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Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Fact brief: Does the Fort Worth City Council approve charter schools?

Jacob Sanchez, Fort Worth Report
no

The State Board of Education has the final say on whether new charter schools are established in Texas.

The Texas Education Agency seeks charter applications every year. Applicants go through a lengthy process involving interviews and a review of their proposals. TEA can remove applicants throughout the process.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath ultimately decides whether to award a charter to a proposed school, but his decision must be backed by the State Board of Education. Board members consider vetoing the commissioner’s charter school decisions each June.

The Texas Legislature created the Public Charter School Program in 1995.

The most recently approved charter school for Fort Worth was Fort Worth STEAM Academy. The state board approved the charter school in a 10-4 vote, with some members concerned about charter instability in Fort Worth.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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