At Fort Worth ISD’s William Monnig Middle School on Friday afternoon, the halls were silent as students transitioned between classes.
The silence, among other things, is part of a new instructional model known as the Elevate Network, implemented by a state-appointed Board of Managers with the goal of improving academic performance at 19 campuses.
The district at large is now one week into the first full year under state control.
So far, Monnig Middle School has seen a “180-degree” turnaround under the model, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata said Friday during a visit to the campus.
In the classroom, students are instructed and then administered a five-question checkpoint known as a “demonstration of learning,” Monnig principal Melissa Strom explained. Students who do well move on to separate rooms known as mastery labs for accelerated coursework, while those who struggle hang back for further help from teachers.
“We have brought in teachers who are experienced, who are passionate, who are well compensated, are who are ready to teach our students,” Strom said, adding that she believes students will benefit from the structure of the teaching model. “The biggest thing for our students right now is consistency in every single classroom.”
Students sit in pairs while during a sixth grade science class at William Monnig Middle School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth. The school is part of the Elevate Network. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Elevate schools have their instructional models defined by the district office and use a district-assigned curriculum without substitutions, a district-created master schedule with bell-to-bell teaching, and fully district-designed professional development.
Schools in the network are not allowed to bring in outside instructional coaches, and classrooms are set up with few distractions, the Star-Telegram previously reported.
Students at William Monnig Middle School transition to their next class on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth. The school is part of the Elevate Network. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
The model isn’t as simple as it sounds, especially when it comes to younger children at Elevate campuses, one kindergarten teacher told the Star-Telegram.
“They seem to have forgotten that children have emotions and feelings, and are still learning to deal with that,” the teacher said. “It’s not all instruction all the time. I’m also teaching them how to be little people in society.”
The teacher added that, during an observation of her instruction on Friday, she was docked points for not having “good enough routines and procedures,” something that contradicts what district officials told her, she said.
“They told us we’re not allowed to frontload routines and procedures, and that the kids need to just pick them up by us doing them,” she said, adding that she was told that spending time on explaining procedures would take away instruction time.
“Everything is planned down to the minute, but this revolves around children,” the teacher said. “They’re 5 years old.”
During a Q&A with reporters on Friday, Licata said, “We’re not going to negotiate our instructional model and what we believe works and what we know works. We will continue to listen to those that come to us with a really good voice, with concern in their hearts, and no other agenda but what’s best for kids.”
Earlier on Friday, Fort Worth ISD released a statement on improvements the district saw in the Texas Education Agency’s release of A-F accountability grades for the previous academic year.
Fort Worth ISD’s overall district rating remained a C, but the total score increased from a 73 to a 77.
Fort Worth ISD said 66 campuses increased their overall accountability scale score from last year, and 43 campuses improved by at least one letter grade. Nine campuses improved by two or more letter grades, and the number of D- and F-rated campuses decreased.
Fort Worth’s William James Middle School received its fifth consecutive F grade in the ratings, something which would usually open the district to the possibility of a state takeover. With the district already under state control, Licata did not elaborate on specific plans for William James, instead referring to further discussion of the Elevate model, which includes the middle school.
District officials said at this week’s Board of Managers meeting that they plan to expand the Elevate Network to 24 schools, but they haven’t publicly named the additional campuses yet.
“We’ve had some pushback about ‘every school isn’t the same,’ but when you don’t have systems that are consistent across the district, that’s what happens,” Licata said.
Students at William Monnig Middle School transition to their next class on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth. The school is part of the Elevate Network. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM 
Students sit in pairs while during a sixth grade science class at William Monnig Middle School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Fort Worth. The school is part of the Elevate Network. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
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