Students across Fort Worth are heading back into their classrooms Monday for the first day of the 2026-27 school year at the Fort Worth school district, the first full year the district is operating under a state takeover.
The Texas Education Agency took over Fort Worth ISD after years of stagnant academic performance. Education Commissioner Mike Morath appointed Peter Licata as superintendent and replaced the former elected school board with a nine-person Board of Managers in March.
Students arrive at W.M. Green Elementary School for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Licata and his team spent most of the summer enacting sweeping changes, including two separate reductions in force, closing campuses, changing curriculum models and altering how the district’s lowest-performing schools get access to resources. Those changes created apprehension from parents and teachers across the district who eagerly await what a state-controlled Fort Worth ISD will look like.
After several contentious summer school board meetings, several listening sessions, press conference and a large-scale convocation event at Dickies Arena, the first day of school is finally here.
The Star-Telegram will be tracking all updates from Licata, his team, and campuses across the district on the first day of school. Follow along for live updates.
Superintendent addresses highs and low after first day
5 p.m.
Superintendent Peter Licata and Fort Worth ISD officials hosted a news conference at 5 p.m. after the end of the school day. Licata described it as a great day of learning and meeting students’ needs through transportation, staffing and meals.
There was a lockdown of O.D. Wyatt High School in the afternoon after a social media photo showed a student allegedly posing with a gun on campus, according to district officials. The lockdown was precautionary, no weapons were found on campus and the student was detained alongside four other classmates.
“We took it serious. As of right now, there was no weapons found on campus or in any property adjacent to… You can’t play around in this environment,” Licata said. “Whether the photos were real or not, we have to prove that. (The police will) get into that, they’ll take care of that. But right now, those students will not be attending school until everything is cleared.”
— Lina Ruiz
O.D. Wyatt High School on lockdown
3:20 p.m.
O.D. Wyatt High School in southeast Fort Worth is on lockdown after a student reportedly took a photo of himself with a firearm on campus on Monday, according to district officials.
Five people, including the student who took the photo, have been detained as part of an investigation. The school was placed on lockdown as a precautionary safety measure while law enforcement assesses the situation.
“Parents and families are asked not to come to campus at this time and to allow law enforcement and school personnel to complete their work. Families should rely on official school district and law enforcement communications for verified updates,” Fort Worth ISD officials said.
— Lina Ruiz
Some parents say they were unable to walk their children to class
10:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
A Diamond Hill Elementary parent told the Star-Telegram that he and his wife were unable to walk their son, who is attending the school’s pre-K-4 program, to breakfast in the school’s cafeteria. They were told they couldn’t escort him past the front door because it was important for the students to establish independence, said parent Daniel Trejo.
Trejo and other parents looked through the blinds of a window into the cafeteria to see where their children went. When students were being led to their classrooms, Trejo’s son was in the wrong group and had to be redirected to the front office to find out where he needed to go, he said.
“If it wasn’t for us being there, literally from 7 to almost 7:45, we wouldn’t have seen that my child got where he needed to go,” Trejo said.
Trejo was told by other parents at other schools that they were able to walk their child to class. He hopes communication improves, so there’s no confusion to parents moving forward, especially this afternoon during pick up time.
“This is just all over the place. Communication is not where it needs to be,” he said.
The Star-Telegram has reached out to Fort Worth ISD to ask how it was determined whether parents could walk their children to class for the first day of school.
Tatum DiMarco, a parent of kindergartner and first-grader at Westcreek Elementary, had a similar experience. There was a long line of parents outside the entrance of the school who were frustrated about not being allowed inside the building, she said.
DiMarco’s children were unable to meet their teachers before the first day of school because they were sick during last week’s meet-the-teacher event, which made matters especially more anxious for DiMarco’s youngest who was entering his first year of school in Fort Worth ISD.
“He was just really kind of inconsolable. A staff member had to come and get both of my boys and take them into the school and walk them to their classrooms. It was just really, really disappointing to not be able to be a part of the first day,” DiMarco said.
DiMarco also noted how there was limited communication from the district and school ahead of Monday. She thought school started at 7:40 a.m. like last year and reached out to the school to verify but received no response. She found out on Monday that the start time was 10 minutes earlier at 7:30 a.m.
About 15 minutes north of Westcreek Elementary at E.M. Daggett Elementary School, parent Jeff Williams said he and his family had a great back-to-school experience. He was able to join his first-grade son Mateo for breakfast and take him to his classroom. They were also greeted by teachers, staff and the principal.
Ahead of the first day, Williams said his family received several messages from the district and school about what to expect.
“It was a great experience, which is what we expected because that school is just phenomenal,” he said.
Williams has children in high school, middle school and elementary school in the district. When asked how he felt about the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD, he said he tries to stay positive and focus on staying as involved as possible as a parent.
“No matter what happens with the district, as long as the parents are involved with their kids and schools, then we’ll all be OK,” Williams said.
— Lina Ruiz
Licata describes what will change in classrooms
9:47 a.m.
Licata said Monday morning that teachers will no longer allow students to “put their head down” and end class early. Instead, instruction will be going in classrooms until the bell rings. If teachers end class five minutes early every day, that is almost a week of instruction time by the end of the month, Licata said.
