FWCS Adds 3DE Opt-Out After Strong Parent Pushback

Fort Wayne Community Schools just handed worried families a real win. After weeks of loud complaints over required 3DE seminar courses, the district is now letting students step out of those classes for the 2026-27 school year. The compromise lands as a multi-million dollar contract renewal hangs in the balance, with the board vote pushed back to early June.

Parents Score a Compromise After Months of Loud Pushback

The district shared the opt-out news through its Family Information weekly newsletter and posted full details on the FWCS website on Tuesday. Sophomore and junior seminar classes are now optional, but students must talk it through with their families and school counselor first.

Parent Leitia McHugh said the win came because some board members refused to back down. She had worried the required slots would push her child out of band and other electives.

“I just want to make sure that those students know that they can go back and redo their schedules to get that class that really fuels them and is important to them back,” McHugh said.

Now she wants the district to do a much better job of letting families know the option even exists.

FWCS Board President Noah Smith confirmed the move was a direct response to parent voices at recent board meetings. He also stressed that 3DE itself is only one piece of the seminar courses, not the entire program.

What the 3DE Seminar Courses Actually Cover

The seminar program runs under the FWCS Schools of Success banner, powered by 3DE, a Junior Achievement program. Ninth and 10th graders will take classes focused on career exploration and life skills next year. By the 2027-28 school year, 11th graders will get a third seminar option added to the mix.

3DE works by bringing real local companies into the classroom. Students tackle actual business case challenges presented by employers like Fort Wayne Metals and Parkview Health.

Pat Morello, the 3DE market lead for Northern Indiana, said the work pays off long after the school bell rings.

“We want them to be able to collaborate and communicate, and I want them to have those skills that they learn over time so that they’re best prepared and best formed to live the life that they can moving forward,” Morello said.

Key skills students build through the 3DE model include:

• Public and interpersonal communication
• Problem solving and teamwork
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Cultural agility for diverse workplaces
• Live case presentations in front of real employers

Morello believes students can keep band, fine arts, and other electives with help from school counselors. He says the picture changes once parents see how every piece can fit together in a student’s day.

Contract Cost and Transparency Still Spark Questions

The 3DE contract is up for renewal, but the new dollar figure remains under wraps. FWCS and Junior Achievement have refused to release the proposed amount. The previous five-year deal cost the district $3.86 million.

The board vote, originally expected sooner, has now been pushed to a tentative date of June 8. Smith said he “wholeheartedly” believes the board will approve the renewal at that meeting.

“While we think it’s a good program, we would really like some more transparency behind, again, that data and the funding of it.” Leitia McHugh, FWCS parent

The original 2021 deal was funded through a mix of federal ESSER II pandemic relief money and the district’s Education Fund. Parents now want clear answers on where the next round of money will come from.

For students who stick with the program, the payoff stretches well past high school graduation. A new agreement with Indiana Tech lets 3DE graduates earn college credit and scholarship dollars.

New State Rules Add Pressure on Local Schools

District leaders say bigger forces are at play here. Indiana rolled out new high school graduation requirements that will hit the class of 2029. The state also brought back A-F letter grades for every public school.

Superintendent Mark Daniel told the board the seminar courses help meet those new demands. He warned that without programs like 3DE, FWCS schools could slip in the rankings fast.

“With the new diploma, if we don’t do this, we’re going to have D-F schools,” Daniel said. “It’s hard to sell a D-F school in our community.”

The 3DE model now runs in all five FWCS high schools. The district serves close to 30,000 students, making it one of the largest in the state of Indiana.

Local employers keep backing the program loudly. Evan Wood of Fort Wayne Metals said freshmen are turning in work he would otherwise pay professionals to handle. Heather Schoegler of Parkview Health said the high school presenters outshine the college freshmen she once taught as an adjunct professor.

For now, parents like McHugh and fellow parent Kaylan Buteyn say the opt-out is one small step in the right direction. They still want better communication, more time, and a fuller view of the contract before the June vote. The story has clearly struck a deep nerve in Fort Wayne, where families are fighting to make sure every student’s voice and every elective seat gets a fair shot in the daily schedule.

What do you think of the new opt-out option? Drop a comment below and tell us if your student plans to stay in the 3DE seminar or move back to band, choir, theater, or another elective for the 2026-27 school year.