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The FWISD Community Voices Legislative Priorities
Published Jan. 10, 2023
School safety and student learning top the list
Following stakeholder input, the Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) Board of Education voted Tuesday night to approve the District’s Legislative Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislative Session. School safety and student learning are the top priorities for the FWISD community.
“It is important that we have a unified voice on the items important to our District and community,” said FWISD Superintendent Angélica M. Ramsey. “State funding is critical to retain current programs and support student performance development.”
The District seeks increased school safety funding for equipment, programs, and training. It also asks for local flexibility to meet unique student and staff needs, including mental health support for students.
As the learning loss recovery continues post-pandemic, FWISD is asking for funds to ensure the following:
- students have access to high-quality materials and technology devices
- special education funding to fill critical positions and cover the cost of diagnostics
- support for House Bill 4545 learning requirements, extended learning opportunities, and wraparound services for students once ESSER III funds end.
The District is committed to continuing to serve students with high-quality staff. To achieve this, FWISD is asking the state to:
- adjust the basic allotment for inflation or raise the basic allotment by $200 per student
- fund schools based on enrollment instead of average daily attendance (ADA)
- fully fund universal pre-K to accelerate access to research-based early childhood learning
- provide affordable health insurance for public school employees
- enact a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Teacher Retirement System retirees
Lastly, FWISD is advocating for accountability, including:
- development of a meaningful assessment system that looks beyond high-stakes, multiple-choice exams and has value for students, parents, and teachers
- reforming the accountability system to appropriately measure all factors that influence student performance and school ratings, including locally controlled flexible accountability measures
- Equal accountability and financial transparency standards for expanded choices within public education
“The District genuinely appreciates the service and support provided by our local legislators. We believe the District has an obligation to share its needs, concerns, and priorities with elected officials to assist them in making decisions that are in the best interest of the students,” added Dr. Ramsey.