The Texas Education Agency has notified the Fort Worth Independent School District that state intervention is mandatory due to persistent academic failures at a now-closed school, raising the possibility of a state takeover or further campus closures.
In a letter dated May 5, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath informed Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Karen Molinar and school board President Roxanne Martinez that the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, which closed after the 2023-24 school year, failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years. This triggers a state law requiring Morath to act, with options including appointing a board of managers to replace the district’s elected school board and superintendent or ordering additional campus closures.
“Since the campus earned its fifth consecutive unacceptable academic rating in that year, the school’s subsequent closure has no bearing on, and does not abrogate, the compulsory action the statute requires the commissioner to take,” Morath wrote, emphasizing that the closure of Forest Oak Sixth Grade does not exempt the district from consequences.
Morath noted that the 2020 and 2021 academic years, which were not rated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state policy changes, do not interrupt the streak of failing scores under state law
“Commissioner action under this section of the (Texas Education Code) is compulsory,” he wrote. “The commissioner does not have discretion whether to act under this provision.
Fort Worth ISD officials have maintained that the district is not at risk of a takeover, arguing that the closure and consolidation of Forest Oak Sixth Grade into Forest Oak Middle School addressed the issue
“We are proud of the growth that we have seen in Forest Oak Middle School since the expansion and consolidation to one 6-8 grade campus,” Molinar wrote in a letter to the community on April 24
The district’s overall 2023 accountability rating was a D, placing it among the lowest-performing of the 12 school districts serving Fort Worth, according to preliminary Texas Education Agency data released April 24. District officials reported a self-calculated C rating for 2024, but the state’s 2025 ratings, expected in August, will provide further insight
Morath underscored the urgency of intervention, stating, “While the actions required of me by the statute are serious, they are absolutely necessary for the students of Fort Worth ISD.
The agency reserves the right to impose additional sanctions or interventions pending the district’s appeal of the school’s 2023 rating, which could determine whether Morath opts for a takeover or further closures
Fort Worth ISD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the TEA’s letter. The district, which serves approximately 70,000 students across 140 campuses, faces additional challenges, including declining enrollment and a projected budget deficit, prompting discussions of closing up to 25 schools
The potential state takeover has drawn attention amid broader scrutiny of Fort Worth ISD’s academic performance. The district’s 2023 ratings, delayed by legal challenges over the state’s accountability system, highlighted ongoing struggles, with fewer than 2 in 10 fourth graders reading proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
If the district’s appeal fails, Morath’s decision could reshape Fort Worth ISD’s leadership and operations, mirroring state interventions in districts like Houston ISD, where academic underperformance led to a state-appointed board.
Nakia Douglas, the executive director of Dallas Education Collective, a non-profit focused on improving public education in Dallas, commented on the unfolding situation in the FWISD.
“This moment should prompt all of us — educators, families, community leaders and elected officials — to take a hard look at how we’re serving students. Accountability isn’t just a state mandate; it’s a moral responsibility,” Douglas told The Dallas Express. “When so many students are struggling with foundational skills like reading and math, it’s clear that incremental change isn’t enough. We need a system-wide commitment to urgent, student-centered solutions.”
“We recognize the pressure that district leaders are under, and we believe that with the right support, transformation is possible,” he added. “This is a chance to build stronger partnerships across North Texas to share what’s working — and to be honest about what’s not.”