BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Richardson Independent School District
Richardson, Texas
Date:
January 9, 2017
Division:
Curriculum & Instruction; General Counsel
Submitted by: Tabitha Branum, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Schools
Mia M. Martin, General Counsel
ACTION ITEM
TOPIC:
District of Innovation
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The 84th legislature passed HB 1842 which authorized a school district to become
designated as a District of Innovation. The law allows a traditional school district to
access many of the flexibilities available to Texas open enrollment charter schools by
adopting an innovation plan. The law is designed to provide a school district with more
local control. For example, under an innovation plan, a district may pursue specific
innovations in the areas of curriculum, instruction, governance, school calendar,
budgeting, gain exemptions from certain requirements under the Texas Education Code,
etc. The statute also identifies specific topics that may not be addressed through an
innovation plan. Policy AF (Legal) sets out the statutory requirements concerning a
District of Innovation.
To be eligible to consider designation as a District of Innovation, a district’s most recent
performance rating under the state accountability system must reflect at least acceptable
performance. RISD meets that standard. One hundred percent of RISD schools met
accountability standards under the most recent STAAR testing.
On June 20, 2016, the Board of Trustees of the Richardson Independent School District
adopted a Resolution to direct the Administration to explore pursuit of designation as a
District of Innovation. Following further study, on September 12, 2016, the Board of
Trustees held a public hearing and voted to pursue designation as a District of Innovation.
The Board also appointed a DOI Plan Committee.
The DOI Plan Committee included representatives from all aspects of RISD operations,
parent representatives, and community representatives. The Committee began its work
on October 20, 2016, and divided into three work groups: Student Matters, Human Capital
Matters, and Operational Matters.
Over the course of its meetings, the DOI Plan Committee studied the Board’s vision,
mission, and goals and the District improvement Plan and also considered challenges
and barriers in existing law that could be alleviated through strategies included in a DOI
Plan. The goal of the proposed DOI Plan is to enhance local control and give the District
greater flexibility to implement strategies and innovations that support the Board’s
mission, vision, and goals, based on community and internal stakeholder input.
On December 1, 2016, the DOI Plan Committee completed a final draft of a DOI Plan that
addresses five topics: first day of instruction, length of instructional day for students in
certain programs, required certification for CTE teachers, teacher appraisal, and minimum
attendance for class credit in certain program areas. The Plan is designed to be in effect
for five years unless amended in the manner allowed by law. The Board of Trustees
reviewed the Plan on December 5, 2016, and the Plan has been posted on the District’s
website since December 6, 2016. The district Planning Committee also has reviewed
and approved the Plan.
The final plan is presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. The Board must approve
the Plan by a 2/3 majority for it to become effective.
SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATION:
The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Trustees approved the DOI Plan.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Richardson Independent School District is
committed to the success of every student and consistently supports innovative practices
to support student success; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Education Code authorizes school districts to pursue designation
as a District of innovation to develop unique plans to address specific local needs and goals
and to enhance local control; and
WHEREAS, exploration of plans and activities to implement innovative strategies to
support student success supports all of the Board’s goals; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution on June 20 to initiate the District of
Innovation process and held a public hearing on September 12, 2016, to obtain stakeholder
input concerning the District of Innovation pursuit;
WHEREAS, the Board adopted a resolution on September 12 to authorize the
Administration to pursue designation as a District of Innovation and appointed a DOI
Committee; and
WHEREAS, the DOI Plan Committee developed a DOI Plan to address certain District
needs and the Plan has been posted on the District’s website since December 6, 2016; and
WHEREAS, the District Planning Committee approved the DOI Plan;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Richardson
Independent School District hereby approves the attached DOI Plan.