The Innovation Schools Act

Last Tuesday, the Douglas County Board of education approved a resolution allowing some of our elementary schools to begin the process to request a waiver from the state on the READ Act. Innovation status from the state is not related in any way to the innovation grants the district has provided to some neighborhood schools to begin differentiated programs.

The Innovation Schools Act was created to allow schools and districts to design and implement innovative ideas and practices by obtaining waivers from state or local policies to better meet the needs of their students. The state innovation schools waivers allow schools flexibility to individual schools to “do things differently” with the buy-in and support of the school’s teachers and parents. This process is initiated by the individual school, and supported by the district through approval by the local Board of Education (BoE). If district policy is being waived, then the district must review the innovation once every 3 years. If State rules are being waived, then the State BoE reviews for adequate academic progress every 3 years. The process for the waiver process is clearly laid out by the state in this application process flow chart provided by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

In 2013 there were 48 schools of innovation across the state. There are essential 3 different categories of schools of innovation: individual school waivers from state or district policies; innovation zones, or groups of schools in the same district creating a plan; and, districts of innovation.

No additional money is automatically provided from the district or state for becoming a school of innovation. There is no mandate from the district or the state, other than adequate academic progress, associated with innovation status. In fact, the purpose of the Innovation School act is to free a school from some of the more specific statutory requirements, allowing for the most local of local control. This is a school driven process that is driven by the teachers and parents in a building because they desire to do things differently.

The State of Colorado lays out very specific steps for schools seeking innovation status:

1.) Develop an Innovation Plan-engage school staff, community, and SAC

2.) Obtain Consent-evidence that majority of administrators, staff and SAC consent to designation as an innovation school.

3.) Seek District Waivers/Approval of Plan-local board considers the plan, including the request for waivers, and within 60 days must approve or reject the plan with written explanation. An amended plan may be resubmitted after denial.

4.) Seek State Waivers/Approval of Plan-state may suggest changes/additions for further innovations to increase the likelihood that the innovations will result in greater academic achievement. Plan must be approved or denied within 60 days.

5.) Seek Approval of Collective Bargaining Waivers-60% of the members of the collective bargaining unit who are employed at the innovation school must consent to innovation status. (When a CBA is in place).

6.) Implement and Review-Every 3 years the local school board must review the innovation school’s performance and determine whether adequate progress is being made. The local school board can revoke a school’s innovation status or require the innovation plan be revised. The state is not involved at this level unless additional state waivers are requested in revised plan.

CDE Innovation Fact Sheet