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District of Innovation Plan

Conroe ISD

Texas Education Code Chapter 12A permits Texas public school districts to become districts of innovation and to obtain exemptions from certain provisions of the Texas Education Code. In 2015, Conroe ISD became a district of innovation (DOI) and exempted itself from only one provision – Texas Education Code §25.081, which pertains to starting school on the fourth Monday in August. To maintain its designation as a DOI, a district must review and update its innovation plan every five years. It is now time to renew the Conroe ISD DOI designation.

A public hearing was held during the Board meeting on October 20, 2020. The Board of Trustees also approved a resolution to initiate the process of renewing the District’s designation as DOI and designated the District Level Planning and Decision-Making Committee, which includes teachers, administrators, parents, and community members, as the committee to develop the plan.

If approved, the term of the Local Innovation Plan will be five years beginning in January 2021. The plan be may be terminated or amended by the Board only in accordance with statute.

The DOI Committee met on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 and approved the following plan. In addition to continuing the exemption from §25.0811, which allows the District to begin the school prior to the fourth Monday in August, CISD would also like to include a waiver from requirements for teacher certification in its updated plan, specifically limited to hard-to-fill career education programs such as welding, automotive technology, and health sciences. Both provisions of the proposed plan are explained below.

Comment Period CLOSED:
The DOI Committee received comments via the web for 30 days beginning October 22. The DOI Committee will now review comments prior to making its final recommendation to the Board of Trustees in December.

Proposed Plan Highlights

Flexible Calendar

Current law:
TEC §25.0811
“. . . a school district may not begin instruction for students for a year before the fourth Monday in August.”

Proposed:
Students may begin instruction earlier than the fourth Monday in August.

Starting school prior to the fourth Monday in August allow for a calendar that fits the needs of our community and benefits our students by allowing a more balanced number of days of instruction in the first and second semesters as well as the ability to conclude the semester prior to the winter break.