The Texas Department of Education is notifying Fort Worth Independent School District that state intervention is mandatory due to persistent academic failures at schools currently closed, increasing the likelihood of state acquisitions or campus closures.
In a letter dated May 5th, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Moras informed Fort Worth ISD Principal Karen Moliner and Board of Education President Roxanne Martinez that the sixth grade leadership academy at Forest Oak, which closed after the 2023-24 grade, failed to meet the state’s academic standards for the fifth consecutive year. This will spark state laws requiring Morath to act, with the option of replacing the district’s elected school boards and appointing a board of trustees, such as appointing an inspector or ordering the closure of additional campuses.
“Since campus achieved five consecutive unacceptable academic ratings that year, the school’s subsequent closures have not been associated with compulsory actions that commissioners require to take and will not be abolished,” Morato emphasized that the sixth grade closure of Forest Oak’s sixth grade students will not exempt the district from the results.
Morath noted that the 2020 and 2021 school years, which have not been assessed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and state policy changes, do not disrupt a streak of score failures under state law.
“The actions of the commissioner under this section of the (Texas Education Code) are mandatory,” he writes. “The Commissioner has no discretion as to whether or not to act under this provision.
Fort Worth ISD officials claim the district has no risk of a acquisition, and claims that Forest Oak’s sixth grade closure and integration into Forest Oak Middle School addressed the issue
“We are proud of the growth we have seen at Forest Oak Middle School since our expansion and integration into one 6-8 grade campus,” Molinar wrote in a letter to the community on April 24th.
According to data from a reserve Texas Educational Institution released April 24, the district’s overall 2023 accountability rating was D, placing it in the lowest school districts of the 12 school districts serving Fort Worth.
Emphasizing the urgency of the intervention, Morath emphasized, “The actions required for me in the law are serious, but they are absolutely necessary for students with Fort Worth ISD.
The agency reserves the right to impose additional sanctions or interventions until it withheld district appeal for the school’s 2023 rating.
Fort Worth ISD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the tea letter. The district, which serves around 70,000 students on 140 campuses, faces additional challenges, including reduced enrollment and a lack of budgets, prompting discussions about closing up to 25 schools.
The potential state acquisition has attracted attention amid a wider scrutiny of Fort Worth ISD’s academic performance. According to a national assessment of education advancement, district ratings delayed by legal challenges to the state’s accountability system underscored the ongoing struggle.
If district appeals fail, Morath’s decision could restructure Fort Worth ISD’s leadership and operations, reflecting state interventions in districts like Houston ISD.
Nakia Douglas, executive director of Dallas Education Group, a nonprofit focused on improving public education in Dallas, commented on the developments of FWISD.
“This moment should encourage all of us, educators, families, community leaders, elected officials, and more, to take a rigorous look at how we serve our students. Accountability is not just a state order. It’s a moral responsibility,” Douglas told the Dallas Express. “If many students struggle with basic skills like reading and mathematics, it’s clear that progressive change is not sufficient. There’s a need for a system-wide commitment to an urgent, student-centered solution.”
“We recognize the pressure that district leaders are below, and we believe that change can be possible with the right support,” he added. “This is an opportunity to build stronger partnerships in Northern Texas and share what is working.
