Record Five Texas School Districts Face State Takeover Threat Following Latest Accountability Ratings Release

A record five Texas school districts are now facing the imminent threat of state intervention, including the potential replacement of their democratically-elected school boards. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) confirmed Friday that Connally, Lake Worth, Beaumont, Wichita Falls, and Fort Worth school districts have each accumulated five consecutive failing grades at one or more campuses, meeting the threshold for state action.

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath has yet to announce a final decision on the fate of these districts. State options range from appointing a board of managers to outright closure of underperforming schools. This unprecedented number of districts at risk comes after the recent release of school performance ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, alongside 2022-23 data released in April, following crucial state appeals court rulings that cleared the way for public disclosure.

While some districts, such as Wichita Falls ISD and Fort Worth ISD, attempted to pre-empt intervention by closing struggling campuses, the TEA has indicated such actions do not necessarily prevent “compulsory” state oversight. Beaumont ISD, which regained local control in 2020 after a decade-ago state intervention, and Houston ISD, currently under TEA control with controversial results, serve as recent examples of the drastic measures the state can take. The impending decisions underscore a significant moment for public education governance in Texas.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.