Texas names new Fort Worth ISD superintendent months after state takeover
Peter Licata, who was named as FWISD's new superintendent, was previously head of Broward County Public Schools in South Florida.
Watch CBS News
Peter Licata, who was named as FWISD's new superintendent, was previously head of Broward County Public Schools in South Florida.
"Schools must be allowed to apply, and their applications must be processed on the same terms as the other schools in accordance with the law," National Deputy Director of CAIR Edward Ahmed Mitchell said.
A federal judge ordered Texas to extend the TEFA application deadline to March 31 after lawsuits challenged the exclusion of Islamic schools from the program.
If a pre-k student does not meet any of these criteria, they are not eligible for a pre-k voucher.
The deadline for Texas families to apply for Texas Education Freedom Accounts is on March 17.
Craig Smith, head of school at Trinity Christian Academy in Willow Park, said he believes the program will be very beneficial.
Molinar shared the news in a letter to parents and staff on Wednesday morning.
Students with special needs are eligible for a voucher up to $30,000, but they must obtain documents from a public school district.
Testing that measures student growth during the school year shows significant improvements in FWISD.
One head of school in North Texas said there are still too many questions about how the program will work.
According to the TEFA website, more than 1,400 private schools from Pre-K to high schools are participating.
Blanton Elementary has seen enrollment drop by nearly 300 students since 2016.
Every day for weeks, a group of parents, teachers and city leaders organize a route to knock on every door in their district.
The meeting is an opportunity for parents, teachers and the community to ask questions and learn more about the takeover.
The district is hosting a community meeting Wednesday night to talk about the likelihood of closing Blanton Elementary.
The TEA announced the state takeover of the district last month.
Children with special needs are eligible for up to $30,000.
Superintendent Matt Smith said their district has been pleasantly surprised by the success so far this school year.
At Thursday night's meeting of the board of trustees, the superintendent identified three campuses that would close.
The Texas Education Agency sent a letter to Lake Worth ISD on Thursday, announcing that the state would step in and take over the district.
The vote passed just before midnight to close Bransford and Dove Elementary schools.
Western Hills Primary will close and consolidate with Western Hills Elementary in the 2026-2027 school year.
It's called the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). Private schools are not automatically in the TEFA program, they must opt in.
The high school program for Turning Point is called "Club America." It's a student-led, conservative-promoting group.
By the end of the school year, Fort Worth ISD may be facing a teacher shortage.
