Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath wants the least disruptive decision possible as he considers a potential takeover of Fort Worth schools, he explained to state lawmakers Wednesday.
The fate of the roughly 70,000-student district is in the balance after the persistent failing of a now-closed campus.
Morath told the Texas Senate education committee during its Aug. 6 hearing in Austin that he hasn鈥檛 made a decision on whether or not to strip FWISD鈥檚 elected trustees of their power and appoint a new board, similar to what happened in .
鈥淚t鈥檚 very painful when that is the true choice,鈥� Morath said. 鈥淏ut 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.鈥�
Five years of failing grades at the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade triggered a Texas law requiring the state鈥檚 top education official to either close the campus or appoint a board of managers to govern the entire district.
However, trustees last year.
In a statement, Fort Worth ISD spokesperson Jessica Becerra said 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.
鈥淲e appreciate the commissioner鈥檚 commitment to a thoughtful and student-centered approach, and we will continue to work collaboratively with him and his team,鈥� Becerra said.
State Sen. Phil King, a Weatherford Republican and Eastern Hills High School graduate, told Morath that a takeover appears needed and that he鈥檇 support the commissioner鈥檚 decision.
鈥淪ome of the stats just really want to make you weep when you realize where some of those kids are at,鈥� King said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e at an age that they may never recover from that because they鈥檙e going to be out of the system before they can catch up.鈥�
Fort Worth ISD has other large, urban school systems in Texas since 2015. In 2025, Fort Worth on the reading portion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.
鈥淚鈥檝e got more Fort Worth ISD than any senator, and I don鈥檛 know what the right decision is, but if I had to bet today, it鈥檚 replacing the board,鈥� King said.
Morath, a former Dallas school trustee who was appointed Texas鈥� education commissioner in 2016, conceded he faces difficult options.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what the right decision is either,鈥� Morath told the senator. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going through a pretty intentional process to figure out what the best course of action is to support the students in Fort Worth.鈥�
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.
New academic accountability grades are expected Aug. 15, which will show whether FWISD made progress over the past year following .
鈥淥ur leadership team is actively implementing bold strategies to improve student outcomes, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the progress we are making,鈥� Becerra said.
Morath said he expects to make a decision this fall.
Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or .
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