District of Innovation October 9, 2018

Introductions Please introduce yourself to your table Create a name tent that includes your first and last name and your role in the District (teacher, parent, admin, etc.). Please share if you fulfill multiple roles

Today’s Work Background of District of Innovation Process Research- What are other District’s doing? Collaborate- What ideas/thoughts have NISD stakeholders shared? Identify- What themes/categories/ideas are emerging for NISD?

Resources we will be using today: NISD DOI Website (public) NISD DOI Homepage Google Folder https://tinyurl.com/y9rv2nhe

Background and Context District of Innovation is a concept passed during the 84th Legislative Session in House Bill 1842. HB 1842 gives traditional independent school districts the opportunity to gain flexibility through a variety of available exemptions to the Texas Education Code. A school district must adopt an innovation plan in order to access these exemptions. School districts may amend/change/extend an innovation plan through the same process utilized to adopt a plan. A school district’s most recent academic performance rating must be at least acceptable in order to be eligible for designation as a District of Innovation. District of Innovation replaces many of the TEA waiver processes.

We are here!

Across the State According to the TEA website, 784 districts have submitted approved District of Innovation plans to the Commissioner. These districts vary in size, geographic location, and exemptions requested. Over 2 million students are served by these districts. TEA DOI Area Districts such as: Lewisville, Plano, Allen, Coppell, Frisco, Denton, Grapevine-Colleyville, Richardson, Keller and Grand Prairie are included above.

What might DOI allow… Allowable exemptions include (but not limited to): Educator certification Teachers contracts First and Last Day of School Length of a School Day Class Size Certain contract requirements

What DOI will not allow: Prohibited exemptions include (but not limited to): District Governance Curriculum State Assessment System State Accountability System School Finance Federal Requirement Other requirements in state law outside the Texas Education Code

Proposed Timeline for 2018-2019 August 13th- Review process for DOI with Board of Trustees; Resolution still valid August- October - Explore DOI options with committee to bring forward recommendations to NISD Board of Trustees in November Post plan for 30 days (December) Board of Trustee Approval (January)

NISD Strategic Framework In the Spring of 2018, the NISD Board of Trustees accepted the recommendations from the NISD Strategic Planning Committee to create the new NISD Strategic Framework 2018-2022. In the Spring of 2018, the NISD Board of Trustees accepted the recommendations from the NISD Strategic Planning Committee to create the new NISD Strategic Framework 2018-2022. This document is the driving force behind the District Improvement Plan and all of the actions taken by our staff members.

What does it mean? What are some key words and meaning from the Strategic Framework? At your table, discuss what stands out most to you….be prepared to share.

Why District of Innovation? The adoption of the NISD Strategic Framework is a commitment from NISD to our community that we will work to continue to enhance and improve our operations in order to best meet the needs of students and prepare them for the future. So…. Our driving question: What operational changes would have the biggest positive impact on student learning experiences in NISD?

Getting started: What is innovation?

What do the experts say? Nick Skillicorn; Ideas to Value: What is innovation? 2017 click here to view

What is the impact of innovation?

Activity 1: What are others doing? Discuss at your table: Share what you have learned about other DOI Districts. What ideas may have peaked your interest? Why did they choose what they did? Create two separate tables: What are positive things you think NISD should pursue? What are things you think NISD should avoid?

Area Districts Exemptions https://tinyurl.com/y9rv2nhe

Positive Ideas from others District Idea or Exemption Addressed POSTIVE IMPACT this might have on NISD?

Ideas with little or no positive impact District Idea or Exemption Addressed Possible unintended negative result or reason to not pursue for NISD

Green dots = YES, Let’s consider it! Rate the Ideas: Each person should have NO MORE than 5 dots of each color. Green dots = YES, Let’s consider it! Red dots = No, I don’t think this is for NISD at this time

Activity 2: What do our stakeholders say? DOI Website

Thought Exchange: Individually As a table group: Review the ideas and thoughts on the website. Please use the rating feature to emphasize your beliefs. (15 min.) As a table group: Discuss the ideas and thoughts from Thought Exchange Create a poster that prioritizes your group’s TOP FIVE thoughts/ideas that would have a positive impact on NISD and why? Idea or Thought Why would it have a positive impact?

Green dots = YES, Let’s consider it! Rate the Ideas: Each person should have NO MORE than 5 dots of each color. Green dots = YES, Let’s consider it! Red dots = No, I don’t think this is for NISD at this time

Activity 3: Categorizing Ideas Focusing on the Green Dots from Activity 1 and 2, What ideas/thoughts are beginning to emerge? Table Group: Placing one idea or thought per sticky note, use the ideas your group believes to be the most impactful and begin to categorize/group them. Whole Group: Share your categories; combine individual ideas

Activity 4: What takes DOI and what is just a GOOD Idea? Having identified major categories and keeping the driving question in mind, what items will require inclusion in a DOI plan and which ones are “just a good idea”?

Next Steps: Monday, October 29th from 12:00-3:00 Major Categories: Identify groups for the next level of work Research Policy Implications: Everything we ask for must still be in compliance with Board Policy Sub-Committees May extend past the approval of DOI plan

Driving Question: What operational changes would have the biggest positive impact on student learning experiences in NISD?