Ft Worth Times

James Herness, a parent from Fort Worth, expressed his support for school choice, a topic currently under debate in the Texas legislature. Herness shared his statement with the Ft. Worth Times on February 14.

"I am a supporter of school choice," said Herness.

Senate Bill 2 proposes a $1 billion voucher program to provide families with $10,000 per student annually for private school tuition and related expenses, according to NBC DFW News. Governor Greg Abbott supports the initiative, stating it empowers parents to choose better educational options for their children. The bill has passed the Texas Senate but faces challenges in the House, where a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats have historically opposed similar measures.

According to the Fort Worth Report, Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) is under pressure to address academic declines and a crisis in student performance. Leaders are working on a plan to tackle these challenges as two-thirds of students fail to meet reading standards on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests. Interim Superintendent Karen Molinar described the situation as a "crisis."

Pete Geren, president of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation and a former Congressman, emphasized the importance of literacy by saying, "Literacy is essential for a healthy, safe, prosperous and growing city. I don’t care if you’re most concerned about public safety or you’re most concerned about the workforce. It all starts with literacy," according to the Fort Worth Report. Community leaders have called for collective efforts from all sectors, including businesses and nonprofits, to address this issue and support the district’s transformation.

Fort Worth ISD is launching a data-driven initiative under Molinar’s leadership that will focus on tailored interventions for struggling students and professional development for teachers, according to the Fort Worth Report. The district is also considering school closures and consolidations to improve student performance.

Fort Worth ISD serves 75,000 students across 138 schools.