“There is going to be focused instruction starting today on day one,” Licata said. “If we lose five minutes a day, that’s 25 a week. By the end of the year that’s weeks of missed instruction. Everything is going to be guided by our teachers and supported by administration. We believe strongly that if administration is working side-by-side with teachers, then we have less student discipline issues and students actually in classrooms.”
Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Peter Licata at the bus barn before the start of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
The 19 schools in the district’s Elevate Network will follow especially strictly scripted curriculum.
— Samuel O’Neal
Licata addresses teacher, parents’ apprehension over TEA takeover on first day of 2026-27 school year
8:55 a.m.
During his Monday morning press conference, Licata said that parents and teachers who are worried about the TEA’s takeover of Fort Worth ISD should no longer be after what they witness today.
“I think today will be an indication of how things are going to be,” Licata said. “So many folks are worried about a takeover, but we’re already in unprecedented territory with every classroom with a teacher, every bus route driven.
“I don’t know what they mean when they talk about anxiety of the TEA takeover. At this time, understand the classroom is going to look different, and this is the best way to start a school year. So far we are excited.”
— Samuel O’Neal
Fort Worth ISD will start 2026-27 school year with zero classroom teacher vacancies, district says
8:35 a.m.
For the first time in years, Fort Worth ISD will begin a school year with no teaching vacancies, Licata said Monday morning.
The district saw record turnover following the TEA takeover in March. More than 1,000 teachers resigned by June 26, which was the district’s deadline for teacher resignations. That number was up almost 58% from last year’s deadline. Nearly 800 of this year’s resignations came after TEA took over Fort Worth ISD. By last year’s deadline, just 648 teachers had announced their resignation.
Students arrive at W.M. Green Elementary School for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Licata said Monday morning that the district’s decision to give all classroom teaching positions a 5% raise made Fort Worth ISD an attractive destination for teachers this summer.
“There were over 1,000 separations, and those happened for various reasons,” Licata said. “But starting a school year with zero teaching vacancies, that is unprecedented.”
— Samuel O’Neal
Licata, district leaders welcome students at W.M. Green Elementary School drop off line
8:26 a.m.
Licata hopped off a bus filled with W.M. Green Elementary students Monday morning and high-fived each of them as they got off the bus and walked through the front doors of the building — some of them pre-school and kindergarteners embarking on their first-ever day of school.
W.M. Green, one of 19 Fort Worth ISD campuses chosen by district leaders at an Elevate Campus, will receive additional resources and support. It has received four F grades in a row in the state’s annual A-F Accountability rating system. Elevate campuses will also feature a longer school year, higher teacher pay, and a strict scripted curriculum to turnaround academic ratings.
Principal Janae Capshaw told the Star-Telegram Monday morning that teachers and administrators at W.M. Green must “keep the main thing the main thing” despite being classified as an Elevate campus for poor academic performance. Capshaw was named W.M. Green’s principal over the summer to help spark progress.
Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Peter Licata, left, talks to W.M. Green Elementary School Principal Janae Capshaw before the start of the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Fort Worth. W.M. Green Elementary is part of the new Elevate Network. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
“Our teachers have been working to make sure our classrooms are set up and ready to deliver instruction on day one,” Capshaw said. “We are keeping the main thing the main thing, and that is providing tier one instruction to students.”
Dozens of parents arrived at W.M. Green early Monday to drop their children off at school, some for the very first time. Marlene Hetchins, the mother of a W.M. Green preschooler, said he had heard some apprehension from parents about changes made by new state-appointed leaders, but she is optimistic that her daughter will have a great year at Fort Worth ISD, she said.
“She couldn’t wait to let go of my hand and go into the building this morning,” Hetchins said. “She’s been in daycare her whole life but this is the first time she’s been in actual school. I heard on Twitter that there has been some negative stuff, like they’ve wiped all the board members and had teacher turnover but I’m absolutely optimistic about the year.”
— Samuel O’Neal
Licata kicks off Fort Worth ISD’s 2026-27 with early morning press conference
8:11 a.m.
Licata got the 2026-27 school year under way early Monday morning with a press conference at the Fort Worth ISD Bus Barn. He said the district worked overtime the last few days making sure every campus in the district has working air conditioning and that all first day operations would go smoothly.
“We are in a great place right now,” Licata said. “Air conditioning is working at every campus, everyone will get a hot lunch. Classrooms are ready, cafeterias are ready. This is going to be a very special day.”
Licata said the district’s transportation team spent the last few days making sure all bus routes were safe and efficient after two school buses were involved in accidents after picking up teachers on their way to the district-wide convocation event at Dickies Arena last week.
Buses prepare for the start of the first day of school at the Fort Worth ISD bus barn on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Immediately after the press conference, Licata and Deputy Superintendent Daniel Soliz and Chief of Staff Louis Kushner got on a bus picking up students and taking them to W.M. Green Elementary School to ride along with children on their way to their first day of school.
Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Peter Licata, left, talks to bus driver Kenneth Meeks during the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
— Samuel O’Neal
This story was originally published August 10, 2026 at 8:19 AM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Samuel O’Neal is the K-12 Education Reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, covering public schools and policy that impacts them. He previously worked as a staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a graduate of Temple University.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Lina Ruiz covers early childhood education in Tarrant County and North Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A University of Florida graduate, she previously wrote about local government in South Florida for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.