The power of intervention and advocacy
In Fort Worth, Texas, too many children are struggling to read at their grade level. According to a report by the Fort Worth Education Partnership, more than half of the children living in the city are not reading proficiently. In the city’s largest school district, Fort Worth ISD, only about 1 in 3 students are reading on grade level.
This crisis has not gone unnoticed. Parent Shield, a local advocacy group, has stepped up to the challenge, launching an initiative called “Literacy is Freedom Texas” to help students through the sixth grade read at their appropriate level. The results of their 10-week summer program have been impressive, with nearly all participating students advancing at least one grade level in their reading abilities.
“Just saying read to your kids at home, that’s not the answer,” said Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, the executive director of Parent Shield. “We have to dig a little bit deeper than just reading. We have to get some intervention in place. We have to do what works.”
Targeted intervention produces remarkable results
The Literacy is Freedom Texas program, run by Parent Shield, took place at two Boys & Girls Clubs of Tarrant County locations over the summer. The free initiative provided structured, high-dosage reading intervention to 52 elementary students, the majority of whom were reading below their grade level.
During the 10-week program, students received targeted instruction twice a week during the school year and four times a week over the summer. Working in small groups of three based on their age or reading level, the students engaged in lessons focused on word pronunciation, sentence structure, and other fundamental reading skills.
“I’ve seen the reading come easier to them, and it’s so rewarding to see the kids actually excited about reading and learning,” said Juanita Aldama, one of the program’s interventionists.
The results were remarkable. According to a report released by Parent Shield, nearly all of the participating students advanced at least one grade level in their reading abilities over the course of the three-month program. Furthermore, 90% of parents noticed their children becoming more confident in their reading skills.
Recommendations for school districts
Buoyed by the success of their summer program, Parent Shield has outlined six key recommendations for school districts in Fort Worth to help boost reading rates:
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Utilize pre-assessments: Conducting thorough pre-assessments of students’ reading levels is crucial in providing teachers and parents with a clear starting point. School districts should ensure this data is shared with families in an accessible and easy-to-understand way.
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Incorporate high-dosage literacy instruction: School districts need to build high-quality reading interventions into their regular classroom instruction, leveraging the time they have with students to drive significant growth.
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Increase transparency for families: Parents must be kept informed of their child’s progress and provided with the tools and resources to support their learning at home. Sharing data, such as the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments used by Fort Worth ISD, in a more transparent and user-friendly manner is key.
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Prioritize small-group instruction: The Literacy is Freedom Texas program found that small-group learning, with three students per group, was highly effective in boosting reading skills. School districts should explore ways to incorporate this approach.
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Engage parents as partners: Regular communication with families, providing updates on student progress and offering resources, helps to ensure parents are actively involved in their child’s learning journey.
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Allocate sufficient funding: The Literacy is Freedom Texas program cost approximately $1,300 per student. School districts must be willing to invest the necessary resources to implement high-quality, targeted reading interventions.
“We know that with the schools having our kids three times that amount, they should be able to grow at minimum two to three years with targeted intervention,” Dorsey-Hollins said.
Empowering parents and students
The success of the Literacy is Freedom Texas program has had a profound impact on the families involved. For Sandra Quintana, a Fort Worth mother, the program transformed her children’s attitudes towards reading.
Quintana’s daughter, who was in kindergarten, didn’t even know her ABCs when the program started. However, by the halfway point, Quintana’s children were bringing home books, eager to read and learn.
“I don’t care if I have to drive as long as I’m able to take my kids to go learn something that I haven’t been able to teach them,” Quintana said.
Quintana’s own educational journey was marked by challenges. As a child, she struggled with ADHD and never received the support she needed, leading her to drop out of high school. Now, she is determined to ensure her children have access to the resources and opportunities she never had.
The Literacy is Freedom Texas program has been a game-changer, not just for Quintana’s children, but for the entire Fort Worth community. By providing targeted intervention and empowering parents to advocate for their children, Parent Shield is working to address the root causes of the city’s reading crisis.
As Stanley Park High School continues to support its students’ academic growth, the lessons learned from the Literacy is Freedom Texas program offer valuable insights. By prioritizing early intervention, fostering transparent communication with families, and investing in high-quality reading instruction, schools can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students.
Conclusion
The reading crisis in Fort Worth is a complex challenge, but the Literacy is Freedom Texas program has shown that targeted intervention and parent advocacy can make a significant impact. By implementing the recommendations outlined by Parent Shield, school districts in Fort Worth can provide the support and resources necessary to ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential as readers and learners.
As the Stanley Park High School community continues to prioritize academic excellence, we encourage you to stay informed and engaged. Together, by empowering parents and students, we can create a brighter future for the youth of Fort Worth.
