Six groups signal interest in running new Fort Worth ISD school models as district seeks outside partners

Six outside organizations have told Fort Worth ISD they intend to apply to run new school models inside the district, a spokesperson told the Fort Worth Report in a story published Tuesday. The district has not said who they are.

The interest comes through the district's 2026 Call for Great Schools, which opened Sept. 22. The 29-page application, issued by FWISD's Office of Innovation & School Choice, asks nonprofits, colleges and universities, existing charter operators and government entities to propose either a brand-new school model or a redesign of an existing campus under a district-authorized partnership.

What the district is asking for

The application says FWISD will accept only proposals that fill four priority areas for the 2027 cycle:

• Middle school innovation, including new middle school models, sixth- through eighth-grade expansions and pipelines between choice programs.
• Early learning, such as full-day pre-K for 3-year-olds, child care partnerships sponsored by employers, neighborhood hub sites in areas with little access and early learning centers based at schools.
• College, career and workforce pathways, including P-TECH and early college high school partnerships, academies tied to specific industries and sector hubs.
• Flexible learning, covering hybrid programs, virtual options and nontraditional schedules.

Partners that win approval would get more control over time, staffing and money at their schools in exchange for a performance contract, according to the application. A redesigned campus may keep its current principal and teachers. Partner-run schools would still be Fort Worth ISD campuses and would follow districtwide enrollment priorities.

Not a takeover plan, district says

Superintendent Peter Licata said at an Aug. 4 town hall that the district would not expand outside partnerships to take over struggling schools, the Report noted. Chief of Staff Louis Kushner told the Report that position stands and that the new call is not seeking that kind of arrangement.

Spokesperson Evan Anderson said no campus, neighborhood or community has been picked for a redesign and no target number of schools has been set.

Some parents have pressed the issue at board meetings. At an April 14 meeting, a district parent and PTA volunteer asked whether any version of the turnaround plan would end with FWISD run by charters or private managers, the Report said.

Texas Wesleyan University already operates six FWISD schools through the state's partnership program, created by Senate Bill 1882 in 2017, which carries added state funding for qualifying campuses.

Timeline

• Oct. 30, 5 p.m.: Full applications due for schools opening in 2027-28; letters of intent due for 2028-29.
• November: Reviews and interviews for 2027-28 applicants.
• Dec. 15, 5 p.m.: Full applications due for 2028-29.
• By March 9, 2027: Possible board of managers vote on 2027-28 agreements.
• By May 11, 2027: Possible vote on 2028-29 agreements.

Each proposal goes to a review team of at least three people, including one district staff member and one outside evaluator, before the superintendent makes a recommendation to the board.

Sources

fortworthreport.org

resources.finalsite.net