The Texas Education Agency has announced that it will assume control of Fort Worth Independent School District, marking one of the state’s most significant education interventions in recent years. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed Thursday that a board of managers will be appointed to replace the district’s elected school board, citing chronic academic underperformance as the driving factor behind the decision.
Under state law, the appointed board will have the same powers and responsibilities as the elected trustees. Morath said the state will select individuals from within the Fort Worth community who represent a wide range of experiences — including parents, educators, and civic leaders — to ensure a balanced and informed approach to managing the district. A new website will soon open for residents to apply or nominate candidates for the board.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Morath said. “The enforcement action we’re required to take under state law will help ensure that every child in Fort Worth ISD has access to a high-quality education. Our focus is on restoring accountability, improving outcomes, and building a stronger system for all students.”
The TEA’s intervention will also affect district leadership. Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar, who assumed the role earlier this year, will likely be replaced once the state finalizes its appointments. Morath explained that the commissioner is legally required to appoint a superintendent to work alongside the new board. He thanked Molinar for her service and said she would be eligible to apply for the permanent position but noted that the search will extend to candidates from across Texas and the nation.
The takeover follows years of academic struggles in Fort Worth ISD. According to Morath, the number of chronically underperforming schools has more than doubled in the past two years, rising from eight campuses in 2022 to twenty in 2024. Current data show that only 34 percent of Fort Worth ISD students meet grade-level standards — 16 percentage points below the state average.
“These are not just numbers,” Morath said. “They represent real children who deserve better opportunities. It’s our duty to ensure the adults in charge are delivering measurable results.”
While the announcement marks a major shift in district governance, officials emphasized that no immediate changes will occur for students or staff. Molinar and the current board will continue managing daily operations until the TEA completes its selection process for the board of managers and the appointed superintendent. That process is expected to conclude by spring. Once installed, the new leadership will begin implementing reforms aimed at improving academic performance, teacher support, and curriculum standards.
The district’s elected board will remain in office during the intervention but will not retain decision-making authority. Morath stressed that the state’s involvement is intended to be temporary. The duration will depend on measurable improvements, particularly the elimination of multi-year failing campuses.
“These interventions are designed to fix systemic issues and then return control to local leadership,” Morath explained. “Once the district can demonstrate sustainable improvement and there are no more multi-year failing campuses, the board of managers will step aside, and the elected board will resume its responsibilities.”
In its statement responding to the takeover, the Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees expressed disappointment and urged the TEA to reconsider. “The Board firmly believes that local, elected leadership is best positioned to sustain Fort Worth ISD’s progress and continue improving outcomes for every student,” the statement read.
Fort Worth ISD has faced mounting scrutiny since the state released its 2023 accountability ratings earlier this year. Although the district improved from a D rating in 2023 to a C in 2024 and reduced its number of failing schools from 31 to 11, TEA officials determined that persistent academic challenges warranted state action.
Morath defended the decision as necessary to prevent long-term harm to students and to reset the district’s direction. “Our goal is not to take over indefinitely,” he said. “It’s to build a foundation where academic achievement can flourish, and once that happens, we’ll step back. But for now, the children of Fort Worth deserve our best — and that means acting decisively.”
The coming months will bring significant changes for Fort Worth ISD as the TEA finalizes appointments and begins shaping the district’s path forward. Parents, educators, and community members are expected to play a critical role in this transition as the state works to rebuild trust and deliver the educational outcomes that families across Fort Worth have long demanded.
