“Obviously, we want what’s best for our kids at their local school level,” one Fort Worth ISD parent said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — School is out, but all eyes are on what’s been happening in Fort Worth ISD classrooms.
Parents of Fort Worth students, like Red Sanders, are paying attention to the talk of a possible state takeover of their school district.
“Obviously, we want what’s best for our kids at their local school level. But I also look at it as like the community as a whole here and like, what’s best for all the schools in Fort Worth ISD,” Sanders said.
The conversation intensified following comments from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a meeting with reporters this week. Audio from that meeting was shared by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“A new decision maker to be able to come in who is going to be focused on results, not pacifying local interests,” Abbott said. “And that’s a hard job to do. But a very necessary job. So, my thought would be this. And that is, we’ve seen time and again that when they take over, they lead to better results.”
But the state’s takeover of Houston ISD drew widespread criticism as the district saw its 28 libraries removed and replaced with “discipline centers.”
TEA recently released Fort Worth ISD’s latest accountability ratings and some are raising red flags. The Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade received an “F” for the fifth year in a row. Under Texas law, that triggers mandatory closure or the possibility of a state-appointed board.
“I’ve always kept eyes on what happens at Houston ISD,” State Rep. Aicha Davis said.
Davis served six years on the State Board of Education. She said she’s keeping a close watch on the situation in Fort Worth, especially after witnessing the state takeover of Houston ISD in 2023.
“Morale is way down with the educators. You know, teachers are just very frustrated,” Davis said. “Fort Worth has a very unique population, a lot of kids moving in and out. So you have to figure out ways to get those students to maximize their learning potential.”
Some in the community are asking if there’s a solution short of a full state takeover.
“Maybe there is something between a full takeover and a hybrid approach like that,” Sanders said.
For now, Sanders said he hopes the district is given the time and support to recover.