Letter of Support for Fort Worth ISD & Quality Public Education
Mayor Mattie Parker and leaders in business, civic, philanthropic, political, and grassroots spheres stand ready to support our elected Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) school board in leading transformative change. It is time for a bold, unified approach to turn our failing schools around. Fort Worth ISD must urgently adopt a governance model that drives a clear, actionable turnaround strategy with measurable outcomes. Our students, educators, and families deserve better.
The undersigned offer our full support, our expertise, and our resources to help Fort Worth ISD become the district our city deserves. To join the movement, supporters can sign the open letter of support here: bit.ly/FWISD_SUPPORT
Chairwoman Rodriguez and Members of the Fort Worth ISD School Board,
Fort Worth stands as a beacon of growth and opportunity, the 12th largest city in the nation and the fastest growing of all major cities. We are proud of our cultural richness, our thriving business environment, and the ongoing expansion of higher education institutions.
A great city demands a great public education system, and our future depends on it. Fort Worth ISD is one of 12 public school districts in the City of Fort Worth, our largest ISD, and unfortunately, it has not kept pace with our city’s rapid ascent.
The data tells a sobering story: our district has consistently lagged behind other large Texas school systems. In Spring 2024, our students trailed 11 percentage points behind Dallas ISD, 14 behind Houston ISD, and 18 behind Brownsville ISD. Furthermore, when we look at the 24 public school systems serving more than 20,000 students in Texas with a similar student population, Fort Worth ISD is ranked third from the bottom at number 22 out of 24 districts, a 25 percentage point gap from the top of the list.
These results are unacceptable. For our city’s children, these results can significantly narrow their ability to access the life and the opportunities that they want and deserve. And for our city, there are significant long-term consequences in the areas of workforce, economic development, poverty, public health, and much more.
Two diverse urban school districts in Texas have proven that large-scale, systemwide district reform is possible. Last week, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to turn around the district, penned a letter to the Houston legislative delegation to celebrate the remarkable improvements in the district’s state accountability ratings. We have attached the letter here for your review. In one year, Houston ISD, the largest and most diverse public school district in Texas, saw significant academic growth in nearly every grade level and subject. Closer to home, Dallas ISD, which trailed Fort Worth ISD’s academic proficiency just over a decade ago has improved dramatically, significantly outperforming our students in meeting grade-level standards.
Houston ISD accomplished these results following state-mandated intervention due to chronic academic failure, while Dallas ISD implemented a strategic turnaround plan from within. Greatness is possible for ALL kids — with inspirational and accountable leadership that channels the dedication of teachers, principals, and staff to focus on high-quality instruction implemented with fidelity. Fort Worth ISD has the opportunity to lead with courage to turn around our district and avoid state intervention.
Our students, educators, and families deserve better. It is time for a bold, unified approach to turn our schools around and become the district of choice for families. As leaders in business, civic, philanthropic, political, and grassroots spheres, we stand ready to support you, our elected school board, in leading this transformation. This moment calls for visionary, student-centere leadership that sets ambitious goals, crafts a strategic plan for academic excellence, and ensures every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely.
Fort Worth ISD must urgently adopt a governance model that drives a clear, actionable turnaround strategy with measurable outcomes. We urge you to:
· Develop clear and ambitious goals focused on student achievement.
· Align the goals with budget priorities informed by a thorough audit.
· Implement high-quality instruction across every classroom.
· Prioritize academic interventions for students who are falling behind.
· Conduct a comprehensive personnel audit, implement targeted evaluation plans, and develop compensation programs that support and retain top educators.
· Pause any further bond expenditure until a thoughtful district facilities plan is developed that enhances teacher capacity and student resources.
We envision a district where all students are proficient on state assessments, where College, Career, and Military Readiness are within reach for every graduate, and where the achievement gap for our minority and economically disadvantaged students is not just narrowed, but fully closed. The board must establish bold, aspirational goals that are directly aligned with these priorities, ensuring that progress is measured, and success is achieved. These shared aspirations are not distant ideals but achievable realities — if we unite and work together.
We recognize the enormity of this challenge, but you do not face it alone. We offer our full support, our expertise, and our resources to help Fort Worth ISD become the district our city deserves. Those undersigned, and countless others, stand ready to continue to provide the resources necessary to see that Fort Worth’s flagship school district is the best urban school district in Texas and, ultimately, the nation.
Together, we can create a future where our city continues to thrive, and every Fort Worth family can confidently choose our public schools, knowing their children will receive a world-class education. Thank you for your dedication to serving on the school board. Let us seize this moment to lead Fort Worth to new heights, together.
