Overview
- Peter Licata began work Tuesday as interim superintendent on a 21‑day contract, pending approval by a new nine‑member board that replaces the elected trustees.
- The intervention follows five consecutive failing ratings at the Leadership Academy at Forest Oaks, which triggered mandatory state action even after the district closed the campus.
- The appointed managers now hold governing power over Fort Worth ISD’s nearly $1 billion budget, district facilities, and what children are taught across roughly 68,000 students.
- Texas officials cite chronic low achievement as a key reason for the move, noting only about 34% of students meet grade‑level standards and many campuses have repeated D or F ratings.
- Parents and teachers worry about turnover and shifts in instruction under state control, and a return to elected governance can phase in over about two years if the state ends oversight.