FORT WORTH — Azle Independent School District Superintendent Todd Smith attended a news conference Wednesday, Feb.
19 to show support for Precinct 4 Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez and the court’s literacy efforts.
During a meeting and news conference, Ramirez introduced a resolution calling on all Tarrant County school districts to prioritize childhood literacy and implement actionable plans to increase the percentage of students reading at or above grade level.
The resolution and officials from throughout Tarrant County spoke on the connection between low literacy and criminality. The document states that approximately 80% of Texas prison inmates are reported to be functionally illiterate and as are 85% of all juveniles within the juvenile court system. The resolution also notes high school dropouts are five times more likely to be arrested in their lifetime and two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare.
Azle ISD falls in the “upper middle” of Tarrant County school districts in achieving state reading standards.
“While we are proud of traditionally scoring above the state and region level, we remain focused on continued growth and improvement,” Smith said in an email to the Tri-County Reporter. “I can assure you our Azle ISD team: teachers, campus administrators and our Curriculum and Instruction Department know the importance and are putting forth their best effort to improve.”
Smith also said while the district does not need a resolution to take action, it appreciates the work of the court and will continue to go hand-in-hand with the goals outlined in the document.
