About two months into the school year, conversations among Fort Worth ISD parents have definitely changed from before. Instead of discussions about homework or lunch, the focus is now on the way the school is being run.

This 2026-27 school year marks the first regular year of direct management by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over the district. Today, I will carefully outline what has changed based on confirmed facts.

It all started in October 2025. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath announced district intervention after one campus received failing grades for five consecutive years.

In November, Christopher Luskowski, a former New Mexico education commissioner, was appointed as a conservator. He is responsible for overseeing the district's operations and reporting directly to the state government.

On March 24, 2026, a Board of Managers consisting of nine members and a new superintendent were announced. The chairperson is Pete Geren.

The new superintendent is Dr. Peter Licata, who previously led the Broward County School District in Florida and has over 30 years of experience in education.

So, what happened to the previously elected school board members? They retain their titles but no longer have voting rights. School board elections will continue to be held, preparing for the eventual return of local governance.

The first day of school was Monday, August 10. A noticeable change was that instead of ice-breaking activities, classes began immediately on the first day.

Teacher vacancies were also a topic of discussion. In previous years, there were over 200 vacancies at the start of the school year, but this year, it was announced that classes began without any vacancies.

However, the process was not without its challenges. Reports indicated that nearly 900 teachers resigned during the re-interviewing process for staff selection.

Teacher compensation has also changed. Teachers assigned to classrooms will automatically receive a 5% salary increase for this school year.

From a parent's perspective, the first thing to check is which tier your child's school falls into. The district categorizes schools into three tiers, granting different levels of autonomy.

The first tier is the Elevate network. This includes 19 schools that have struggled academically for a long time, specifically 15 elementary schools and 4 middle schools.

These schools required teachers and staff to reapply for their positions. In return, some positions offered salaries ranging from $88,000 to $100,000.

Elevate schools will have a longer academic year, with increased teacher coaching and standardized lessons taught in the same way across classrooms.

According to the district, classrooms will be designed to minimize distractions as much as possible. Superintendent Licata also acknowledged that until academic performance improves, teachers' creative discretion in lessons will be reduced.

The second tier is the Emerge stage, which includes most of the remaining schools. They will use the Bluebonnet Plus curriculum but can determine their own schedules and staffing.

The third tier is the Exemplar stage. Eight schools fall into this category, where they make nearly all decisions from program design to scheduling independently.

To move up tiers, schools must meet criteria for three consecutive years. The logic is that three times indicates a pattern, meaning a one-time spike in performance is not sufficient.

Of course, there are also many complaints. At meetings held about six weeks into the school year, issues were raised regarding scripted curricula, lack of communication, and reductions in dual credit staffing.

Reports indicate that positions such as bilingual coordinators and speech therapists have also been reduced. The district explained that while student enrollment has decreased by over 12,000 in five years, staffing levels have remained the same.

Concerns about AI curriculum materials have also emerged. The district was selected for OpenAI's teacher ChatGPT program, but parents reported that incorrect scientific diagrams and images of six-fingered hands were included in the teaching materials.

The district has stated that it will implement new quality control procedures for lesson slides. Superintendent Licata also acknowledged that communication can always improve.

There are positive signs as well. The district reported that all grades improved in the MAP tests compared to last year. However, since these are early semester figures, it may be too soon to celebrate.

If you are a Korean parent, it's sufficient to keep a few things in mind. First, check which tier your child's school is in, and if it's an Elevate school, make sure to adjust your summer plans for the longer academic calendar.

If your child receives bilingual or ESL support, it's a good idea to directly ask the school whether their assigned teacher has changed. If you have a high school student, check where the dual credit application process has moved to.

Official announcements can be found on the TEA intervention information page on the district's website. The Board of Managers meetings are also open to the public, so I encourage you to attend at least once.

Personally, I believe it's too early to judge the results after just one semester. After all, a forest doesn't grow in a single season. However, I think it's crucial for parents to keep asking questions to ensure that these changes benefit the children.