Texas Education Agency Takes Over Fort Worth ISD Amid Academic Failures

FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath announced Thursday that a conservator and a board of managers will be appointed to govern the Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD).

This decision follows a state law mandating intervention when a school fails to meet academic standards for five consecutive years. The Leadership Academy at Forest Oaks, a 6th-grade campus, received its fifth consecutive unacceptable accountability rating for the 2022-23 school year, prompting this state intervention.

“The closure of the campus did not relieve the TEA of its obligation under state law,” Morath said in his letter to the district. “It simply did not address the underlying systemic deficiencies causing the chronic underperformance.”

The Fort Worth ISD expressed disappointment over the decision but stated support for Morath’s commitment to student success. Board President Roxanne Martinez highlighted the progress made under local leadership, noting, “Our Board and Administration have worked tirelessly to strengthen instruction and accelerate student outcomes.”

Morath has yet to specify when the board of managers will be announced but mentioned the search for candidates is in progress. The board will consist of community members dedicated to improving student outcomes.

Fort Worth ISD will have a chance to participate in a review of the upcoming appointments on October 30. Following this informal review, if Morath moves forward with the intervention, the district will have the option to appeal to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

It remains uncertain if Superintendent Karen Molinar will also be replaced, as Morath indicated he would review prospective superintendent candidates, including Molinar.

Morath has criticized the district’s performance, linking it to a lack of urgency in addressing persistent academic issues. “The question is where was the urgency four years ago?” he stated.

District officials were reportedly taken by surprise by Morath’s announcement, as many were attending a conference in Philadelphia at the time. Community members voiced their disappointment, insisting on the importance of local control.

Marisol Herrera of the advocacy group Families Organized and Resisting Takeover (FORT) said, “This is the beginning of the resistance. We’re going to keep advocating for our students.”