Latest news with #FortWorthISD
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
- Business
- Yahoo
Fort Worth Independent School District board approves $43.6M deficit budget
The Fort Worth Independent School District's board approved a budget on Tuesday evening that leaves the district in a financial hole — but one district leaders expect to be able to climb partway out of in the next few months. The board voted unanimously to approve a $43.6 million deficit budget for the 2025-26 school year. But district leaders expect that number to shrink to $33 million in the coming months as funding measures that Texas lawmakers recently passed come into effect. Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, the district's chief financial officer, said the district would need to dip into its reserves to cover the deficit. Over the next year, Fort Worth ISD's financial team will develop a three- to five-year financial plan to allow the district to put the district in a better financial position and allow it to move toward a balanced budget, she said. The general operating budget the board approved comes to $869.7 million. The bulk of the budget — $486 million, or about 58% of the general fund — is dedicated to instruction. While the operating budget the board approved is slightly smaller than the district's projected spending for the 2024-25 school year, its instructional budget grew by about $2 million. The budget doesn't include new money the district is set to receive through House Bill 2, an education finance bill that includes more than $8 billion in spending. Lawmakers passed the bill during the legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month. It includes money for teacher pay raises, campus safety requirements and incentives for high-performing teachers. The final version of the bill also included a $55 increase in the per-student allotment districts get from the state, marking the first adjustment lawmakers have made to the basic allotment since 2019. But that change represented a major departure from earlier versions of the bill, which included a $395 boost to the basic allotment. In the final version, lawmakers instead included targeted money for priorities such as transportation, insurance and costs associated with re-hiring retired teachers to fill vacancies. Arrieta-Candelaria said district leaders are still analyzing funding-related bills to figure out how they'll affect the district financially before incorporating them into the district's budget. District leaders will bring the raises outlined in House Bill 2 back to the board as a budget amendment proposal in July or August, Arrieta-Candelaria said. Fort Worth ISD isn't the only district dealing with budget woes. In April, Northwest ISD cut more than 100 teacher positions in an effort to close a $16 million budget deficit. Last month, Dallas ISD's board approved a budget with a $129 million shortfall, to be covered by the district's rainy day fund. During Tuesday's meeting, several board members said they were concerned about the district's financial stability. Board member Kevin Lynch noted that, at its current trajectory, the district could only afford to continue operating on deficit budgets for about another two years. Saying the situation caused him 'a little bit of heartburn,' Lynch said the board and school leaders will need to make some difficult financial decisions in the next few years. Last month, board members approved a plan to close 18 campuses over the next five years in response to more than a decade of declining enrollment and per-student revenue losses. But Karen Molinar, the district's superintendent, told the board on Tuesday that investing in instruction can be part of a strategy for attracting families back to the district. The district's student achievement has been stagnant for more than a decade, and its state test scores have lagged behind the state's other big urban districts. But there are signs that the district is making progress on that front. Also during Tuesday's meeting, Molinar presented the district's preliminary results from last spring's STAAR exams. Across grades 3 through 5, the district either held steady or gained ground in all subjects except 5th-grade math. While she acknowledged that the district isn't where it should be, Molinar said the progress on the state test is a sign that the district's strategy is working. The district also needs to do a better job of making sure families feel welcome in the district, Molinar said. Often, when parents transfer their kids out of the district, it's because they felt like no one was listening to them, she said. The district's leaders, both in its central office and at its campuses, need to make sure families understand that the district values them and their kids, she said. 'People want to be somewhere where they feel wanted, and where they feel comfortable,' Molinar said. 'And we have to be the ones who model that and put that in place.'
