In one of the most significant state interventions in Texas public education history, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Thursday that it will take control of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD), removing its elected school board and potentially appointing a new superintendent to oversee daily operations.
The decision, made by Education Commissioner Mike Morath, marks the second-largest school district takeover in Texas history, trailing only the ongoing state intervention in Houston ISD. The move follows months of speculation about whether the TEA would step in after one of Fort Worth’s campuses, Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years.
Although the district closed the campus at the end of the 2023–24 school year, Morath said earlier this year that state law still required him to act, citing the district’s broader pattern of low academic performance.
“Failure of Governance”
In a letter sent to district leaders Thursday, Morath accused the current FWISD board of failing its students “through action and inaction,” noting that 34% of students across subjects are performing below grade level and that 20 campuses have been labeled “academically unacceptable” for multiple years.
“The inability of the district to implement effective changes to improve the performance of students in the district or at the campus necessitates the interventions announced by this letter,” Morath wrote. “The failure of governance is demonstrated by continual academic deficiencies at the campus and across the district.”
The commissioner said he will appoint a board of managers composed of Fort Worth community members who are “committed to governing effectively” and ensuring that the district makes measurable academic progress.
He also confirmed that a new superintendent will be named, though current interim superintendent Karen Molinar will be considered for the permanent role. Additionally, a state conservator will be assigned to monitor and guide improvement efforts at low-performing schools.
District Leaders Push Back
In a statement Thursday, the Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees expressed “deep disappointment” in the state’s decision and urged reconsideration.
“Over the past year, our Board and Administration have worked tirelessly to strengthen instruction and accelerate student outcomes,” said Board President Roxanne Martinez. “Our elected Board is in the best position to drive the sustainable improvements the Commissioner seeks, with measurable progress already underway.”
District officials have pointed to rising attendance rates, new literacy initiatives, and improved STAAR test participation as signs of progress, though state data shows achievement gaps remain wide across the district.
State Takeover Rules and Broader Context
Under Texas law, the TEA is required to take over a district or close a school if a campus receives an “F” rating for five consecutive years. The agency can replace elected school board members with appointed managers, who then assume all governing authority until the district meets state standards for multiple years in a row.
Fort Worth ISD was one of five districts flagged for potential takeovers this year, along with Beaumont, Connally, Lake Worth, and Wichita Falls ISDs. Earlier this week, Morath visited Lake Worth ISD, where a campus recently earned its fifth consecutive failing grade.
A District Under Pressure
Fort Worth ISD serves more than 70,000 students, making it one of the largest districts in Texas. The district is majority Hispanic, with nearly 40% of students enrolled in bilingual or English-language learning programs. Roughly three out of four students are considered at risk of dropping out, a figure well above the state average.
TEA officials have expressed concern that the district’s governance structure and leadership turnover have hindered sustained improvement efforts.
Comparisons to Houston’s State Takeover
The Fort Worth intervention follows the controversial state takeover of Houston ISD in 2023, which remains in effect and was recently extended through 2027. Under state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, Houston schools have adopted a highly standardized curriculum featuring timed lessons and scripted instruction, a move that has drawn criticism from teachers and parents alike.
While Houston officials report improved STAAR scores and accountability ratings, the district has also faced high teacher turnover and declining enrollment, raising questions about the long-term impacts of state-led reforms.
What Happens Next
The TEA is expected to announce Fort Worth’s new board and superintendent in the coming weeks. Once installed, the appointed managers will assume full control over district decisions, from budgeting to curriculum, until the agency determines that locally elected governance can resume.
