District of Innovation - Frequently Asked Questions

There are 38 districts not including charter schools that comprise Region 1. Of these districts, 58% are a district of innovation.  

871 of Texas School Districts are Districts of Innovation! 

See the link below to learn what plans other school districts are pursuing and the types of exemptions being proposed.

TEA Districts of Innovation information

The Texas attendance rules say that a student has to be in a class at least 90% of the time if they want to be sure to get credit for that class. This rule applies even if your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan. This means even if a student has good grades we cannot grant them credit if they have less than 90% attendance. For a 180 day year, this means the student can miss no more than 18 days. 

Currently, The Texas Education Code says that districts cannot begin classes before the fourth Monday in August. If the Board of Trustees approves the District of Innovation plan, Donna ISD would have the flexibility to begin classes earlier.

The committee has not been chosen. 

Once chosen, the Board of Trustees would authorize the committee to review and recommend whether the district should have the option to start school prior to the fourth Monday in August and whether the district should offer flexibility in regards to the 90% attendance rule.  No other changes are up for consideration.

The plans are valid for five years from the date of adoption. Following adoption, the plans may ONLY be amended or changed by the same process required to create the original plans. Proposed amendments would be submitted to the District of Innovation committee and then to the school board for approval by a super majority vote of the board. After five years, all sections of the plans must be reviewed and the original adoption process followed to renew them.

Under Section 12A.007, local school districts have the authority to renew, amend, or rescind their innovation plan if such an action receives the approval through a vote of the district-level committee established under the guidelines of the District of Innovation legislation.

There are 3 major ways a school district could lose their District of Innovation status: 

1. If the commissioner finds that there are issues present in the district for two consecutive years or
2. If the academic performance rating is deemed to be unacceptable or 
3. There are problems with financial accountability.