Starting in 2025-26, Molinar’s new three-layer “shell” will hand teachers ready-made, state-aligned lessons with built-in checks and small-group supports—freeing their time for students instead of paperwork. Trustees also okayed the Bluebonnet Learning math curriculum, a move that could unlock up to $7.1 million in state incentives while costing $1.9 million to adopt. A public dashboard launching this fall will track attendance and achievement so families can watch progress in real time.

North Texas 7th Grader Wins 2025 National Spelling Bee

Allen’s Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old Plano ISD student at C.M. Rice Middle School, claimed the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee title by flawlessly spelling “éclaircissement” in round 21. A runner-up last year, Zaki becomes only the fifth champion in Bee history to rebound from second place, earning $50,000 in cash and a trove of academic prizes during the competition’s centennial season. His achievement underscores how strong literacy skills open doors for Texas students, echoing At Grade Level’s mission to ensure every child can read, write, and spell with confidence.

FWISD made a tough call—and the right one. By consolidating underused schools, they’re reinvesting in what matters most: our kids. Thank you, Fort Worth ISD, for putting student success first.

Fort Worth chose to move forward. Closing under-enrolled schools isn’t easy—but reinvesting those funds into literacy and student support is the right move.