Texas takes over school districts with low-income, minority students

State accountability system triggers takeovers based on poor test scores, raising concerns about equity

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:55pm

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The Texas Education Agency has taken over four school districts due to low academic performance, with six campuses receiving failing grades. These schools serve predominantly low-income, minority students, raising concerns that the state's accountability system disproportionately impacts disadvantaged communities.

Why it matters

Critics argue the state's accountability system penalizes districts based on factors beyond their control, such as poverty and racial inequality, and fails to address the underlying societal issues that contribute to academic struggles in these schools.

The details

The Texas Education Agency has ordered takeovers of the Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth school districts after at least one campus in each received an 'F' grade for five consecutive years. These schools serve student populations that are 80% to 97% low-income, and 88% to nearly 100% Black and Hispanic. The state's 2015 accountability law mandates a state takeover or campus closure when a school receives an 'F' for five years, replacing elected school board members with state-appointed leaders.

  • The Texas Education Agency launched plans to take over four school districts in 2025 due to low academic performance.
  • The state has ordered two campus closures and seven district takeovers based on academic performance over the past 10 years.

The players

Texas Education Agency

The state agency responsible for overseeing public education in Texas, including implementing the state's school accountability system.

Mike Morath

The commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, who has ordered multiple school district takeovers and campus closures due to poor academic performance.

Jill Bottelberghe

The superintendent of the Connally Independent School District, which is facing a state takeover.

Andrew Hairston

A civil rights attorney who directs the Education Justice Project at Texas Appleseed, an advocacy organization, and criticizes the state's accountability system for failing to address broader issues of educational inequality.

Bob Sanborn

The president and CEO of Children at Risk, a research and advocacy organization focused on poverty and inequality, who argues the state needs to pay more attention to disadvantaged communities.

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What they’re saying

“What good is it to have moderately improved reading levels that come from a state takeover when the children are being called the N-word every day and cannot have a peaceful environment in which they learn and seek to grow?”

— Andrew Hairston, Civil rights attorney

“If we want our children to be successful in Texas, we have to pay attention to those districts where parents aren't making as much money, where there's lower levels of educational attainment. That often translates into immigrant communities, Black and brown communities, and I think people don't like to talk about that in Texas.”

— Bob Sanborn, President and CEO of Children at Risk

“We felt alone. We felt like we were put on an island out there by ourselves, because you remove the people that we elected to work with us and protect us and help us create a better district. You removed all of the board and everyone from their positions, and you brought in your own people.”

— Kevin Jackson, President of the Beaumont Teachers Association

What’s next

The judge in the Fort Worth case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the state takeover to proceed.

The takeaway

The state's school accountability system, which triggers district takeovers based on low test scores, disproportionately impacts schools serving low-income, minority students, raising concerns about equity and the state's role in addressing broader societal issues that contribute to academic struggles in these communities.