Fort Worth, TX has long taken pride in its strong sense of community and commitment to its children and families, but new data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) raises concerns about whether Fort Worth is truly meeting the needs of its students. NAEP is the largest ongoing assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in various subjects, including reading. The NAEP test is often referred to as the “Nation’s Report Card,” and it provides important insights into the effectiveness of educational systems across states and cities. According to the most recent scores, the overall reading proficiency of students has declined significantly, with alarming disparities between different demographics and regions. The story in Fort Worth is even more pronounced as FWISD continues to fall further behind peer cities across the state and nation.

When students struggle with literacy, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to succeed in other areas.  Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write—it is the foundation upon which all other learning is built. From science and mathematics to history and the arts, reading is the key to accessing other forms of knowledge. Reading is ultimately a life skill that impacts an individual's ability to succeed in the workforce, contribute to society, and pursue opportunities for personal growth. 

These NAEP results indicate that Fort Worth is in immediate need of a turnaround strategy to focus on improving literacy, not just as a matter of educational achievement, but also as a means to secure the future success of its students and the city. Improving these outcomes will require a collective effort, including philanthropy, educators, parents, and community members. A key first step is learning from peer cities that have made meaningful progress in literacy.

Houston ISD, for example, has increased the percentage of students considered proficient in all NAEP tested grades and subjects and the district has notably improved in 4th grade reading. Houston ISD's successful approach—featuring evidence-based curriculum and robust teacher support—can be replicated in Fort Worth. This link outlines in detail the key elements of New Education Strategies (NES) model that Houston implemented, which they credit for boosting their performance. By drawing from best practices, Fort Worth can build on the momentum that interim Supt. Karen Molinar generated with her strategic plan at a recent FWISD board meeting.

But it will take more than just our schools to achieve success, the community as a whole—parents, local organizations, and businesses—must come together to support literacy efforts, ensuring that all students have the resources and support they need to succeed. A comprehensive approach to improving literacy in Fort Worth will require a multi-faceted strategy which might include leading practices such as:

  1. Investing in Early Childhood Education: Research consistently shows that early literacy development is crucial for long-term academic success. Fort Worth must not only prioritize expanding access to high-quality educational experiences for all children ages 0-5, but also strengthen support for parents as their child’s first teacher, ensuring every child enters school ready to read.
  2. Supporting Teachers: As outlined in the NES model, teachers are at the heart of any successful literacy program. Investing in whole scale, system level change including differentiated teacher pay, evaluation, customized professional development support, and rigorous implementation models are necessary to have the dramatic impact required in Fort Worth. Resourcing and supporting our educators working with our most valuable assets, our children, is critical to our success of our city. 
  3. Increasing Community Engagement: Literacy is not just the responsibility of schools; it is a community-wide effort. Fort Worth must engage parents, local organizations, and businesses in supporting literacy initiatives. By fostering a culture of reading and learning, the city can provide students with the encouragement and resources they need to succeed. One local strategy to empower parents in their child’s education journey is the Go Beyond Grades campaign, which seeks to help parents truly understand where their child stands in regards to reading on grade level.

The recent NAEP scores serve as a reminder that our community has a long way to go to make Fort Worth the place we know it can be – this is more than a wakeup call – this is a fire alarm that we must do better. The stakes couldn’t be higher for getting this right as literacy is not just a critical academic skill, it is the key to unlocking a bright future for students and their communities. For Fort Worth to continue its trajectory as a thriving city, improving literacy must be a top priority. Cities like Dallas and Houston have shown that meaningful progress is possible with the right strategies and fidelity in execution. Fort Worth has an opportunity to embrace an effective strategy for success. The question is not whether change can happen, but whether our community has the will to make it happen.

Partner with Us to Strengthen Literacy in Fort Worth

Is your organization working to improve reading and math outcomes in Tarrant County? The Rainwater Charitable Foundation is seeking innovative and effective programs to support, with priority funding consideration for those focused on boosting student achievement in these critical areas. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to be considered for funding and help create a brighter future for local students.

For more information, here are additional resources: