Hays CISD officials are seeking District of Innovation (DOI) status, a move that will allow leaders more freedom regarding district start dates and other rules outlined by the state.
The Hays CISD Board of Trustees discussed interest in becoming a DOI and appointing a parent-teacher committee as the first step toward becoming a DOI. The district’s goal as a DOI is to become exempt from state regulations imposed on public schools in an effort to experiment with and solve district-specific issues.
Texas has more than 790 school districts currently designated as districts of innovation, each with a maximum of five years under the designation at a time. Locally, Dripping Springs ISD is the only district in Hays County that is considered a DOI.
Leaders within these districts are hoping to experiment with innovative learning techniques without imposition by the Texas Education Agency, except in cases where the district falls below an acceptable performance rating.
Districts also attempt to receive the designation to be able to hire teachers without certification for technical classes, change the start date of their school year and increase class size. All of those concepts are typically regulated by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
“We’re hoping to change the start date of the semester to earlier,” said Superintendent Eric Wright. “We want to be able to offer more accelerated classes and work on more dual credit classes as well.”
Leaders within these districts are hoping to experiment with innovative learning techniques without imposition by the Texas Education Agency, except in cases where the district falls below an acceptable performance rating.
Wright said his main goal through the DOI plan is to get students graduated earlier in the spring to be able to go to Austin Community College in the summer. He said Hays CISD students currently doing so are enrolling while they are still completing final exams.
The TEA requires schools begin the fourth Monday of August, but as a DOI district, the schools could start earlier.
Other aspects that could be changed are, but not limited to, more dual credit offerings, accelerated, short-term classes and hiring of teachers for technical classes who are experienced in a particular skill, but not necessarily certified.
Teachers and parents voiced their comments and concerns for the DOI status during the first public forum. Three more public forums will be held before an official decision is made by the school board.
“When I saw this, I didn’t see a lot of innovation being discussed,” said longtime Hays County Resident Beth Martinez. “I just saw a lot of districts using it to get a lot of exemptions.”
Martinez said she would like to see district leaders prioritize innovative learning techniques should they go forward with the DOI designation.
The DOI concept was created as a result of the Texas House Bill 1842 passed in 2014, with the expectation that school districts would form committees to determine innovative practices and curriculum worthy of necessary exemptions to state rules.
Micaela Albujar-Leon, organizational development specialist with the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA), said she is concerned the DOI concept is a threat to educational standards.
“Most districts have used this as a way to save money by increasing class sizes and avoiding certification requirements,” Albujar-Leon said. “This circumvents important rules that are good for students and teachers.”
To determine concrete goals for the DOI, the already-existing District Leadership Team will be the designated committee for this project, and will add seven parents to total the committee to 41 members.
When official plans and goals are determined, Sharrah Pharr, Hays CISD Federal Program Director, will make all information available online.
