewide trends mirror local results Statewide trends mirror those in Fort Worth. Students across Texas continue to show growth in reading, but more than half remain below grade level in math—a concern for long-term academic success. Despite the positive momentum, some experts remain cautious. "It was really encouraging to see continued growth in reading," said Gabe Grantham, policy advisor for the nonprofit Texas 2036. "But more than half our students are below grade level in math, which is just not okay when we're thinking about how core those skills are for academic and post-academic success." New academic strategies launched In response, Fort Worth ISD is launching an aggressive academic redesign. Plans include more instructional time for middle school students, a new phonics program for kindergarten through second grade, and enhanced dyslexia support tools. "If we want to talk about obstacles, it's the implementation — the consistent implementation — of this new framework," Molinar said. "And we are not going to allow anyone not to implement that on a consistent basis." Focus on long-term progress While district leaders are encouraged by the gains, they acknowledge that sustained improvement is critical, especially as they work to avoid state intervention. "Our scores show the commissioner that we are headed in the right direction," Molinar said. "And we've already been aggressive about putting action steps in place to address the student issues." Grantham echoed that sentiment. "We want to make sure we never take our foot off the gas," he said. "I don't think you can look at the scores and say we've done enough as a state."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fort Worth ISD reports 2024 STAAR results, prioritizes literacy in ongoing overhaul
The Brief Fort Worth ISD announced preliminary 2024 STAAR results showing gains in reading and most subjects across grades 3-8. The district surpassed its strategic plan literacy goal and saw improvements in 4th and 5th-grade reading and math, and US History and Biology EOCs. FWISD acknowledges challenges in English I and II and plans a full curriculum redesign and new literacy/math frameworks for the 2025-26 school year. FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) announced their preliminary 2024 STAAR results on Tuesday and states their intentional focus on literacy is already resulting in gains for students across the district. Big picture view On Tuesday, during the regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting included FWISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar. Dr. Molinar presented preliminary STAAR scores from spring testing. The preliminary data showed reading performance scores are on the rise. FWISD not only met its strategic plan literacy goal but surpassed it by four percentage points. What they're saying "Beyond third grade reading, we are also seeing gains in nearly every tested subject in third through eighth grades, a strong signal that our instructional strategies and support systems are driving meaningful outcomes for students across the district," Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar said. "Our work does not stop here. In fact, it's only just begun. Moving forward, we have to remain focused on literacy and be willing to make changes in areas we are not performing as we should be," Molinar added. By the numbers Results for the grades 3-8 STAAR showed no decreases in reading scores for all grades, with gains ranging from 2-7%. Preliminary scores also show: • 4th grade reading and math scores went up at all levels – Approaches, Meets, and Masters. • 5th grade reading scores improved at the Meets and Masters levels, while the Approaches level stayed the same. The biggest gain was at the Meets level, with a 5% increase. • The percentage of students achieving the Masters level in US History increased to 25%, reflecting growth among our highest-performing students. • 85% of students taking the Biology EOC scored at Approaches Grade Level or higher, and the percentage meeting or exceeding grade level expectations rose significantly. Dig deeper FWISD says they recognize the challenges in English I and II performance and are diving deeper into the data to act with urgency to address performance challenges. Superintendent Dr. Molinar is putting new measures in place to address these deficiencies, such as demo classrooms with instructional modeling, and a full curriculum redesign with tiered support tailored to student needs. What's next As FWISD moves into the 2025-26 school year and implements the District Wide Strategic Plan, every decision Fort Worth ISD makes will focus on what truly drives student success. The district is already launching a bold and aggressive redesign of literacy and math frameworks. This includes more instructional time in middle schools, a new phonics program for kindergarten through second grade, and enhanced dyslexia tools. "We will continue to work to give every student in Fort Worth ISD the tools they need to succeed. I am proud of our teachers and students and what they accomplished this year, but we will hit the ground running in August and continue to improve. Every second and every student counts", said Molinar. The Source Information in this article was provided by the Fort Worth Independent School District.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fort Worth ISD celebrates preliminary 2025 STAAR results for grades 3 through 8
