This document provides information about Districts of Innovation in Texas. It defines what can be included in a local innovation plan, such as modifications to curriculum, schedule, budgeting, and accountability measures. It also outlines exemptions from state statutes that Districts of Innovation can seek, including class size limits, certification requirements, and the school start date. Data presented shows that the majority of Districts of Innovation have enrollments under 10,000 students and most commonly exempt statutes related to the school calendar and teacher qualifications.

1. Districts of Innovation
AJ Crabill
Deputy Commissioner of Governance

2. 1Innovation: What?
What may a local innovation plan include per statute?
12A.003 – LOCAL INNOVATION PLAN
(b) A local innovation plan must:
(1) provide for a comprehensive educational program for the district, which
program may include:
(A) innovative curriculum, instructional methods, and provisions
regarding community participation, campus governance, and parental
involvement;
(B) modifications to the school day or year;
(C) provisions regarding the district budget and sustainable program
funding;
(D) accountability and assessment measures that exceed the
requirements of state and federal law; and
(E) any other innovations prescribed by the board of trustees
LOCAL
INNOVATION PLAN

3. 2
What cannot be exempted?
State/federal
requirements for
open-enrollment
charters
Some regulations
regarding local
organization and
governance
State curriculum
(TEKS) and
graduation
requirements
Academic/financial
accountability
requirements and
sanctions
Finance and
formula funding
Requirements
outside of the code,
such as TRS
Innovation: What?
TEC Chapter 12
Subchapter D
TEC Chapter 11
Subchapters A,C,D,E
TEC Chapter 28 TEC Chapter 39 TEC Chapters 41,42,46
Portions of 44,45
TX Gov Code 822
Public Retirement System

4. 3Innovation: Who?
Who can become a District of
Innovation?
ISD’s that have Met Standard can adopt a
District of Innovation plan
Does the Commissioner approve a District of
Innovation plan?
No. The agency does not have the authority to approve
or disapprove plans.
Can the District of Innovation designation be
revoked?
The Commissioner can revoke after two years of the ISD
not meeting standard or FIRST. The Commissioner must
revoke after three years of the ISD not meeting standard
or FIRST.

5. 4Innovation: Who?
District Type
Number
Completed
# of
Students
Major Urban
(a) County population of at least 900,000; (b) district has largest enrollment in the county or at least 75% of largest district enrollment in the county; and (c) at least 35% of enrolled
students are economically disadvantaged
2 113,116
Major Suburban
(a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is contiguous to a major urban district; and (c) enrollment is at least 3% that of the largest contiguous major urban district or at least
4,500 students -OR- (a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is not contiguous to a major urban district; (c) district is located in the same county as a major urban district; and
(d) enrollment is at least 15% that of the largest major urban district in the county or at least 4,500 students
6 153,490
Other Central City
(a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is not contiguous to a major urban district; (c) district is located in a county with population between 100,000 and 899,999; and (d)
enrollment is the largest in the county or at least 75% of the largest district enrollment in the county
2 10,097
Other Central City Suburban
(a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is located in a county with population between 100,000 and 899,999; and (c) enrollment is at least 15% of the largest district
enrollment in the county -OR- (a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is contiguous to another central city district; (c) enrollment is at least 3% that of the contiguous other
central city district; and (d) enrollment is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state
7 42,022
Independent Town
(a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) district is located in a county with population of 25,000 to 99,999; and (c) enrollment is largest in the county or is at least 75% of largest district
enrollment in the county
4 22,354
Non-Metropolitan: Fast Growing
(a) Does not meet criteria above; (b) enrollment is at least 300 students; and (c) enrollment has increased by at least 20% over the past five years
1 622
Non-Metropolitan: Stable
(a) Does not meet criteria above; and (b) enrollment is equal to or greater than the median district enrollment for the state
3 3,857
Rural
(a) Enrollment is between 300 and the median district enrollment for the state and an enrollment growth rate over the past five years of less than 20% or (b) enrollment less than
300
4 1,408

6. 5Innovation: Who?
District Name Enrollment Region
Big Spring ISD 4,122 18
Canton ISD 2,123 10
Dripping Springs ISD 5,619 13
El Paso ISD 60,047 19
Era ISD 482 11
Friona ISD 1,164 16
Grand Prairie ISD 29,339 10
Gruver ISD 452 16
Harlingen CISD 18,721 1
Humble ISD 40,549 4
Kaufman ISD 3,836 10
Keene ISD 1,018 11
Kemp ISD 1,496 10
Los Fresnos CISD 10,886 1
Lytle ISD 1,675 20
District Name Enrollment Region
Mabank ISD 3,391 10
Manor ISD 8,873 13
Mansfield ISD 33,809 11
Mineola ISD 1,607 7
Northside ISD 205 9
Palmer ISD 1,162 10
Point Isabel ISD 2,530 1
Red Oak ISD 5,837 10
Roscoe Collegiate ISD 622 14
San Antonio ISD 53,069 20
Slidell ISD 269 11
Spring Branch ISD 35,301 4
Terrell ISD 4,260 10
Victoria ISD 14,502 3
=
Total
Enrollment
346,966
Source: PEIMS Standard Report: Student Enrollment, 2015-2016 (Early Education-Grade 12)

7. 6Innovation: Who?
Students
Enrolled
Number of DOI
Districts
< 1,000 6
1,000 – 9,999 14
10,000 – 29,999 4
30,000 + 5 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
< 1,000 1,000 – 9,999 10,000 – 29,999 30,000 +
DOI Status Relative to Enrollment
DOI Enrollment
DOI Districts in TX
Enrollment Size

8. 7Innovation: Why?
Most Frequent Exemptions
# of Plans
w/ Exemption
% of Plans
w/ Exemption
First Day of Instruction (§25.0811)
A school district may not begin instruction for students for a school year before the fourth Monday in August. 24 83%
Certification Required (§21.003)
A person may not be employed as a teacher, teacher intern or teacher trainee, librarian, educational aide,
administrator, educational diagnostician, or school counselor by a school district unless the person holds an
appropriate certificate or permit issued as provided by Subchapter B [certification of educators].
17 59%
Class Size (§25.112)
A school district may not enroll more than 22 students in a kindergarten, first, second, third, or fourth grade
class.
16 55%
Notice of Class Size (§25.113)
A campus or district that is granted an exception under Section 25.112(d) from class size limits shall provide
written notice of the exception to the parent of or person standing in parental relation to each student affected
by the exception.
11 38%
Student/Teacher Ratios (§25.111)
Each school district must employ a sufficient number of teachers certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to
maintain an average ratio of not less than one teacher for each 20 students in average daily attendance.
8 28%

9. 8Innovation: Summary
DOI Summary
Number of Districts Adopted 29
Number of ESC Regions Impacted 13
Number of statutes exempted
36
12A.003
LOCAL INNOVATION PLAN