Started by Fort Worth native and Highland Hills neighborhood resident, Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, Parent Shield Fort Worth is a grassroots movement of parents, guardians, caretakers, and community members that strongly believe every child in Fort Worth should receive a high-quality education, inclusive of all students; which develops their potential and prepares them to be successful adults.
Top 10 Ways Parent Shield Organized and Advocated
- Doing online research about their school’s ratings
- Asking teachers about their student’s progress
- Talking to other parents and sharing what they learned
- Asking to meet with the mayor
- Meeting at a “Mayor’s Roundtable”
- Developing a plan for the Literacy Clinics
- Going door to door to ask families to join
- Asking for funding to make a change
- Continuing to tell other families what they’re doing and how to get involved
- Attending district board of education meetings to continue to advocate
Before it was not okay for parents to come and pull up a seat at the table and say, Hey, this is what our kids need.…But we've really built a space to where parents are comfortable having seats at the table and the districts and city leaders are more accepting for us pulling that chair up.
Parent Shield: Literacy is Freedom
In Ft. Worth, Texas, parent leaders initiated the Freedom July project through the Parent Shield “Literacy is Freedom” initiative. This effort began when a parent leader noticed a big difference between what parents thought about their kids' reading skills and the actual levels. She started a campaign to make children's educational progress clearer, understanding that report cards were not enough for a full picture.
The project introduced parent-organized literacy clinics over the summer. Kids participating took reading tests and met with teacher volunteers who worked with families to understand important insights into their children's literacy levels, insights that were missing from report cards with traditional letter grades. This method not only tested students' literacy but also gave parents the knowledge and tools needed for their children's success, creating a new standard for parental involvement and a strong effort to address students' learning needs.
One parent, after getting detailed and understandable data from a literacy clinic, was able to prevent her child from being mistakenly placed in a special education class. Parents in Ft. Worth are now able to work more effectively with schools, making sure their kids get the right support and help.
This initiative led to a key partnership with the mayor's office. After meeting with the mayor, parent leaders received funding to begin a high-impact tutoring program with the local Boys and Girls Club. This strategic approach unlocked the potential to provide thorough educational support, emphasizing the importance of community and institutional partnerships in tackling literacy challenges.
For more, read: Literacy is Freedom
