State Replaces Fort Worth ISD Board in Second-Largest Takeover in Texas History

On Thursday, Commissioner Mike Morath announced that the Texas Education Agency will take action to replace the elected leadership of Fort Worth Independent School District, following the failure of one of its campuses to meet state standards for five consecutive years.

The move represents a significant moment in the history of the state's education system, being the second-largest takeover of a school district, coming on the heels of the intervention in Houston ISD earlier this year. Fort Worth ISD, serving over 70,000 students, is now the 11th district since 2000 to come under state oversight.

In a communication to the district, Morath stated that the existing board has “failed the students of Fort Worth ISD,” noting that only 34% of students are achieving grade-level performance in all subjects and that 20 campuses have been designated as “academically unacceptable for multiple years.”

“The district's failure to enact meaningful changes to enhance student performance ... calls for the interventions outlined in this letter,” Morath stated.

The takeover arises from the ongoing underperformance of Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, which concluded operations at the end of the 2023–24 school year. According to state regulations, the TEA must intervene when a campus fails to meet established standards for five consecutive years, regardless of whether the school subsequently shuts down.

Morath announced plans to establish a board of managers consisting of members from the Fort Worth community and to appoint a new superintendent. The possibility of reappointing current Superintendent Karen Molinar is on the table, he stated. A conservator will supervise the revitalization strategies for underperforming campuses.

In a recent statement, the board of trustees for Fort Worth ISD expressed disappointment and called on the state to “reconsider” its decision. Board President Roxanne Martinez stated, "Our elected Board is uniquely positioned to lead the sustainable advancements that the Commissioner is aiming for."

Molinar, who took on the role of superintendent earlier this year, stood by the district's initiatives to enhance academic performance. “This action was long overdue,” she remarked, commenting on the recent efforts to revamp seven struggling campuses.

The office of Gov. Greg Abbott approved the decision, deeming it essential to ensuring accountability. “Our children deserve the highest quality education available,” spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris stated.

However, opponents contend that the increasing reliance on state takeovers erodes local governance. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, described the situation as a “crisis of Greg Abbott’s own making,” asserting that insufficient funding from the state has negatively impacted school performance.

The TEA has yet to announce when the new leadership will take over. The district has a deadline of early next week to file an appeal regarding the decision.

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