Officials with the Fort Worth Independent School District are celebrating preliminary results from a statewide standardized test that they said shows gains in reading performance for grades 3 through 8. Superintendent Karen Molinar presented the early test results for spring 2025 during a school board meeting on Tuesday, June 10, a week before the Texas Education Agency publicly releases statewide testing data from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, for elementary and middle school grades. TEA released End-of-Course assessment results for high school subjects on Tuesday morning, which showed the district had seen gains in student performance in Biology and Algebra I, but losses in English I, English II and U.S. History. The preliminary test scores for grades 3-8 showed no decreases in reading scores across the board, and the gains seen ranged from 2-7%. Notably, reading and math scores for third and fourth graders increased at all performance levels. The largest decrease in performance, compared to official 2024 results, was seen in fifth grade math for students approaching grade level in the subject. There were 62% of students meeting this metric in 2025 compared to 66% in 2024. 'We are definitely not anywhere near where we want to be for any student in this district and as a district as a whole, but this does show that the actions that we did put in place this school year — by putting adults in front of students; and redesigning our campus instructional coaches to work with small groups; the professional learning and developments that we provided to our assistant principals (and) our principals with our leading and learning team, with putting a focus on instruction and data, we saw results,' Molinar said. Molinar emphasized that the elementary and middle school data she presented was unofficial student-level data that would not be used for projecting the district's A-F accountability ratings, which are administered by TEA to measure how well campuses and districts are performing academically and beyond. During the school board's June 24 meeting, Molinar said she would present the official results from TEA that will include a breakdown of the data by student demographics. 'I'm choosing to share our early results around our 3-8 (grades) to show you the importance of the plans we have already put in place for '25-'26 (school year),' Molinar said. 'This is what we call very dirty data from a state file, and that we'll see all cleaned up later on, on those release dates. Everything can differ just by a little bit, but we're very confident in the percentages that you'll see.' The district is implementing a new instructional framework in the upcoming school year where all lessons will be structured the same way across all grades to create consistency in instruction and reduce planning time for teachers. The framework is part of the district's efforts to turnaround its stagnant academic performance that's been seen historically. The district is also implementing a new block schedule for middle school students, who will have 90-minute classes starting in August. Molinar noted the district met a literacy goal outlined in its strategic plan, which was to increase the percentage of third graders meeting grade level in reading on STAAR to 33% by 2025. The preliminary test results showed 37% of third graders meeting this benchmark. This literacy goal grows over the next four years with a final goal of having 50% of third graders reading on grade level by 2029. An additional math goal outlined in the strategic plan for third graders was also met for 2025, Molinar added. The target was 32% of students meeting grade level, and the early test results show 34% students performing at that level. 'Very excited about that. We know our target for next year in 2026 is 36%. We believe, with that new instructional planning calendar and framework and the redesign that we will not only meet that target in 2026, but we will exceed that target,' Molinar said.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Here's who's on the ballot for Fort Worth ISD's District 9 school board seat
Fort Worth Independent School District board President Roxanne Martinez faces off against Robyne Kelly, a retired flight attendant and substitute teacher, for the District 9 school board seat. Martinez, who is wrapping up her first term on the board, touted her experience as a board member during a time of challenges and transitions. Kelly pledged to fight for a quality public education for all students. Early voting runs from April 22-April 29 for the May 3 election. Here's what to know: Age: 44 Campaign website: Best way for voters to reach you: Email: info@ Occupation: Marketing Consultant Education: Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School (FWISD); Bachelor of Science in Journalism/Communications from University of Florida; Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management from University of Dallas Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years) Yes, I am the current FWISD School Board Trustee District 9; Elected in 2021 Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Fort Worth. My civic involvement and engagement includes: Past board service with Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Women's Network of Texas Fort Worth Chapter, Fort Worth Community Action Partners Council and Diamond Hill Jarvis Heritage Foundation. I have previously served as chair of the Tarrant County Cancer Disparities Coalition, on the marketing committee for Girls Inc. of Tarrant County and as a member of the City of Fort Worth Race & Culture Task Force. I have completed the SteerFW Keyholders program and a Leadership ISD fellowship. I currently lead the Diamond Hill North Side Youth Association and serve as a volunteer for Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center, Diamond Hill Community Center and Riverside Community Center back to school programs. Prior to being elected, I was an active Fort Worth ISD parent volunteer; DHJ Athletics Booster Club president, District Advisory Committee member and served on the site-based decision making committees for two neighborhood schools. Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes, filed bankruptcy in 2015 (due to medical expenses - cancer) Who are your top three campaign contributors? Patricia Martinez; Rosa Najevar; Steven Poole Why are you seeking this office? As a product of Fort Worth ISD and a parent in the district, I truly believe that every student should have the opportunity to succeed. Under my leadership, the Fort Worth ISD Board adopted a strategic plan that prioritizes student achievement and places a renewed focus on literacy. But there's still more work to do. With the right Superintendent now in place, I want to continue the work to move the district forward and toward success. If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? If re-elected, my top three priorities include: improving student achievement, specifically around literacy rates; managing financial sustainability through the adoption of a strategic budget and master facilities plan, and promoting transparency/communication that restores trust among parents, teachers, staff and stakeholders. How will you measure your success as a district trustee? As a district trustee, I measure my success based on our collective success as a district, specifically the progress we make toward our comprehensive district goals. I will also measure my own success as a trustee on how I personally contribute toward those top priorities that I have listed. Why should voters choose you over your opponent? What sets me apart from my opponent is my proven board experience and steady leadership. Over the past four years, I've helped guide our district through some challenging times — from the COVID pandemic to leadership transitions — always with a focus on what's best for students. As a product of Fort Worth ISD and a parent in the district, I bring a student-centered perspective shaped by firsthand experience. I'm present on campuses, engaged in the community, and I listen. Parents, students, and staff know they can count on me to be accessible and responsive — whether it's through social media, in person at events, or by email. Fort Worth ISD has declared literacy as its main priority. What strategies would you like to see the district adopt to boost reading scores? If re-elected, I will continue to support the Superintendent's literacy initiatives, advocate for the adoption of a literacy-focused budget and hold the Superintendent accountable for student outcomes, specifically when it comes to literacy. As an ambassador for the district, I will work to build and foster community partnerships that support literacy goals and enhance educational opportunities for students. Besides literacy, what other issues do you consider priorities for Fort Worth ISD, and how would you address them? Financial sustainability and improved transparency should also be priorities for the district. The board can address these priorities through implementation of good governance, adoption of a strategic budget, completion of a master facilities plan, and effective communication with stakeholders. Improvement in these key areas will improve issues around declining enrollment, stakeholder mistrust and retention of great teachers and staff. Age: 58 Campaign website: Best way for voters to reach you: Occupation: Substitute teacher/retired Flight Attendant Education: B.A. in Speech Communications from Texas A & M University, College Station, TX M.S. in Journalism from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years) No Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Fort Worth. Fort Worth Public Arts | Art Commissioner Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Advisory Committee | Fort Worth member Volunteer Deputy Registrar | Tarrant County Leadership Fort Worth | 2010 United Way of Tarrant County | Blueprint for Board Service United Riverside Neighborhood Association | member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. | 38-years member Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Civil lawsuit - topiary removal Who are your top three campaign contributors? Family, friends and neighbors/about $2000 to date Why are you seeking this office? I believe in public education. And I want great public education for all students. If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? Literacy, Mathematics and Transportation. How will you measure your success as a district trustee? The FWISD will continue to increase literacy scores, marrying the philosophy of motivated teachers with concerned parents to inspire the students. Why should voters choose you over your opponent? I am the candidate to fight for public education for all students. I believe in the existence of public education and its greatness. Fort Worth ISD has declared literacy as its main priority. What strategies would you like to see the district adopt to boost reading scores?Besides literacy, what other issues do you consider priorities for Fort Worth ISD, and how would you address them? I'm referencing an article, entitled 'The Top Ten Science of Reading Strategies in 2024, in my answer. 1. Phonemic Awareness 2. Phonics 3. Vocabulary 4. Fluency 5. Comprehension
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pedestrian fatally struck by train in south Fort Worth, officials say
A pedestrian was fatally struck by a train Saturday, March 29, in south Fort Worth, officials said. First responders were called to the area of Whispering Brook Lane and Crescent Creek Lane around 11:15 a.m. The man had been walking on the edge of the tracks near a rise, according to Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Clay. The engineer tried to slow the train down and sounded the horn in warning, but the man didn't react, Clay said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will identify the pedestrian. Police said they will investigate the incident. 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → FWISD to redirect $22.7M toward reading, which means job cuts → Lawyer accused of making death threats against commissioner → Popular sushi restaurant to open in Fort Worth near zoo [Get our breaking news alerts.]
