Texas school districts face potential state takeovers

More than a dozen Texas public school districts are facing potential state takeovers if they fail to improve academic performance. Under state law, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) can intervene if a campus receives five consecutive failing grades, a process that involves replacing locally elected trustees with a state-appointed board of managers.

At least 14 districts currently have campuses with four consecutive failing grades, including San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Waco, and several others in the Austin, Houston, and San Antonio metro areas. Many of these at-risk schools serve higher percentages of low-income, Black, and Hispanic students compared to the state average.

In response to the threat of sanctions, some districts have opted to close declining schools or partner with outside providers to avoid state intervention. However, critics argue that these measures do not address the underlying socioeconomic circumstances causing low test scores and may lead to teacher shortages and student displacement.