Fort Worth Independent School District When I took office in January 1999, I set new standards for school audits giving priority to districts with poor academic or financial performance and where the greatest number of students would benefit from an audit. Fort Worth ISD is the third largest school district in Texas with more than half of its students economically disadvantaged. It is facing both financial and academic challenges. That is what prompted me to select Fort Worth ISD for Texas School Performance Review (TSPR). The Fort Worth school board and superintendent all welcomed us with open arms and throughout the review have been an invaluable help.
The district has made significant gains in student performance in the last five years, however, student scores remain below state and regional averages and dropout rates are high. In addition, five schools/alternative programs in the district have recently been rated low performing—up from zero in 1998-99.
My TSPR team and I found that the district was being well managed and that in most areas the district was running in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Wherever possible, we looked for ways to help it operate more efficiently. The following recommendations for Fort Worth ISD will serve my goal of driving more of every education dollar directly into the classroom where it belongs. Contained in this report are 136 recommendations that, if fully implemented, could result in net savings for Fort Worth ISD of more than $13.4 million.
We found two big money-saving recommendations. First, we found the district could save nearly $3 million per year if it followed its own staffing formulas for everyone from campus administrators to custodians. Second, the use of bus routing and tracking software could save the district almost $4.3 million over the next five years. This money could then be redirected to address the district’s five major challenges:The number one problem is student performance. Passing test scores on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) are 12 points lower than the state average for grade school students and 25 points lower for middle school students. This is unacceptable. To address the lagging test scores, I am recommending that the district immediately create and follow a plan to make that difficult transition from grade school to middle school more seamless.
- Lagging test scores, primarily in the middle schools;
- High dropout rates;
- Better documented procedures;
- A need for comprehensive planning; and
- Successful implementation and integration of technology.
In addition, FWISD’s dropout rate increased dramatically in 1998-99—rising to 4.3 percent from 2.5 percent in 1997-98—while most peer districts and the state and regional rates remained relatively stable. I recommend the district address this problem from two directions: (1) from the inside by creating an Office of Student Attendance and Dropout Initiatives and (2) from the outside by creating a Dropout Prevention/Reduction Task Force, including community, business, education and civic organizations. The entire community needs to be involved in helping these children be successful in school.
By addressing these issues, I believe Fort Worth could get back on track to making its district the best possible. I am confident that school board members, school administrators, teachers and parents are all committed to making the district the best it can be for their students.
Carole Keeton Rylander, Texas Comptroller
