Inside FWISD

Inside FWISD July 16, 2020

In this edition:

Fort Worth ISD Forward >> District Shares Guidance on Services and Support for 2020-21 School Year | FWISD Board President and Superintendent Send Separate Letters to the Governor | Texas Urban Council of Superintendents Applauds Governor on Giving Schools More Latitude and Flexibility During Current Health Crisis | FWISD Asks for Teacher and Principal Input for New School Year | FWISD Announces Open Enrollment Coverage Changes | Families at 3 FWISD Middle Schools Eligible to Receive Free Computers: 250 Recipients Will Be Selected Randomly | FWISD, 10 Regional School Districts Awarded Nearly $1 Million Grant to Further Aerial Robotics Initiative | FWISD Continues Accepting Gold Seal Late Applications: Multiple Spaces Available in Programs Including P-TECH, ECHS | FWISD Receives Six National School Communication Awards | Food Available At Multiple Sites Through September | Inside FWISD Briefs | Fort Worth ISD Snapshot |Community Resources | Calendar | View more stories throughout the week on the Inside FWISD Blog

Fort Worth ISD Forward >> District Shares Guidance on Services and Support for 2020-21 School Year

Over the coming weeks, Fort Worth ISD will share more information as we continue to develop and fine-tune plans for the fall, including how in-person and virtual instruction will look like for students. Under the banner of Fort Worth ISD Forward, we will provide answers to the questions you are asking.

Online instruction for the 2020-21 school year will be robust, organized, and a consistent experience for all students.

Here are some standards the Fort Worth ISD will follow regarding virtual learning:

Teachers will have planned availability for students – including scheduled office hours.

Direct instruction will be delivered by teachers – students will be able to get teacher support when needed, and students will know how and when they can interact with their teachers.

Students will receive clear, understandable directions on a daily basis on how to use academic materials.

In-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year will be safe, organized, and an engaging experience for all students.

Here are some standards the Fort Worth ISD will follow regarding in-person learning:

Staff and students will follow current face-covering guidance.

Position desks according to current recommendations and utilize barriers where appropriate.

Increase daily and weekly cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

For a detailed Fort Worth ISD Forward FAQ, click here.

FWISD Board President and Superintendent Send Separate Letters to the Governor

Fort Worth ISD Board of Education President Jacinto Ramos, Jr., and Superintendent Kent P. Scribner are among the signatories of separate letters sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week.

Dr. Scribner, as the chair of the Texas Urban Council of Superintendents and a member of the Texas School Alliance, and Mr. Ramos, president of one of the 10 largest school districts in the state, both urged the governor to set forth a plan for the coming school year that would –

Waive attendance accounting requirements
Set a floor on average daily attendance so funding at least remains the same as 2019-2020
And allows school districts to design curriculum that meets the needs of individual communities.

“Certainly, we all want students to be in school,” Dr. Scribner wrote, “but local school districts must have the flexibility to make sure that any approach taken is safe to students, staff and families without the fear of losing funding.”

Mr. Ramos joined with school board presidents from Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, just to name a few to beseech the governor to resolve their concerns.

“Conditions have changed dramatically in the last four weeks, and they continue to worsen daily,” reads the board president’s letter. “It is clear you recognize the ever-changing situation as we’ve seen the daily developments in both numbers of cases, pulling back from opening certain businesses, mandating masks in the majority of counties, etc. School districts and their communities are facing the same worsening conditions, and these recent circumstances are far more acute than when districts across the state were closed initially this past spring.”

Both letters ask Governor Abbott to respond by Friday.

Texas Urban Council of Superintendents Applauds Governor on Giving Schools More Latitude and Flexibility During Current Health Crisis

The Texas Urban Council appreciates Governor Greg Abbott’s statements Tuesday regarding the need for flexibility at the local level regarding the start of the fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Tribune reported Governor Abbott as saying, “This is going to have to be a local-level decision, but there will be great latitude and flexibility provided at the local level.”

The TUC is comprised of the ten largest urban school districts in Texas.

“Our school districts, communities, students, and employees welcome your comments, and we value your ability to recognize the current health crisis that all Texans face as we approach the new school year,” stated Dr. Kent Scribner, superintendent of Fort Worth ISD and Chair of the Texas Urban Council, in addressing Governor Abbot on behalf of the member districts. “While we recognize the implementation of the details will have to be worked out by the Texas Education Agency, we are hopeful that our local districts will be given local authority to make decisions in the best interest of our students, parents and employees."

FWISD ASKS FOR TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL INPUT FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR

The Fort Worth ISD is asking teachers and campus principals to provide their input on exactly what will help ensure a successful reopening of classes for the new school year.

Teachers will be asked a series of questions to collect their thoughts about Spring online learning and what they feel will improve the process going forward. They will be asked their personal assessments on how they feel about returning to teaching, if they are ready for in-class, virtual, or both types of instruction and what support they need to make the 2020-2021 a successful school year.

Principals will be asked much the same topics but in a series of open-ended questions that allow them to respond from a campus leadership perspective.

