Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) is embroiled in a legal battle with the state of Texas over the management of the district, which serves approximately 70,000 students. The pivotal question is when an external group began overseeing operations at the now-defunct Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, an issue that arose during their preliminary hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
FWISD representatives, including trustees Quinton Phillips, Tobi Jackson, and board President Roxanne Martinez, engaged in a virtual hearing where legal arguments regarding the timeline of academic accountability pauses took center stage. The heart of Fort Worth’s opposition to the state’s intervention lies in the contention that a pause in accountability ratings should have commenced in the 2021-22 school year, following the establishment of a partnership with Texas Wesleyan University.
Last year, Forest Oak received its fifth consecutive failing academic grade, setting the stage for potential state intervention. Matthew Tiffee, representing the Texas Education Agency, asserted that FWISD initiated its state-approved partnership during the 2020-21 school year through a law known as Senate Bill 1882, and subsequently informed the public of funding received as a result. He emphasized that the intent to close the school contradicted the partnership’s provisions.
Conversely, FWISD attorney Ben Castillo contended that the accountability pause had formally started in August 2021 when the sixth-grade campus joined the partnership. Castillo highlighted the district’s ongoing efforts to address accountability issues, which included plans to consolidate Forest Oak Sixth Grade with Forest Oak Middle School, a move that would be hindered until accountability ratings improved.
State agency lawyers argued that FWISD’s perspective showcased a retrospective view, suggesting that had district officials believed the pause started in the 2020-21 year, they may have delayed consolidation to take advantage of the two-year pause on A-F ratings implemented during the pandemic.
The stakes are high, with the future of thousands of children dependent on the judges’ decision. If the court rules in favor of the state, Education Commissioner Mike Morath would move forward with appointing managers and a superintendent for the district. Should the decision favor FWISD, the case will progress, allowing the district to present its arguments more fully before any takeover materializes.
This situation also casts a shadow on the future of other schools within the district. William James Middle School and Leonard Middle School recently received their fourth consecutive failing grades, indicating that FWISD might face further scrutiny and potential interventions down the line.
As the case unfolds, the outcomes could significantly shape the educational landscape in Fort Worth, providing an opportunity for the district to recalibrate its approach to academic accountability while ensuring the best possible outcomes for its students.