Fort Worth ISD teachers to receive automatic 5% raises for 2026-27 school year
The Fort Worth Independent School District will give every teacher working in classrooms an automatic 5% salary increase for the 2026-27 school year, Superintendent Peter Licata announced in a news release.
“This is a statement of values,” Licata said in the release. “If we are serious about becoming the best district in Texas, then we must be serious about investing in the people who make student success possible every single day. Our classroom teachers deserve to be recognized, supported and paid in a way that reflects the importance of their work.”
The raise applies to all teachers at schools not included in the district’s new Elevate Network, a list of underperforming schools that will receive specialized attention and higher teacher compensation. The Elevate Network was approved at a board meeting last week. Salaries for teachers at Elevate schools can be as high as $100,000.
Teachers who currently work at an Elevate Network school were told they had to reapply for their jobs and the district would decide if they qualify to stay at the campus. Those who do not will be moved to another school in the district, Licata said.
“We want the best teachers in America looking at Fort Worth ISD,” Licata said. “This district is moving forward with urgency. We are building a system that values excellence, rewards results, and puts children first. If you are a teacher who gets results for kids, we want to hear from you.”
In the news release, Licata also wrote that Fort Worth ISD believes improving student outcomes starts with recruiting, supporting and retaining the strongest teachers in the profession, and the raise is a step in that direction.
Fort Worth ISD will also host an open teacher job fair from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 for educators to learn about open opportunities at schools across the district. There is also an option for teachers to submit a summary about their classroom success online, and candidates with a strong record of helping students grow will be placed at the top of the list to fill open positions.
Laurie George, a member of the district’s Board of Managers and former teacher, said the salary increase will help the district move quickly to improve student results.
“As a former FWISD teacher, I’m excited to get our recruitment campaign underway and implement an immediate 5% raise for our classroom teachers,” George wrote in a statement. “If we want to move swiftly to improve student outcomes and attract and retain strong educators, these are exactly the tools we have to take out of the toolbox right away.”
In a statement, Families Organized Resisting Takeover, a group that was formed in opposition of a state takeover of the district, wrote that it welcomes the raises for teachers but the real issue still lies in retention.
“A 5% raise may help with recruitment, but retaining quality teachers requires something more: trust,” the statement reads. “Trust is built through transparency. FWISD and the TEA-appointed leadership must commit to clear, consistent, and proactive communication with every educator in this district — not announcements that leave more questions than answers.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 10:37 AM.