“We know our teachers and campus leaders are the front line for quality instruction,” said Jerry Moore, Chief Academic Officer. “By sharing their experiences with us we can learn what support they need from us to ensure a successful new school year.”

The surveys will be distributed to both teachers and principals in individual emails from Qualtrics. The survey ends Sunday.

Educators with questions about the Teacher or Principal Survey are encouraged to email AskEval@fwisd.org.

FWISD Announces Open Enrollment Coverage Changes

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter about the District's Benefits Open Enrollment period was shared with FWISD employees earlier today.

Families at 3 FWISD Middle Schools Eligible to Receive Free Computers

250 Recipients Will Be Selected Randomly

TXU Energy and Comp-U-Dopt are partnering with the Fort Worth ISD to gift 250 computers to families with middle school-aged students ahead of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Families without computers in their homes from Jacquet, William James and Leonard middle schools will receive the computers at contactless drive-through events August 4 and 6.

Recipients of the computers will be selected randomly through an online lottery. Details for how families from the three eligible middle schools may register for the lottery are available at www.compudopt.org/ftworth. Eligible families must have at least one middle school student enrolled in the District and no home access to a working computer. Devices provided to students by FWISD are not counted. Computers are limited to one per household.

Families selected to receive a computer will be notified via text message a week ahead of the contactless drive-through events with information on a date and time to pick up their devices.

The refurbished laptops are the families to keep come and include the Windows 10 operating system and two years of technical support offered by Comp-U-Dopt.

The computers are a further effort to help bridge the digital gap for FWISD students, according to TXU Energy officials.

Comp-U-Dopt, founded in 2007, offers children equal access to education and opportunity via computers and “project-based afterschool programming that aligns with high-demand careers,” according to its website.

If you’re a family from Jacquet, William James and Leonard middle schools in need of a home computer, register for the lottery today at www.compudopt.org/ftworth.

FWISD, 10 Regional School Districts Awarded Nearly $1 Million Grant to Further Aerial Robotics Initiative

The Fort Worth ISD Career and Technical Education Department’s aerial robotics programs will receive additional professional development, curriculum, equipment, supplies and more, thanks to a federal grant funded by the Texas Education Agency.

Recently, the department along with programs at 10 other Texas school districts was awarded a one-year $925,000 Perkins Reserve Grant to further North Central Texas Aerial Robotics STEM Initiative work, which began last fall. This initiative, sponsored by TEA’s Texas Regional Pathways Networks, provides schools in the Fort Worth, Azle, Birdville, Cleburne, Crowley, Era, Grapevine-Colleyville, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Keller, Mineral Wells, and Strawn school districts that teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Agriculture, Law Enforcement, Cybersecurity, and Construction with educational pathways to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Industry partners collaborating in this venture include Bell, Tarrant County College District, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and North Central Texas Interlink, Inc.

This is the third straight year FWISD has been awarded a Perkins Reserve Grant. The 2018-2019 academic year, the District received a Perkins Reserve Grant totaling $75,000 that funded a Smart Hospital for O.D. Wyatt High School’s Health Science Program. Last fall, the North Central Texas Aerial Robotics STEM Initiative which FWISD is part of received a grant totaling $700,000 to fund the purchase of drones, teacher professional development and class curriculum for seventh through 12th grade students. The initiative was one of 10 regional collaborative groups in Texas awarded the competitive grant last year.

In February, FWISD hosted the 2020 North Central Texas Aerial Robotics Showcase (“Game of Drones”), which included student demonstrations and competition teams from students in Region 11 districts and superintendents trying their hand at flying drones in competition against one another with coaching from students.

According to the grant application, submitted in April, the North Central Texas Aerial Robotics STEM Initiative “will add key partners, including another district (Mineral Wells) … and more industry partners to integrate aerial robotics into high-wage, high-demand career pathways including STEM, Aerospace, Construction, Cybersecurity, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), AV/Business ad Law and Public Service.” Among initiative goals this year is “adding aerial robotics to at least one pathway with supporting curriculum” by 2021 resulting in 200 new student certifications and licensures, according to the grant application.

Stephanie Tennyson, FWISD CTE coordinator, said the North Central Texas Aerial Robotics STEM Initiative offers students a high-quality college and career pathway that aligns with regional workforce needs.

The 2020-2021 Perkins Reserve Grant is funded July 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021.

FWISD Continues Accepting Gold Seal Late Applications

Multiple Spaces Available in Programs Including P-TECH, ECHS

Spaces are still available this fall for several Fort Worth ISD Gold Seal Programs of Choice.

Late applications are being accepted at www.fwisd.org/choice.

Among the academies with space available are Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) and Early College High Schools (ECHS) launching at comprehensive high schools across the District.

The following programs are accepting late applications for the 2020-2021 academic year:

ECHS: O.D. Wyatt, Dunbar and Southwest high schools
P-TECH: Eastern Hills (Cyber security), Polytechnic (Education) and Dunbar (Manufacturing) high schools

This fall, FWISD is launching P-TECH academies at Eastern Hills, Dunbar, North Side and Polytechnic high schools and an ECHS Academy at Southwest High School.

