An analysis revealed that Fort Worth ISD saw a bump in student literacy between the academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, yet more is needed to speed up improvement.
While Fort Worth ISD saw an 8% increase in student literacy in just one year, it is still only on pace to achieve 70% grade level proficiency in 26 years, according to the Fort Worth Report. That is based on an average growth rate of 1.25 percentage points in the past four years.
There is a considerable deficit to overcome, with only 38% of students achieving grade level in reading on the 2021-2022 STAAR exam. For comparison, only 43% of Dallas ISD students scored at grade level in reading on the same test.
Still, Alfred Tatum, the president-elect of the Literacy Research Association who was behind the analysis, said he believes that the recent annual growth in literacy at Fort Worth ISD shows promise.
“No one talks about this growth rate,” Tatum said, according to the FWR. He suggested that this metric was key to knowing whether reading curricula are actually working.
Fort Worth ISD has been using a state-approved reading curriculum known as Amplify for the past two school terms. Taking a scientific approach to reading, the program stresses the importance of systematic lessons breaking down different skills into teachable components, from phonics to vocabulary comprehension.
Stefanie Garcia, Fort Worth ISD’s coordinator for K-12 literacy and humanities, said that the district has been working hard to catch students up after the learning loss seen during the COVID-19 lockdowns and will continue using data-driven methods.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, Fort Worth ISD has seen a considerable drop in student enrollment figures in the past few years. While lackluster student achievement scores driving students to nearby charters is one explanation for this decline, many North Texas public school systems have seen a downward student enrollment trend, with some currently weighing school closures.
Fort Worth ISD is currently awaiting the results of a capacity study on its facilities, after which a restructuring will occur. Yet district officials are looking at this situation as an opportunity for rejuvenation, as reported by The Dallas Express.
