The recent election in Texas may have concluded, but the effort to hold state officials accountable is just beginning. As the transition unfolds, the focus is shifting to the future of public education governance in the state.
Appointed managers overseeing school boards in several Texas districts, currently under state control, announced their preparations for potential job changes as early as January. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa pledged during her campaign to end state takeovers of public schools and to replace Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator on her first day in office, January 19. The new commissioner could swiftly alter the administration of the eight districts that have been taken over due to ongoing academic failures.
During a state takeover, the commissioner appoints managers who take over the responsibilities of locally elected trustees. Hinojosa’s choice for commissioner has the authority to replace any or all of these appointed managers, according to education experts.
While Hinojosa has not specified when a new commissioner might take office, the presidents of the boards of managers in Houston and Fort Worth ISD are proactively engaging with elected trustees to discuss the transition of power and ensure continued support for students.
Ric Campo, president of the Houston ISD board of managers, indicated that some state-appointed managers plan to meet with elected trustees to outline a comprehensive transition strategy. Campo emphasized the importance of being prepared by January, stating, “We’re working ourselves out of a job, and we’re happy to do it.” He expressed a commitment to ensuring a smooth handover to elected trustees.
Despite remaining in office, trustees in districts under state control lack voting power on critical matters such as budget approvals and policy changes. The state takeover of Houston ISD commenced in 2023, with Morath previously indicating that he would announce the timeline for returning to elected governance by June.
Managers have maintained communication with trustees throughout the takeover, and they are now compiling a transition package that will provide comprehensive information about district operations, including areas like transportation, human resources, and teacher incentive pay.
In Fort Worth ISD, Pete Geren, the appointed board president, expressed his expectation of an imminent removal but noted his commitment to facilitating a seamless transition with the elected board. He reached out to the elected FWISD board president the day after Hinojosa’s victory to reinforce his intention to support the transition process.
Texas law mandates that a commissioner take control of a district after any campus receives five consecutive academically unacceptable ratings or faces closure. While some have lauded the state’s intervention as a means to significantly improve student achievement in struggling districts, the recent election results have sparked hope among many for a return to local governance.
Teachers, parents, and community members celebrated Hinojosa’s election, viewing it as a crucial step toward restoring local control. Elizabeth Chapman, an English teacher and parent in Houston, remarked that there was a prevailing belief that state control over schools was unshakeable, but recent developments have shown that the desire for local governance remains strong.
Jessi Heiner, an organizer with the Houston Federation of Teachers, shared her emotional reaction to Hinojosa’s win, emphasizing that the change in governance felt essential for the future of their school district and the overall Texas public education system.
Amid the takeover, Houston ISD experienced significant teacher turnover, with rates approaching double the state average during the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, the number of students leaving the district has escalated each year since the takeover began, a trend not observed in comparable districts.
Some Republican leaders and national education reform advocates have cited the reforms implemented by the state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles as a successful model for improving academic performance in persistently struggling schools, particularly among minority students.
Under this model, teachers are required to adhere to strict mandates involving standardized, district-developed lesson plans, which include daily assessments and frequent interactive teaching strategies. Other districts have begun to adopt similar approaches.
However, any new managers or trustees who regain control may choose to reverse the changes enacted during the takeover. Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, cautioned against discarding the progress made, noting that reverting to pre-takeover conditions would be a significant misstep.
Hinojosa is actively interviewing candidates for the commissioner role, though the timeline for an announcement remains uncertain. Morath, the second-longest-serving education chief in Texas history, acknowledged the likelihood of his departure in a brief statement, expressing his hope for a smooth transition.
While Hinojosa could appoint an acting commissioner immediately, the appointee would require Senate approval during the upcoming legislative session. If her nominee is not confirmed, she retains the option to appoint someone else temporarily until the Senate reconvenes.
Raymond Tijerina, president of the appointed South San Antonio ISD board, expressed hope that his board would not be removed but is also preparing for that possibility by integrating elected trustees more deeply into board operations. Tijerina urged Hinojosa to evaluate each district individually before making decisions, citing South San Antonio ISD’s positive trajectory since the takeover.
Campo and Geren both indicated their willingness to respect whatever decisions Hinojosa and the new commissioner make. Campo stated that while they remain in their positions, they will not attempt to solidify any reforms implemented during the takeover.
Officials from HISD and Fort Worth ISD have refrained from speculating on potential changes to their respective boards under new leadership. District representatives emphasized their commitment to maintaining a high-quality education for all students, regardless of the political climate.
As uncertainty looms regarding the future of state takeovers in Texas, it is unclear how a new commissioner will interpret existing laws governing school district governance. The commissioner has the authority to determine when appointed managers may be replaced with elected trustees, with Texas law stipulating that this decision must occur no later than two years after the takeover begins.
Morath had indicated that he would announce the timeline for Houston ISD’s transition back to elected control by June 1. For districts that have recently undergone state intervention, such as Fort Worth and Beaumont, the timeline for formal transitions may take longer.
Once a transition begins, one-third of the trustees will replace a corresponding portion of the appointed board of managers each year for three years. Rachel White, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that there is no explicit barrier preventing the new commissioner from appointing elected trustees as managers in their districts.
Dani Hernandez, the elected HISD board president, expressed her intention to prioritize hiring an interim superintendent and initiating a search for a permanent leader for the district upon regaining her position. Hernandez emphasized the need for stability and community engagement in the search for a new superintendent.
Superintendents appointed by the state have contracts that typically include termination clauses. Miles’ contract stipulates a potential payout of up to $924,000 if he is removed without cause, although he could face termination without compensation if deemed to have violated board policies.
Education experts remain uncertain about whether the commissioner or the managers would be responsible for selecting the next superintendent if a change occurs before the appointed managers are removed. HISD officials clarified that Miles has no plans to resign.
Typically, school boards are responsible for hiring superintendents, but under Texas law, if a board of managers is appointed, the commissioner assumes that responsibility.
Hinojosa’s commitment to permanently halt state takeovers would require legislative approval to amend existing laws. While Texas Democrats gained a majority in the House during the recent elections, the Republican majority in the state Senate could pose challenges to such changes.
In an October hearing, some senators praised the progress made under the HISD takeover, with Republican Paul Bettencourt describing Miles’ efforts as a success by all metrics. Meanwhile, Hinojosa’s appointed commissioner may opt to close underperforming campuses rather than pursuing additional takeovers, as permitted by law.
Austin ISD triggered the takeover threshold this year, placing at least 14 districts, including Judson, San Antonio, and Spring, at risk of similar intervention in the near future.
The Commission on the State Takeover, co-chaired by Democratic state lawmakers Sen. Molly Cook and Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons, previously recommended stricter guidelines for school takeovers, including raising the threshold for intervention from one campus to 10% of a district’s campuses receiving consecutive failing ratings.
State Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., who initially supported intervention after a single failing campus, has opposed increasing the number of campuses required to trigger state action. Simmons acknowledged that while failing ratings should prompt action, she does not believe it should necessitate a broad intervention by the state.
“I would love to eliminate the need for takeovers,” Simmons stated, expressing confidence in the new state leadership’s commitment to public education and the hope that proactive measures can prevent such interventions in the future.