P-TECH programs allow students to complete high school having worked with local and regional industry partners, earning up to five industry certifications, a tuition-free associate’s degree and more than 60 transferable college credit hours. ECHS students, like their P-TECH peers, earn a tuition-free associate’s degree and college credit hours that are transferable to any public Texas four-year institution.

Interested in receiving a Gold Seal Programs of Choice education? Apply today at www.fwisd.org/choice.

FWISD Receives Six National School Communication Awards

The Fort Worth ISD 2018-19 Annual Report earned an Award of Excellence from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) School Communication Awards contest. This is the highest award given in each category of communication tactics.

NSPRA contest entries come from public and private schools and educational organizations across the country, as well as private businesses that partner with schools.

Fort Worth ISD earned a total of six NSPRA awards in this year’s contest:

Annual Report Award of Excellence: Fort Worth ISD 2018-19 Annual Report: Listen, Learn and Lead

Marketing Materials Award of Merit:

Fort Worth ISD Gold Seal

Fort Worth ISD Pre-K Campaign

In-house Video Award of Merit: The Inside Story: Growing an Internal Communications Plan in the Fort Worth ISD

Superintendent’s April 2019 Message: Listen, Learn and Lead

Superintendent’s 2019 Holiday Message: A Gift for a Lifetime

The NSPRA Awards, held every July, will be celebrated virtually this year at 2 p.m. CDT Friday. The program will be carried live on Facebook and YouTube.

Food Available At Multiple Sites Through September

Multiple organizations across Fort Worth are offering food to help families through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since March, the Fort Worth ISD has partnered with multiple organizations to share information and organize food distribution events for families.

The Fort Worth ISD continues to offer free breakfast and lunch Meals To Go to children under 18 twice weekly from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 18 District locations. Adults may pick up meals for students if they can show documents verifying students are in the household. For more information, please visit www.summerfood.org or call the FWISD Child Nutrition Department at 817-814-3540 or 817-814-3500.

Food is available at these locations throughout September:

Food Distribution

1. Monday through Friday, 4- 5:30 p.m.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County

Eastside Branch, 4651 Ramey Ave., Fort Worth, 76105

Main Branch, 608 N. Elm St., Arlington, 76011

Martin Branch, 3123 Avenue G, Fort Worth, 76105

NFW Branch, 2000 Ellis Ave., Fort Worth, 76164

Panther Branch, 1500 Hemphill, Fort Worth, 76104

Curbside individually packaged meals and snacks are available for free to children ages 18 and younger while supplies last at Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County branch locations. Weekly at home learn resources will also be distributed with each meal.

Contact LaToyia Greyer at LGreyer@bgcgtc.org for more information.

2. Monday through Friday, Times vary throughout the summer

Tarrant Area Food Bank Grab-And-Go Meals for Children

Multiple Locations

The Tarrant Area Food Bank is hosting Grab-And-Go Meals for Children events and Mobile Food Pantries for Families throughout the summer at multiple locations.

Need Food Assistance? Call 817-534-0814 to speak with a live representative about access to nutritious food near you. Visit http://tafb.org/find-food for details on where to find food countrywide.

3. Monday and Wednesday, Times vary throughout mid-August

YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth Summer Meals

Multiple Locations

The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is serving free meals to youth 18 and under at multiple branch locations. Children will receive meals for multiple days. Learn more here.

4. Friday, July 17, 2020: 9-11 a.m.

Leadership Academy at Forest Oak

3221 Pecos St., Fort Worth, 76119

Contact: Noah Drew, director of Community Education

817-966-8103

Nearby schools that may benefit from the food distribution are shown below.

Glen Park ES – 0.4 mile;
Harlean Beal ES – 1.0 mile;
Christene C. Moss ES – 2.3 miles;
David K. Sellars ES – 2.7 miles
W. M. Green ES – 2.7 miles; and
A. M. Pate ES – 2.8 miles.

Drive-through food distribution. Dairy and produce is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Box Program. Masks must be worn when picking up food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with farmers, ranchers, specialty crop producers, food processors and distributors, and non-profit organizations to ensure that all Americans have access to the fresh and wholesome food needed during the COVID-19 national emergency. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FarmerstoFamiliesFoodBox.pdf.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s FitWorth program is partnering with GoFresh to provide boxes of food to families.

5. Tuesday, July 21 and 28, 9 a.m.

J. Martin Jacquet Middle School

2501 Stalcup Road

The FWISD Family Action Center hosts weekly Family Drive-Through Food Box Distribution events. Approximately 1,000 boxes are distributed weekly. Food is available while supplies last.

Email carlos.walker@fwisd.org for additional details.

6. Thursday, July 23, 2020: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Cowtown Neighborhood Farmers Market: Southeast Fort Worth

Grace Temple SDA Church

4200 E. Berry St., Fort Worth, 76105