Austin Independent School District, which serves nearly 70,000 students, is at a crossroads. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath must decide whether to close two chronically underperforming campuses or to replace the district’s elected school board and superintendent with a state‑appointed board of managers.
What a state takeover entails
Under Texas law, a takeover occurs when the Texas Education Agency (TEA) temporarily removes the locally elected trustees and installs a board of managers appointed by the commissioner. The managers assume full board duties, including budget approval, tax‑rate setting, and policy decisions on safety and instruction, all while complying with state and federal statutes.
School boards normally hire superintendents to run daily operations. During a takeover, the commissioner can also replace the superintendent. In Fort Worth, for example, Commissioner Morath removed Superintendent Karen Molinar after parents praised her curriculum changes, signaling a desire for a “hard reset.”
Why takeovers happen
Takeovers are triggered by persistent academic failure, financial mismanagement, or systemic corruption. A 2015 law made it easier for the TEA to intervene when campuses receive five consecutive failing grades on the state accountability system. At that point, the commissioner must either close the school or replace the elected board with a board of managers.
Most districts that have faced takeover serve predominantly Black, Latino, or low‑income students. State Rep. Harold Dutton, a former student of Houston’s Wheatley High School, helped write the 2015 law to force districts to confront long‑standing performance gaps.
Who serves on the board of managers
State law requires that the board be primarily composed of local residents. Applicants often have backgrounds in parent or neighborhood advocacy, social work, psychology, business, finance, or law. Their duties include evaluating the superintendent and preparing the elected trustees to resume governance. Managers must hold public meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act, while the elected trustees may serve in an advisory capacity.
Length of a takeover
TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky says managers typically serve two to six years, depending on how quickly the district meets academic and exit goals. After two years, if a failing campus earns passing grades for two consecutive years, the commissioner may restore local control, though extensions are possible.
The Marlin school district, east of Waco, spent seven years under state control before the TEA began returning authority to the elected board in February 2024.
Ways districts try to avoid a takeover
Some districts hand over management of struggling campuses to charter operators or nonprofits to buy time. A 2017 law provides additional funding for such partnerships. Austin ISD attempted a partnership with the nonprofit Texas Council for International Studies, but the TEA rejected the proposal, citing a lack of proven turnaround results.
Do takeovers improve outcomes?
Research on state takeovers is mixed. New Orleans and Lawrence, Massachusetts reported academic gains after interventions, while a study of dozens of districts from 2010‑2018 found no measurable improvement in reading or math scores up to a decade later. A Brookings analysis noted that takeovers in predominantly Black communities often harmed student achievement.
Houston ISD, under a takeover, introduced scripted lessons and raised teacher pay, citing higher test scores as evidence of success. However, the district also experienced teacher turnover and declining enrollment.
What’s next for Austin?
Commissioner Morath’s decision will shape the future of Austin’s public schools and set a precedent for how the state handles chronic underperformance. Parents, educators, and community leaders are watching closely, aware that the outcome will affect local control, school culture, and the educational prospects of thousands of children.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
