State takeover still on the table as Fort Worth ISD shows signs of academic progress ahead of new school year.
FORT WORTH, Texas — With the new school year just days away, families in Fort Worth ISD are bracing for more than just first-day jitters. The looming possibility of a state takeover continues to cast a shadow over one of Texas’ largest and lowest-performing school districts.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has not made a final decision, but TEA Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed in a Senate Education Committee Hearing on Wednesday that the idea of replacing the Fort Worth school board remains under consideration, and a resolution will come sometime this fall.
“I’ll be going back and doing on-site visits as soon as school starts up,” Morath said during a legislative hearing. “I want to get a good basis of the facts on the ground.”
The potential intervention stems from years of underperformance, particularly at one now-shuttered Leadership Academy at Forest Oak’s 6th-grade campus. It received its fifth consecutive failing rating before being closed and merged with a nearby middle school in 2023. That rating alone qualified the district for potential state intervention.
Still, some parents say they’re seeing positive change under Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar’s leadership and the district’s new instructional framework centered on literacy.
“I have been optimistic since I started to see the changes Dr. Molinar has made, and I intend to remain optimistic,” said Fort Worth ISD parent and PTA member Ken Kuhl.
Recent 2025 STAAR results show improvements in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade reading scores across all demographics, and the results show the first such gains since 2023.
“The proof is in the pudding,” Kuhl said. “When you see positive change and better student outcomes, that’s what you want to hold onto and maintain.”
Kuhl is one of many in the community who oppose a state takeover, fearing it could disrupt the district’s current momentum.
“Nobody has a crystal ball, but when you see positive change and better student outcomes, then that’s what you wanna hold onto and, of course, maintain,” Kuhl said.
But others say more drastic measures may be necessary.
“I don’t know what the right decision is, but if I had to bet today, it’s replacing the board,” said State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford.
If the TEA proceeds, Fort Worth ISD could face a scenario similar to Houston ISD’s 2023 takeover, which resulted in the removal and replacement of its superintendent and school board.
Critics of the intervention model point to its mixed results.
“They don’t have a track record of making meaningful improvements,” said David DeMatthews, a professor of school policy and leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. “There’s no evidence that these takeovers work.”
In a statement, Fort Worth ISD said it is working closely with the TEA and “…remains focused on doing what is best for students. Our leadership team is actively implementing bold strategies to improve student outcomes, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the progress we are making. ”
For now, no decision has been made. A district spokesperson said leaders expect to meet again with the TEA in September.
“When things are going right and we’re moving in a good direction, disruption wouldn’t be what we need right now,” Kuhl said.
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