In the 90?s, the City of Kennedale became a home-rule city by choice. It meant that the city actually had real decision making power. Prior to that time, city statues and regulations were made by the state and the city had no choice but to follow. {{more: read more…}}
It changed the way the city was operated and actually envisioned itself. City leaders could no longer say this is what we have to do and we have no choice. Now, they did have a choice. They were responsible and could not place the blame elsewhere. City council, advisory boards and commissions had real power to implement changes and to make regulations that fit the unique needs of the city. And it required an educated leadership and community to make it work.
Last year the 84th Legislative Session of the Texas Legislature provided something akin to home rule when it gave public school districts the option that had previously provided only to open-enrollment charter schools, calling it District of Innovation.
open real possibilities for innovation and creativity ?
Schools that become a District of Innovation would be freed of the multitude of regulations and rules made by the Texas Education Agency. Their decisions could be equally as important as the State Board of Education in some areas. It would not be complete freedom, state test would still be mandated along with other regulatory policies including meeting performance requirements.
Last Thursday night, July 28, the KISD Board of Trustees was apprised of the intent by administrative staff to seek the Board?s approval to conduct a study of Kennedale ISD becoming one the special those school districts. The Board may be asked to pass a resolution for that purpose at the next regular board meeting.
So far there are 18 districts throughout the State of Texas listed as current Innovation Districts. Mansfield is the closes to Kennedale. Others in the region include Keene, Mabank and Palmer ISDs. There are more than 50 that have indicated their intention to do so this year.What is a district of innovation?
A District of Innovation is a concept passed by the 84th Legislative Session in House Bill 1842 that gives traditional independent school districts most of the flexibilities available to Texas’ open enrollment charter schools. The status as a school district of innovation, granted for five years, allows the district flexibility, among many other things, on the start of the school year, the length of the school day and class size in the lower grades.Districts may seek exemptions from all of TEA mandates, as charters may do; however, Innovation District must participate in state testing. To access these flexibilities, a school district must adopt an innovation plan, as set forth in Texas Education Code chapter 12A.
requires trust and open communications ?
It is not a simple process that takes a few weeks to do. It requires 6 to 12 months of planning and preparation that will require input from all involved, including but not limited to, parents, teachers, staff, administrators and the community. It requires a detail plan of implementation and it requires open and frank communications, before, during and afterwards.
some are openly skeptical …
And it requires trust. There are parents and teacher organizations that have voice concern over the fact that Innovation Districts have the capability of changing class-size ratios, student discipline provisions, teacher planning and preparation periods including duty-free lunch breaks, teacher appraisals and hiring and firing requirements.This box has yet to be fully unpacked but as charter schools have discovered there is plenty of room to be creative and flexible and as the old saying goes ?just enough rope to hang yourself, if you are not careful.?Find out more at:
