School district takeover potential looms as Texas education commissioner ponders decision amidst intervention pressure by a state senator
The future of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) remains uncertain as Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath weighs the option of a potential takeover. Morath, who has met with district leaders and plans to visit schools in September, faces a challenging decision regarding the district's persistent failures, particularly at the closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Middle School[1].
The academy has struggled with failing grades for five consecutive years, triggering a Texas law requiring intervention[2]. Key factors influencing Morath’s decision include the district’s academic performance, efforts to improve, and community and leadership changes[1].
Academic performance issues have been a concern, with persistent failing ratings at the Leadership Academy campus and overall district academic status[5]. However, the Texas Education Agency's new A-F school ratings for 2024 and 2025, due for release on August 15, may show improvements in more than 50 campuses[1][3]. FWISD officials are hopeful that these improvements will influence the TEA to reconsider a takeover.
Under the leadership of Dr. Angelica Cortes Molinar, who was appointed interim superintendent in October 2024 and made permanent in March 2025, FWISD has implemented reforms such as doubling instruction time for math and reading in middle schools and introducing new teaching roles supporting students[1]. These efforts are being highlighted to demonstrate progress to the commissioner[1].
Local officials, including Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, have publicly urged for leadership changes and school board accountability to avoid a state takeover[1]. There is a sense that progress has been made since Molinar’s appointment, giving the district some hope against a takeover[1][3].
If a takeover were to occur, it would not be the first time in Texas. The state's top education official may appoint a new board to govern FWISD, as was done in Houston[2]. However, the final outcome remains pending after Morath completes his September visits and reviews the latest TEA data[1][3][5].
State Sen. Phil King has expressed support for a takeover, citing concerns over the academic performance of Fort Worth students[1]. The district, with approximately 70,000 students, has lagged behind other large, urban school systems in Texas since 2015[4]. FWISD officials remain focused on serving students, with a focus on improving literacy and math skills[4].
The Fort Worth Report, the source of this article, makes news decisions independently of its board members and financial supporters, under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License[6]. For the latest updates on this developing story, stay tuned to the Fort Worth Report.
[1] Sanchez, J. (2025, August 1). Morath weighs potential takeover of Fort Worth schools. Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/01/morath-weighs-potential-takeover-of-fort-worth-schools/ [2] Sanchez, J. (2025, July 28). What would a state takeover of Fort Worth ISD look like? Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/07/28/what-would-a-state-takeover-of-fort-worth-isd-look-like/ [3] Sanchez, J. (2025, July 26). Fort Worth ISD superintendent Dr. Angelica Cortes Molinar discusses district's progress and challenges. Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/07/26/fort-worth-isd-superintendent-dr-angelica-cortes-molinar-discusses-districts-progress-and-challenges/ [4] Sanchez, J. (2025, July 22). Fort Worth ISD lags behind other large, urban school systems in Texas since 2015. Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/07/22/fort-worth-isd-lags-behind-other-large-urban-school-systems-in-texas-since-2015/ [5] Sanchez, J. (2025, July 20). Fort Worth ISD's Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Middle School has been failing for five years. Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/2025/07/20/fort-worth-isds-leadership-academy-at-forest-oak-middle-school-has-been-failing-for-five-years/ [6] Fort Worth Report. (2021, March 2). About. Fort Worth Report. https://fortworthreport.org/about/
- The academic performance and ongoing efforts to improve are under discussion in the context of potential takeover of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) by the Texas Education Commissioner.
- The Fort Worth Report, an independent news source, has reported on the importance of both education-and-self-development and politics in the current situation facing FWISD, as key factors influencing Mike Morath's decision about whether or not to implement a takeover.
