The Fort Worth Independent School District Administration building, at 7060 Camp Bowie Blvd., on April 22, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Abigail Dollins
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth ISD has formed a School Choice Committee to reexamine how educational opportunities in the district are designed, delivered and expanded, to better serve students and to prove to families across Tarrant County that Fort Worth ISD is the right educational pathway for their child.
The advisory committee, which included leaders from education, business, workforce development, higher education, and community organizations, was formed after Fort Worth ISD’s total enrollment dipped below 70,000 during the 2025-26 school year — 17,000 fewer students than it had during the 2018-19 school year.
The committee complete its inaugural meeting Wednesday, the district announced in a news release.
“Every family deserves access to a public school that reflects their child’s unique interests, talents, and aspirations,” wrote Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Peter Licata in the news release Thursday. “My vision for Fort Worth ISD is to expand high-quality public school choices so more families choose us, not because they have to, but because we offer the right educational pathway for their child.”
The School Choice Committee will also provide guidance to district leaders on how Fort Worth ISD can align its educational opportunities with the needs of students, employers and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s workforce. The committee will work with the district to explore new academic programs, develop partnerships, and create better college, career and military pathways.
The district also plans to work with the School Choice Committee to expand access to Advanced Placement courses in Fort Worth ISD high schools, which will help more students earn college credit, challenge themselves academically and graduate prepared for college courses, the release states.
“The School Choice Committee brings together diverse perspectives and expertise to help strengthen our programs, build meaningful partnerships, and create innovative pathways that reflect the needs of our community,” wrote Fort Worth ISD Chief of Staff Louis Kushner, in the release. “We have the opportunity to shape the future of education in Fort Worth.”
In its upcoming meetings, the School Choice Committee will collaborate with district leaders to: expand academic programs and strengthen school models; improve the accessibility, transparency, and effectiveness of school choice opportunities for families; and align education offerings with current and future workforce needs in Fort Worth, according to the release.
Licata and Fort Worth ISD’s state-appointed Board of Managers voted earlier this year on two separate reductions in force as a result of declining enrollment, which has taken place largely due to families opting for other nearby districts or private schools. Those positions included: postsecondary specialists, emergent bilingual program directors, dual language coordinators, literacy specialists, college and career readiness directors, speech therapists and psychologists.
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Samuel O’Neal is the K-12 Education Reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, covering public schools and policy that impacts them. He previously worked as a staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a graduate of Temple University.