FORT WORTH, TX \u2014 A judge denied Fort Worth ISD’s appeal Friday to avoid being taken over by the Texas Education Agency.<\/p>\n
A state administrative court concluded no factual disputes would justify overturning Commissioner Mike Morath\u2019s decision to intervene in the 70,000-student district because of failing academics. This clears the way for Morath to install new leadership over the city\u2019s largest school system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is the second-largest school district to ever be taken over by the TEA behind Houston ISD.<\/p>\n
The court\u2019s ruling affirms the agency\u2019s position regarding required intervention in Fort Worth ISD, TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky said.<\/p>\n
Daily classroom instruction is not expected to change immediately, but the ruling removes the final barrier to the intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis action does not change our focus,\u201d superintendent Karen Molinar said in a statement, noting that FWISD educators remain dedicated to \u201ckeeping student success at the center of every decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morath ordered the state intervention this fall after the now-closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade\u00a0received five consecutive failing academic ratings<\/a>.<\/p>\n Texas law<\/a> requires the commissioner to either close a persistently failing campus or appoint a board of managers to govern the district \u2014 authority that replaces locally elected trustees. FWISD trustees\u00a0closed that Forest Oak campus<\/a> in May 2024.<\/p>\n The decision to close Forest Oak came under the tenure of former Fort Worth Superintendent Ang\u00e9lica Ramsey.<\/p>\n Fort Worth trustees sought the expedited administrative review as a way to secure a deeper review of the facts surrounding the state\u2019s decision, emphasizing trustees wanted to work with state leaders while prioritizing students,\u00a0Martinez previously said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fort Worth ISD argued the state should have paused sanctions for the struggling Forest Oak campus under provisions in Texas law and maintained the district was already making progress toward improving student outcomes.<\/p>\n State officials countered that intervention was required by law after the campus posted five consecutive failing grades.<\/p>\n The three-judge panel removed four affidavits submitted by the state after siding with Fort Worth ISD that the statements included unsupported claims and hearsay.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, that did not change the outcome of the case.<\/p>\n La Joya ISD is the only district known to have previously mounted a similar challenge through the state administrative process, Kobersky said. Judges ultimately sided with the agency, and a board of managers and\u00a0superintendent<\/a> was appointed in February 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n The decision arrives as the state prepares to install new leadership over Fort Worth schools, including the managers and appointing a superintendent, in the coming weeks. Morath has said Molinar is among candidates for the top administrator post.<\/p>\n