DISTRICTS OF INNOVATION OVERVIEW PRESENTATION TO DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT & PLANNING COMMITTEE MAY 11, 2016 Dr. Maroba Zoeller, Chief Governmental Relations Officer

DISTRICTS OF INNOVATION Created by House Bill 1842 in the 84 th Legislative Session Board Policy AF (LEGAL) Gives local school districts flexibility Greater local control as decision makers over the educational and instructional model for students: Districts must adopt an Innovation Plan that includes exemptions from state laws and parts of the Texas Education Code

What Might Be Included in the Local Innovation Plan? The plan must provide for a comprehensive education program for the district which may include innovations in curriculum, instructional methods, community & parent involvement, campus governance, modifications to the school day or year, budgeting and sustainable funding, local accountability and other innovations prescribed by the Board.

Examples of Exemptions 90% attendance rule Class size ratio Uniform school start date Minimum minutes of instruction Student discipline provisions (campus behavior coordinator) Teacher certification, teacher contracts, teacher benefits, teacher appraisal system

COMMISSIONER’S RULES Term of designation as District of Innovation may not exceed five (5) years; Plan may be amended, rescinded, or renewed if approved by vote of Board and DIPC with 2/3 voting requirement; Districts must use form developed by the commissioner to indicate major items from which an innovation may exempt itself; Districts are limited to one Innovation Plan at a time; changes to be handled through amendment process rather than adopting multiple plans; District must post the Innovation Plan on the District website for the term of the designation as an innovation district (5 years); District that rescinds plan is required to notify TEA of rescission within 5 business days of the approved vote and provide a date for compliance with TEA provisions to begin no later than the following school year.

High Level Overview of the Process Board of Trustees passes a resolution to study the concept and the opportunities provided; District Improvement Team (DIPC) is acquainted with the District of Innovation opportunity; Board of Trustees holds a public hearing and appoints a district level committee to develop a Local Innovation Plan

High Level Overview of the Process Local Innovation Plan is developed by committee with updates to and input from Board; DIPC holds a public meeting to vote on the plan; Board votes to notify TEA of its intention to vote on adopting the plan; plan is posted for 30 days; Board votes to adopt final Plan.

TIMELINE FOR AISD BECOMING A DISTRICT OF INNOVATION May 2 Board Workshop Overview Presented May 11 DIPC meeting Overview Presented May 16 Board adopts Resolution/holds public hearing & delegates Superintendent to appoint committee June 6 Board Workshop –members of planning committee named June 15 All day planning committee meeting to develop plan July 25Board meeting – committee provides plan update; gets input from Board August Committee meets to update plan Sept 13 Joint meeting of DIPC & Innovation Plan committee to review plan October 24Committee finalizes plan and presents to Board; Board votes to notify Commissioner of intent to adopt Nov – Dec Plan posted on District website for 30 days; DIPC Public Meeting to pass plan by majority vote January, 2017 Board votes on plan – 2/3 vote required