Lake Worth ISD: A School District in the Spotlight

Lake Worth Independent School District is under the microscope. The Texas Education Agency is thinking about taking over the district. Why? Because the district has been getting "F" grades for too long. The Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, recently visited the district to see things for himself. Morath saw both good and bad things during his visit. He noticed that students are learning, but there are big challenges too. He made it clear that he expects better from Lake Worth ISD. He believes that every child, no matter where they come from, should have a good education. If the schools aren't doing their job, then adults need to step in and make changes. One school in the district, Marilyn Miller Language Academy, has been getting "F" grades for five years straight. That's a big problem. When that happens, the state has two choices: close the school or replace the school board with a new team. Morath hasn't decided what to do yet, but he thinks the district has had enough time to fix things on its own. During his visit, Morath talked with district leaders and visited classrooms. He hasn't made a final decision, but he wants to know why the district didn't act sooner. He asked, "Where was the urgency four years ago, five years ago, six years ago? " The decision about the district's future will come in the next few months. The superintendent, Mark Ramirez, was there during the visit but didn't talk to the media. Instead, he released a statement. He said the district appreciates the visit and is committed to making big changes. He believes in the students and staff and wants to make sure every student gets a good education. So, what's next for Lake Worth ISD? The district is waiting for the state's decision. But one thing is clear: big changes are coming.