Mayor calls Fort Worth ISD’s STAAR test results ‘unacceptable’
FORT WORTH, Texas - The mayor of Fort Worth called Fort Worth ISD’s STAAR test results "unacceptable." She’s demanding trustees take action to make drastic improvements.
Mayor Mattie Parker made the comment during Tuesday night’s school board meeting. She also presented trustees with a letter backed by 40 other community leaders addressing the reforms that must be made.
"You cannot be the fastest growing city with all this economic promise if you don’t focus on the kids that are in classrooms today, and I mean this for every single kid," Parker said at a Wednesday groundbreaking event. "This wasn’t a surprise. I’ve been talking with our board members, with our superintendent.
Parker said in the spring of 2024, Fort Worth ISD students trailed 11 percentage points behind Dallas ISD students. They were also 14 points behind Houston ISD and 18 points behind Brownsville ISD.
It was a rare and significant stance: a sitting mayor publicly unleashing and seemingly chastising school district leaders for an ongoing poor achievement record that pre-dates the pandemic.
"I really don’t like excuses, and I understand this may be uncomfortable with the mayor stepping into this vein," said Parker. "But I remind you, across the country, there are a lot of mayors that have control of their school district. I don’t think that’s necessary here in Texas, but I do think I have a responsibility as mayor of the fastest-growing city in the country to rise up and say our largest school district will do better."
In a letter addressed to the Fort Worth ISD Board President Dr. Camille Rodriguez and the board members, Mayor Parker pointed to data she called sobering.
And she’s not alone. The letter was co-signed by several council members, non-profit and educational leaders and former mayors.
Parker pointed to two other large districts that have made turnarounds: Dallas ISD through community involvement and Houston ISD through a state ‘takeover’ style intervention.
She encourages Fort Worth ISD to avoid that scenario by adopting a clear strategy for better academic outcomes that include:
- 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.
"I don’t want us to get to the point of intervention, and it’s simply because I know Fort Worth ISD and the city of Fort Worth can do this together," the mayor said. "What you see in DISD and Houston ISD is two different examples of how change is possible. One with state intervention, and one was community lead. I strongly believe we can model Dallas ISD, but we have to act now."
Fort Worth ISD said it would send out a statement in response to the mayor’s address. FOX 4 has yet to receive that response.