CBS News
27-05-2025
- CBS News
Fort Worth grandmother shot nine times during church event prep now defying the odds
Family asks for help after Fort Worth grandmother survives shooting: "We're Still in Fear" Family asks for help after Fort Worth grandmother survives shooting: "We're Still in Fear" Family asks for help after Fort Worth grandmother survives shooting: "We're Still in Fear" A 71-year-old woman is recovering in a Tarrant County hospital after being shot nine times in her home, according to her family. Her name and photo are being withheld for security reasons. "We don't know who did this or why," said the Rev. Roderick Smith. "So, of course, we want to make sure that once she's safe -- one, that they don't come and do something else to her." Smith said the victim is his mother's older sister. The call about his aunt on May 16 came as a shock. Planning a memorial, then gunfire CBS News Texas Smith said his aunt, a former Fort Worth ISD employee and church leader, had just gotten off the phone with his mother. She had been planning a balloon release for a former co-worker who had recently died. "She said she literally had the phone in her hand and was putting it down," Smith said. "And she literally felt the first bullet and started hearing all the shots — about 20 to 30 rounds entered our home." Fort Worth police responded to the home in the 6400 block of Shasta Trail shortly after 2 a.m. on May 16. Investigators said a gunman walked between two houses and opened fire. No one else was injured. Surviving the attack "I've seen it where a young person gets shot with one AR or one assault rifle bullet and passes away. She was shot nine times," Smith said. "She's still with us." He said his aunt described a bullet entering her knee and watching it swell instantly. "She said, 'All I could do was call on Jesus. I just started calling on Jesus and screaming for help,'" Smith said. "She was able to pick up the phone, call her neighbor and say, 'Hey, I've been shot.'" The victim's grandson, who recently came to stay with her, declined to speak with CBS Texas. Smith said investigators have not indicated any connection between the shooting and his cousin's stay. Investigation ongoing Fort Worth police have assigned the gang unit to the case. Smith said there is surveillance video of the shooting, and the family hopes it will lead to an arrest. "Shot nine times on her right side. I know they had to go in and rebuild — restructure her whole knee, foot, arms, and stuff like that," Smith said. Her leg is improving. She can now bend it and wiggle her toes — a feat doctors weren't sure would be possible. A testimony of survival Smith said his aunt, a prophetess in her church, now has a new testimony to share. "God is just showing people that he's still in the miracle-working business," he said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
3-year-old boy drowns in backyard swimming pool at Arlington home
A 3-year-old boy who drowned in a swimming pool at his Arlington family's home has been identified by the medical examiner. Alexander Velasquez died Sunday evening at Medical City Arlington hospital, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Arlington police called the drowning a tragic accident and said no charges are expected to be filed. Officers were called about 4:45 p.m. on Friday to the toddler's home on Overbrook Drive, where they were met by an adult who carried the child to the front yard. The police investigation found that the boy apparently got outside and his family looked for him as soon as they realized he wasn't inside the house. The family pulled the child out of the backyard pool, and officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived. A family member has organized a GoFundMe account to raise money for funeral arrangements, writing that Alex 'was the most precious child and his absence has been hard to accept.' 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Fort Worth ISD board approves plan to close 18 schools → TCU student murder case moves toward trial → Mansfield ISD board approves superintendent's contract [Get our breaking news alerts.]
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
1 adult hospitalized, 1 in police custody after stabbing incident at Fort Worth elementary school
An adult is in the hospital and another is in police custody after a stabbing at South Hills Elementary School in Fort Worth. Fort Worth police and firefighters responded to the stabbing call at the school late Thursday morning. The Fort Worth ISD campus is on the southwest side of the city on the corner of Bilglade Road and Cockrell Avenue. According to city records, police and paramedics were dispatched shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday. In an email to parents, the school's principal, Melissa Russell, said the altercation happened between two adults during an outdoor awards ceremony reception. One of the adults was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. The suspect is in custody. Russell continued to say that students were immediately brought inside out of an abundance of caution and the campus was placed on hold. All students and staff were reported safe. Parents were encouraged to check their students out early. Students at the school range in age from pre-K through 5th grade. Thursday is Fort Worth ISD's last day of school. This story is developing. Check back for updates.
