Fort Worth ISD mother Keisha Braziel said she was not surprised by the state takeover news.
She said a child’s success in school depends on support at home, including for early literacy, but parents facing problems such as food insecurity and high housing costs do not always have the bandwidth to do anything more.
“The kids that we deal with come with problems that lay at the feet of the city of Fort Worth,” said Braziel, who has a daughter at Dunbar High School, a daughter at I.M. Terrell Academy and a son at Jaquet Middle School. “No one is addressing the issue that the parents can’t really support their children because they’re working two or three jobs just to survive.”
Braziel, a lifelong Fort Worthian and graduate of Dunbar High School, is one of many district parents reacting to the news after state officials announced its control of the public schools system following years of struggle. Thinking about what’s next, the parents all said more must be done for students.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced the takeover Oct. 23 after a now-closed campus received five consecutive F’s in the state’s academic accountability ratings.
As a former FWISD parent of four and community advocate, Teena James works closely with students at schools feeding into Dunbar High. She’s observed east Fort Worth students struggle academically.
The takeover will especially impact schools and communities of color, she said. The schools in the Historic Stop Six neighborhood benefit most from locally elected officials who are familiar with the community’s needs.
“Every kid doesn’t learn the same,” James said. “Our kids are failing because no one is paying attention to how they’re learning and/ or how they need to learn.”
As part of a quality education, leaders need to consider diversity and culture-centric methods of learning, James added.
“If we took the time to dissect each one of these and how it applies to each one of our kids and our community, we could come up with a better way of educating,” James said.
The idea of a state takeover has been in the back of many parents’ minds, said Tanglewood Elementary parent Colby Adams. He serves on the steering committee for the school district’s Facilities Master Plan Community Task Force, which helped shape the district’s upcoming school closures.
Last fall, he joined more than 40 community leaders in signing a letter with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker over their shared dissatisfaction with the ”unacceptable” state of FWISD under then-Superintendent Angélica Ramsey and the school board.
At that time, Ramsey clashed with trustees, academic success continued to deteriorate and community trust was lost.
Adams said he believes the takeover is a result of issues that occurred before Karen Molinar became superintendent. He doesn’t want the takeover to diminish the work done under her leadership.
“Whatever decision is made by Mr. Morath, we need to appreciate the leadership (Molinar) has shown in the last year, but maintain our resolve to provide an opportunity for every kid, regardless of what ZIP code or side of town they’re on in Fort Worth.”
In the spring, Fort Worth ISD saw its largest one-year improvement on STAAR, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, since before the pandemic. Results showed 41% of third- and fourth-grade students met grade level in reading — up 8 points from 33% in 2024.
The district also saw gains in accountability ratings, but two middle schools received their fourth F.
Likewise, James wants Molinar to remain as FWISD’s leader.
“We have Dr. Molinar right here in our city,” said James. “We’re losing time and time is something that we can’t get back.”
Adams attributes the change to Molinar’s leadership.
A state takeover is not the only possible solution, but Adams said he doesn’t think second guessing or wondering what other scenarios could have played out is a valuable use of time.
“The reality is, Fort Worth ISD in recent years, has failed to provide a quality education to every child in the district, and that’s why we find ourselves in this position now,” Adams said. “We are here because we have failed our students, and so now we need to rally together as a community.”
Rachel Cotto wants to see opportunities where she can voice her concerns about the state takeover and the looming school closure as both PTA president and a mother. She has two daughters at J.T. Stevens Elementary, which is expected to close in June 2027.
Nearly 70% of the school’s 427 students are from low-income families.
“Our families need help with the day to day,” Cotto said.
Money is also an issue for traditional public schools.
Parents choosing to send their students to other schools, including charters, impacts state funding for FWISD. More than 20,000 students transferred out of Fort Worth ISD during the 2024-25 school year. Texas funds public education based on the number of students who attend schools.
That leaves Fort Worth ISD campuses with less, James said.
Braziel, a substitute teacher and a team coach and head coordinator for the Hallmark Youth Association, said she applied for the board of managers. She wants to be involved because she understands the problems facing the schools, she said.
She believes the state government, local government and community are all to blame for the situation.
“We have to accept that everybody played a part in the failure and contributed to the takeover,” she said. “Now that you are aware of that, accept the accountability and then make changes to do something else.”
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org.
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
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