District of Innovation

II. TERM

The term of the Plan is for five years, beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2027, unless terminated or amended earlier by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the law. If, within the term of this Plan, other areas of operations are to be considered for flexibility as part of HB 1842, the Board will appoint a committee to consider and propose additional exemptions in the form of an amendment. Any amendment adopted by the Board will adhere to the same term as the original plan.

III. CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT

The Local Innovation Plan is guided by and aligned with Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Mission, Beliefs, and ASPIRE 2025 Strategic Plan.

Mission

The mission of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District is to foster a culture of excellence that instills a passion for a lifetime of continuous achievement in every student.

Beliefs

1. Every student is a unique individual with unique potential.

2. Effective communication is key to success.

3. Engaged and interested students learn more effectively.

4. Respect is a key to success.

5. Education is a team effort.

6. High quality educational facilities optimize student and staff success.

7. Accountability is essential to success.

8. A physically and emotionally safe environment promotes student learning.

9. A high quality education is barrier free.

Excellence in Academics

Teaching and Learning:

1. EMS ISD will create a system of support, Pre-K through 12, to maximize student potential.

1.1 Develop a system to foster an environment of engaging and challenging learning while maintaining high expectations and accountability.

Recruitment & Retention of Quality Staff:

2. EMS ISD will create a culture of excellence in employee recruitment, development, and support.

2.1 Develop a systematic approach to aggressively pursue and retain highly qualified personnel and to meet the prioritized staffing needs of the campus and district.

Social/Emotional Support:

3. EMS ISD will create a system of support where staff and students’ social and emotional needs will be met.

3.1 Develop and implement a systemic, aligned social and emotional framework that addresses the

unique needs of students, staff, and families.

Excellence in Personalized Opportunities

Student Engagement:

4. In EMS ISD, each student will be involved in developing and executing a dynamic, customized, personal

education plan from registration to graduation which capitalizes on embedded robust opportunities where choice matters.

4.1 Create a culture that promotes building trusting relationships which provide students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning without fear of failure.

Staff Engagement:

5. In EMS ISD, each staff member will be actively involved in the development of a personalized

professional development plan that aligns with the EMS ISD strategic plan and the learning platform.

5.1 Foster a culture of personalized, continuous growth for teachers and staff that leads to excellence.

Family Engagement:

6. In EMS ISD, every family will have opportunities to engage in the educational experiences of their child.

6.1 Maximize opportunities to engage all EMS ISD populations to enhance community involvement.

Excellence in Organizational Improvement

Systems Thinking:

7. In EMS ISD, each department and campus will have clear and systemic written policies and procedures

communicated to stakeholders.

7.1 Create or refine department and campus processes and procedures utilizing a continuous

improvement model and promoting intentional two-way communication that aligns with district

expectations.

Safety and Security:

8. In EMS ISD, each stakeholder will be afforded opportunities to participate in the continual improvement

of safety and security across the district.

8.1 Develop a consistent system to evaluate best practices and industry standards to improve security while ensuring all stakeholders have access and operational knowledge of district reporting tools. 5

IV. INNOVATIONS

The EMS ISD School Board and the Local Innovation Committee considered all areas available for local innovation and created a plan in the best interests of the District and its students that centers around four areas:

1. Educator Certification Required (TEC 21.003) DBA(Legal) DBA(Local)

TEC 21.003 states “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.” An exemption from these requirements allows EMS ISD to issue a school district teaching permit to individuals who do not hold a teaching certificate, but whom the district deems best to teach in a particular area. EMS ISD is committed to hiring the best staff available and lists “Develop a systematic approach to aggressively pursue and retain highly qualified personnel and to meet the prioritized staffing needs of the campus and district” as one of its district strategic goals. Occasionally, teachers are needed for positions that are difficult to fill. This exemption relates only to those positions the District identifies as difficult to fill and would be assessed on an individual basis. Staff hired under a school district teaching permit will benefit from the same rights and responsibilities as certified teachers within the district. After the required posting period and candidate interviews, the principal must specify in writing the reason for the request and document what specific credentials (i.e., experiences and expertise) the prospective teacher possesses that would qualify the individual to teach that subject(s). The superintendent must approve the person and the assignment. The District and local campus will assess appropriate training needs for any teacher hired under this exemption. Finally, this is a local certification only and does not transfer to another school district. EMS ISD District of Innovation plan will comply with the requirements to have a certified educator in a bilingual, English as a Second Language (ESL), or special education classroom unless changed by law.

2. Uniform School Calendar-First and Last Day of School (TEC 25.0811) (TEC 25.0812) EB(Legal) EB(Local)

Texas Education Code Section 25.0811 states that a school district may not begin instruction before the fourth Monday in August. Texas Education Code Section 25.0812 states that a school district may not schedule the last day of school before May 15. Local control of the instructional calendar affords the District the following advantages:

Benefit of Exemption for EMS ISD

• Elimination of imbalanced 6 weeks and semester schedules while having the ability to end the first semester prior to the holiday break.

• Alignment of calendar with college/university semesters for Dual Credit, Advanced Placement Exams, and STAAR/EOC timelines.

• Ensure hour/seat time requirements are met for Certification courses.

