CFB ISD outlines 'Future Ready' summer program with expanded enrichment and mandated accelerated instruction

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD presented an overview Thursday of its 2025 summer programming—branded "CFB Future Ready"—that combines state‑required accelerated instruction with new enrichment partnerships aimed at limiting summer learning loss.

Assistant/Director of Summer Programs (presenter) Holcomb told trustees the district’s summer plan is structured around TEA requirements and recent state law changes (House Bill 1416, with predecessor provisions from HB 4545) that mandate accelerated instruction for students who do not meet grade‑level expectations in reading and math. Holcomb said the district increased its number of TIA‑designated teachers to 312 for 2024–25 and protected daily master‑schedule time during the school year to support acceleration.

For summer 2025, the district will offer a "Learning the Language" program for current pre‑K and kindergarten bilingual students at Carrollton Elementary (May 30–June, dates set to meet state minutes requirements). Holcomb said the district expects to serve between 600 and 700 students in the program (enrollment at the briefing was nearly 500 and the district said it mailed about 1,200 invitation letters). A secondary newcomer program and high‑school offerings will include credit recovery, EOC preparation and acceleration at Newman Smith High School; the district plans two high‑school sessions (the first runs through June 12, the second June 16–26), with EOC retesting June 23–26 and a district holiday on June 19.

Holcomb described partnerships for free enrichment camps: a Junior Achievement math‑entrepreneur camp (third through fifth grade) and a National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM camp (K–6 students) that also recruits seventh‑through‑twelfth‑grade student leaders. She said both partners will cover or offset teacher pay for the enrichment camps and that the camps will be free to participating families; the district will host some camps at Riverchase and Carrollton depending on bond‑project work elsewhere.

Funding for the summer slate will come from a mix of federal programs targeted to at‑risk students (including some rollover federal funds), local district resources and partner support. Holcomb said the district no longer has the ESSER funding used during pandemic recovery summers but has been able to reduce the district cash outlay for enrichment by leveraging community partners. Trustees asked about capacity, tracking the effect of different acceleration methods and timelines to notify staff; Holcomb said the district can track growth with new data tools (Branching Minds, NWEA MAP, Progress Learning) and will provide staff with finalized schedules next week.

Board members praised the expanded enrichment and asked staff to present follow‑up data linking TIA assignment and accelerated instruction outcomes so the board can consider budget and policy choices for future years. Holcomb said staff will provide additional memos and data to the board.