\u201cIt\u2019s very painful when that is the true choice,\u201d Morath said. \u201cBut if that is the situation, if it does the best for the kids, then I think anybody in my position would be a coward to do anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Five years of failing grades at the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade triggered a Texas law requiring the state\u2019s top education official to either close the campus or appoint a board of managers to govern the entire district.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, trustees closed the campus<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n In a statement, Fort Worth ISD spokesperson Jessica Becerra said the district was aware<\/a> of the discussion during the committee hearing. Morath has met with district leaders and plans to visit schools in September as part of his decision-making process, Becerra said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe appreciate the commissioner\u2019s commitment to a thoughtful and student-centered approach, and we will continue to work collaboratively with him and his team,\u201d Becerra said.<\/p>\n State Sen. Phil King, a Weatherford Republican and Eastern Hills High School graduate, told Morath that a takeover appears needed and that he\u2019d support the commissioner\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the stats just really want to make you weep when you realize where some of those kids are at,\u201d King said. \u201cThey\u2019re at an age that they may never recover from that because they\u2019re going to be out of the system before they can catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n Fort Worth ISD has lagged behind<\/a> other large, urban school systems in Texas since 2015. In 2025, Fort Worth students made gains<\/a> on the reading portion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got more Fort Worth ISD than any senator, and I don\u2019t know what the right decision is, but if I had to bet today, it\u2019s replacing the board,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n Morath, a former Dallas school trustee who was appointed Texas\u2019 education commissioner in 2016, conceded he faces difficult options.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what the right decision is either,\u201d Morath told the senator. \u201cWe\u2019re going through a pretty intentional process to figure out what the best course of action is to support the students in Fort Worth.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Fort Worth ISD officials say they remain focused on serving students, Becerra said. As classes start Aug. 12, district educators are doubling down on improving literacy and math skills by rolling out new teaching roles and strategies.\u00a0<\/p>\n New academic accountability grades are expected Aug. 15, which will show whether FWISD made progress over the past year following leadership changes<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur leadership team is actively implementing bold strategies to improve student outcomes, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the progress we are making,\u201d Becerra said.<\/p>\n Morath said he expects to make a decision this fall.<\/p>\n Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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