85R12558 KKA-D
 
  By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 1535
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to school districts of innovation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (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; [and]
               (2)  identify requirements imposed by this code that
  inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be
  exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004; and
               (3)  include a detailed explanation of the manner in
  which each requirement identified under Subdivision (2) inhibits
  the goals of the plan.
         SECTION 2.  Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A local innovation plan may not provide for the
  exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from
  a provision of this chapter or the following provisions of this
  title:
               (1)  a state or federal requirement applicable to an
  open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D,
  Chapter 12;
               (2)  Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that
  a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and
  Section 11.162;
               (3)  Chapters 21 and 22;
               (4)  elementary school class size limits under Section
  25.112;
               (5)  state curriculum and graduation requirements
  adopted under Chapter 28;
               (6)  Chapter 37; and
               (7) [(4)]  academic and financial accountability and
  sanctions under Chapter 39.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 12A.003 and 12A.004, Education Code, as
  amended by this Act, apply only to a local innovation plan adopted
  or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A local
  innovation plan adopted or renewed before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the plan was
  adopted or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.