Innovation School Zones With Alternative Governance

The act allows an innovation school zone (innovation zone) to use an alternative governance structure by which the school district board of education (local school board) delegates management activities of schools within the innovation zone to another organization and the organization forms a partnership with the local school board. An innovation zone is required to submit information regarding the alternative governance structure in the innovation zone's innovation plan (plan) to the local school board.

The act requires that the local school board and an innovation zone with alternative governance as a whole, or a school within the innovation zone with alternative governance, use a dispute resolution process to resolve disagreements regarding the administration of the plan. The act outlines the dispute resolution process.

The act requires a local school board to review the level of performance of an innovation zone with alternative governance as a whole, and each school within the innovation zone with alternative governance, at the same time.

The act clarifies that when a vote is required and concerns consent for a plan revision in an innovation zone with alternative governance as a whole, or a school within the innovation zone with alternative governance, the vote must occur within 30 days. Within the 30-day time frame or if approval is not secured, the initial plan must remain in effect.

If a local school board votes to revoke the status of an innovation zone with alternative governance, or a school within the innovation zone with alternative governance, or to remove a school within the innovation zone with alternative governance from the innovation zone based on insufficient academic progress of the students enrolled in the innovation zone with alternative governance, an innovation zone with alternative governance may submit a written request to the state board of education and commissioner of education to review and comment on the local school board's determination. The act outlines the review and comment process.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)