The Fort Worth Independent School District plans to serve more than 200 additional pre-K-3 students in the 2026-27 school year. It also wants to provide a career pathway opportunity for high schoolers.
Fort Worth ISD officials are in the process of cutting down the district’s waitlist of 3-year-old pre-kindergarten students who are eligible to attend free pre-K, said Chief of Staff Louis Kushner. Out of about 400 students in line, there will be about 225 seats filled in the upcoming school year at select schools across the district. At the same time, officials are looking to offer seats at three high school campuses through a pilot program that would also give high school students the chance to earn an industry certification in the early childhood education field while acting as an assistant teacher or student-teacher.
“It’s benefiting the community for pre-K students, and it’s benefiting our high school students with industry certification through the early childhood pathway,” Kushner said. “Every conversation I keep having with staff and with parents in the community is: they need more affordable options for pre-K. And the superintendent wants to ensure that as we are programming things for our district, that that’s one of the goals.”…