• The balanced semesters will align with college semesters as well, allowing more opportunities for summer school, internships, and industrial certification opportunities.

• Starting one week earlier will also accommodate new and innovative educational models such as longer and more effective summer programming.

3. Grievance Procedures and Timelines (TEC §26A.001) (TEC §26A.002)

Current law created timelines of up to 90 days for grievances and allowed for adding new information in as the grievance moved through the process. It also removed many requirements on timely filing and proper filing procedures.

The Texas Education Code §26A.001 and §26A.002 changed timelines, filing requirements and procedures around grievances, that make the process less efficient, more cumbersome to investigate and resolve, and allows grievants to bring months-old complaints which would often be moot by the time they are brought. Through this DOI exemption the District will continue to use its current, well-functioning, policy and procedures to handle all grievances. This includes:

●      15 Days of becoming aware of the decision or action to file Level 1 grievance.

●      10 Days for administrators to schedule a conference to hear grievances.

●      10 Days to provide a written response.

●      10 Day time period after written response to file a grievance at the next level.

●      Valid and grantable relief is required as is timely filing.

●      Forms will be available at all administrative offices.

4. School Library Advisory Council (TEC §33.025)

Current law requires school boards to establish a local school advisory council to assist the district in ensuring community values are reflected in each school library catalogue in the district. A school district seeking an exemption from this requirement must ensure the district’s procedures for adding or removing library materials to or from a school library catalogue comply with the library standards set forth in Tex. Educ. Code §33.021; and the meeting requirements under subsections (g) and (h). Tex. Educ. Code §33.025(a).

The District of Innovation plan will be amended to include the exemption from forming a School Library Advisory Council. The District will continue to ensure that the District's procedures for adding or removing library materials from a school library catalog comply with: (1) the library standards approved under Section 33.021 according to EFA(LOCAL) AND EFB(LOCAL), and (2) the procedures established to implement the policies.  The District’s policies EFB(LOCAL) and EFB(REGULATION) ensure compliance with these standards by designating the Director of Teaching & Learning as the District coordinator regarding library materials. These policies charge the Director of Teaching & Learning oversight regarding the acquisition, retention, and removal of library materials in accordance with the content standards set forth in Tex. Educ. Code §33.021 and the process set forth in Tex. Educ. Code §33.026.

An exemption from this statute will allow the District to meet the standards set forth in Tex. Educ. Code §33.021 and §33.026 while utilizing an already existing and effective process for library materials selection and removal under EFA(LOCAL), EFB(LOCAL), and EFB(REGULATION). The existing process ensures compliance with Tex. Educ. Code §33.021 and Tex. Educ. Code §33.026 content and process requirements. This exemption will ensure continued efficiency in the process guided by our district professionals.

5. Transfer of Students Who are Children of Peace Officers and Service Members (TEC §25.0344) (TEC §25.0345)

Current law requires automatic acceptance of children of peace officers and service members as those terms are defined in the statute. While this law’s purpose is laudable, its application removes local control and ability to apply transfer policies consistently among transfer students–including those of peace officers and service members.

The District is seeking an exemption from the requirement to automatically accept students of peace officers and service members indefinitely. Rather, the District proposes to accept these students initially as required by statute but condition continued enrollment on the same academic, attendance, and disciplinary requirements binding all other transfers. These requirements are found in FDA(LOCAL). This exemption allows the District to treat transfer students of peace officers and service members the same as all other transfer students and allows the District to revoke a transfer for academic, attendance, disciplinary, or policy violations, rather than continue to serve the student for the duration of the school year and/or serve the student indefinitely solely because of their parent’s status.

V. DISTRICT OF INNOVATION TIMELINE

April 2021- April 2022

• April 21, 2021- DPAC met to discuss District of Innovation Timeline for June 2022

• April 22, 2021- District Leadership Team met to discuss District of Innovation Timeline for June 2022

• June 21, 2021 - Report to the Board the timeline for renewing the District of Innovation.

• September 29, October 27, 2021 — DPAC Committee met and drafted a plan to present to the Board of Trustees

• November1, 2021-January 14, 2022 — Presentation of DOI plan to all campuses

• November 1, 2021-January 14, 2022 — EMS ISD District of Innovation Plan will be posted on EMS ISD website for a minimum 30-day period

• November 15, 2021 — Board approval to inform TEA of Intent to Adopt the District of Innovation Renewal Plan

• January 19, 2022 — DPAC hosted a public meeting and discussed feedback and suggestions for improvement. Final version approved with a unanimous vote

• January 24, 2022 — EMS ISD District of Innovation Report plan was presented to the Board

• January – February- Continue to receive feedback from community

• February 28, 2022 — A Public Meeting for the DOI renewal was held. Board of Trustees approved the proposed District of Innovation plan with an unanimous vote

• March 2, 2022 — EMS ISD District of Innovation plan will be filed with the Commissioner of Education

• March 2, 2022 — EMS ISD will renew its designation of being a District of Innovation with TEA and TASA beginning July 1, 2022 and expiring on June 30, 2027. The District of Innovation plan will be posted on the DOI website for the duration of the plan

• March 28, 2022- Report to Board of Trustees proposed local policy updates

• April 25, 2022- Board of Trustees will take action on the DOI local policies