Fort Worth ISD has named new leaders at more than 30 campuses as the state-run district reshapes campus leadership following the Texas Education Agency takeover. District officials have framed the changes as part of an effort to align school leadership with Superintendent Peter Licata’s academic priorities.

State Takeover and Leadership Changes

The Texas Education Agency replaced Fort Worth ISD’s elected board with a state-appointed board of managers and named Peter Licata superintendent in 2026, following years of academic underperformance. Since taking over, state-appointed leaders have prioritized improving student outcomes and restructuring district operations.

The leadership changes come as public school districts across Texas grapple with declining enrollment. According to Texas 2036, statewide public school enrollment fell below 5.5 million students during the 2025-26 school year, marking the first year-over-year decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fort Worth ISD has experienced enrollment losses of its own in recent years and recently approved the closure of 18 campuses. The district is not alone. According to advocacy group Our Schools, Our Democracy, school districts including Lewisville ISD, Plano ISD, Coppell ISD, and Austin ISD have also faced declining enrollment and school closures.

While district leaders continue to recruit new principals, Licata has emphasized that Fort Worth ISD hopes to retain many current campus leaders. The district’s selection process for principals is rigorous and focused on identifying leaders who can drive academic improvement.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.