ACE program wins funding boost; district campuses earn DFW honors

The district highlighted after‑school and enrichment successes: Claudine Avila reported that the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant provides multi‑year funding to support ACE programming and that the district recently received additional awards to expand work‑based learning and drivers‑education offerings.

"We are funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers... which provides nearly $10,000,000 of funding for after school and summer learning programs, over the over the 5 year span of the grant," Avila said. She reported 266 students served during the fall and spring of 2024–25 and an anticipated 1,359 students served this summer; ACE also received $61,000 in additional funding and a $20,000 Texas Department of Transportation drivers‑education grant to expand capacity for 2025–26.

Separately, communications staff celebrated district placements in the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram DFW Favorites poll: Castleberry Elementary and Irma Marsh Middle School earned gold in their respective categories, Castleberry High School earned silver, and other campuses or programs received bronze placements. District leaders thanked the community and the Star‑Telegram for the recognitions and noted the role of family and community engagement in student success.