Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaking at a March 2025 event in Fort Worth. In a Feb. 8 social media post, Abbott promised to “course correct” what he deemed indoctrination in Fort Worth schools following walkouts to protest federal immigration enforcement.
Chris Torres
FortWorth
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cited failing schools and indoctrination as reasons for a state takeover of the Fort Worth school district in a post on X.
The governor’s post came in response to a Star-Telegram article looking at a growing list of student walkouts at schools in and around Fort Worth to protest federal immigration enforcement after the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.
“The State will course correct FWISD,” the governor said in his Sunday post.
THIS is a school district that Texas is taking over because the FWISD has failed students for 5 years in a row.
Parents are fleeing FWISD & choosing school choice because they want their kids educated not indoctrinated.
The State will course correct FWISD. https://t.co/B3gpaPVv3R
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 8, 2026
The Texas Education Agency released guidance on Feb. 3 about consequences for students, teachers and districts that engage in walkouts.
These include investigations, sanctions, and the possibility of a state takeover, according to the guidance.
Representatives for the governor did not immediately respond to an email from the Star-Telegram with questions about the post.
Representatives from the Fort Worth school district did not immediately respond to an email from the Star-Telegram seeking comment about the governor’s post.
The TEA announced in October it would be taking over the Fort Worth school district and replacing the school board, citing five consecutive years of failing grades at a middle school campus closed in 2023.
The district board appealed the decision, but that appeal was denied by a panel of administrative judges on Feb. 5.
The TEA is evaluating 286 applications for a nine-member board of managers to oversee the district.
It’s not known when the appointees will be announced, however, state Education Commissioner Mike Morath said he hopes to have the panel in place by spring.
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM.
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Harrison Mantas has covered Fort Worth city government, agencies and people since September 2021. He likes to live tweet city hall meetings, and help his fellow Fort Worthians figure out what’s going on.