The Texas Education Agency has announced it will assume control of the Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth school districts. Education Commissioner Mike Morath confirmed this decision, citing state laws that allow intervention for districts with poor academic performance.
Details of the Intervention
Each of these districts has faced five consecutive years of failing grades according to Texas’ academic accountability system. As a result, Morath plans to replace the existing school boards with state-appointed boards of managers and appoint conservators to oversee current district leadership.
Specifics on Each District
- Lake Worth School District: The Marilyn Miller Language Academy triggered the intervention. Of Lake Worth’s six campuses, five received failing grades. Currently, only 22% of students are performing at grade level.
- Connally School District: Connally Junior High and Connally Elementary are the schools that qualified for state takeover. The percentage of students meeting grade level has fallen to 24%, while two campuses now have unacceptable ratings.
- Beaumont School District: ML King Middle School and Fehl-Price Elementary have endured multiple years of failing grades. Presently, 30% of Beaumont students meet grade level standards, and the district has not received an acceptable rating since 2019.
Community Impact and Responses
The takeovers have raised concerns among community leaders. Beaumont school board president, Thomas Sigee Sr., expressed disappointment over the decision. He preferred a temporary closure of struggling schools instead of a complete district takeover, which he believes could create chaos.
Local community members will have the opportunity to apply for positions on the new boards of managers. Morath aims to appoint superintendents to lead these districts and facilitate a smoother transition.
Expansion of State Control
This action adds to a growing list of districts under state intervention, including larger districts like Fort Worth and Houston. Texas school districts have increasingly faced state takeovers following a 2015 law that streamlined the process for academic intervention.
In recent years, the education agency has officially taken control of districts like Marlin, Shepherd, and Houston due to persistent academic failures. While state-appointed leaders claim improvements, interventions have sparked criticism regarding impacts on enrollment and teacher retention.
As these school districts navigate this challenging transition, community discussions around future academic strategies and improvements will be crucial to better serve the needs of students and families.
