Parent Melanie Jackson’s budget will be even tighter when she goes back-to-school shopping in August.
After three years, Fort Worth ISD will no longer provide free school supplies to elementary school students starting in the 2024-25 academic year because of the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds.
“The rising costs of everything is making it very, very hard for us. So, it’s really inconvenient that they decide now to stop supplying it,” said Jackson, who has two students attending Fort Worth ISD schools.
Fort Worth ISD plans to work with organizations in the community to provide some resources for students when school resumes in August, district spokesperson Cesar Padilla said. The district is assembling grade-specific supply lists that will be shared with companies and organizations that previously donated to Fort Worth ISD.
“We understand that every family has unique needs, and in FWISD, we are dedicated to ensuring that no child goes without the necessary supplies,” Padilla said.
The free supplies helped Jackson’s children, she said. She didn’t have to worry about the kids forgetting to bring their notebooks, markers and other supplies because the items stayed at school.
Fort Worth ISD received more than $407 million in federal relief funds. The one-time funds expire Sept. 30, leaving districts across the state to determine how they will balance their budgets without millions of dollars in additional federal funding.
The district provided free supplies for every elementary school student. For the 2023-24 school year, Fort Worth ISD spent more than $2.1 million on the initiative.
Olla Mokhtar is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at olla.mokhtar@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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