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District says Third Future partnership is not a state takeover as it awaits TEA decision
Summary
District administrators told the Wichita Falls ISD board they have argued to the Texas Education Agency that a partnership with turnaround operator Third Future does not constitute a state takeover; the district said a TEA decision is expected in January or early February and highlighted progress on campus ratings.
Wichita Falls ISD administrators told the board on Tuesday they have submitted a legal argument to the Texas Education Agency asserting that the district's partnership with turnaround operator Third Future does not constitute a state takeover, and they said they expect a TEA determination in January or early February.
"The partnership with Third Future is not a state takeover," an administrator told trustees, outlining the district's multi-year accountability work that began after declining campus ratings. The presentation reviewed the district's history of repeatedly addressing low-performing campuses and described the partnership as a school-turnaround program that has previously raised campus grades in other districts.
District leaders recounted a sequence of accountability outcomes beginning in 2016 and noted that, after targeted interventions, several campuses have improved. The administration said Memorial and Legacy high schools lacked CCMR and graduation points when first opened and that the district expects those campuses' ratings to increase when data is reassessed. Officials said they have reduced the number of F or D campuses from a higher count three years ago to fewer in the most recent cycle.
The board was also told the administration has had multiple conversations with TEA commissioner Mike Morath. "Our legal argument is compelling, and he needs some more time to nail the things down," the administrator said, describing TEA as reviewing the district's position.
Trustees asked for updates on timing; administration said the TEA reply has been delayed several times (October, November, December) and that January or early February is the latest expected window for a decision. The district framed the Third Future partnership as a data-driven turnaround effort used elsewhere in Texas and said its goal is to address underperformance without ceding governance to the state.
The board received the update as information; no formal action or vote on the partnership took place during the open meeting. The district will report back when TEA reaches a determination.
