Fort Worth ISD pre-K students will be getting out of school at the same time as elementary students beginning next school year.
The pre-K students’ day will last from 7:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. starting with the 2024-25 academic year. The students were previously released at 2:30 p.m.
The 3 to 4 year olds’ schedule will now coincide with the elementary schools within the district.
The decision was made with the goal of “better accommodating our families by streamlining pick-up and drop-off times for students,” Cesar Padilla, media relations coordinator for FWISD, shared with The Dallas Express in an email.
“Extending the school day has been a discussion with Fort Worth ISD leadership for the past several years. … We believe that this adjustment will provide added convenience and instructional opportunities, and it will positively impact Kindergarten readiness and support to our school community.”
The extended time will provide the opportunity for additional instruction in math, literacy, and other subject matter, according to Padilla.
Students will also have their rest time increased from 30 to 45 minutes to accommodate the longer school day.
Fort Worth ISD parent Teresa Juarez is a mother to four children. Two are in elementary school, one is currently in pre-K, and the fourth is set to enroll in the future, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“Driving back and forth every day for the different pick-up times is challenging,” Juarez told the Star-Telegram.
The decision to extend the day was made during a January 30 school board meeting in which the calendar was adopted for the 2024-25 school year.
“FWISD is excited to bring this opportunity to our PreK students and their families,” Padilla told DX. “We are confident the change will have a positive impact on student outcomes.”
Applications for pre-K enrollment for FWISD for the 2024-25 school year opened on April 1 and can be found on the district’s website. Registration tips and needed documents can also be found on the website.
