Senate Bill 22-197 Summary

• Authorizes innovation school zones to implement alternative governance models by delegating management activities to nonprofit organizations (not for-profit entities) through approved innovation plans.

• Requires innovation plans with alternative governance to include descriptions of the organization's structure, staffing, budget use, financial disclosure, exit procedures for schools, and cost-sharing agreements with the school district.

• Establishes a formal dispute resolution process using trained neutral third parties to resolve disagreements between local school boards and innovation school zones regarding innovation plan administration, with written findings required within 60 calendar days.

• Requires the Department of Education to create and maintain a list of qualified neutral third parties on its website for conducting dispute resolution.

• Allows innovation school zones to request state board review and public hearing if a local school board votes to revoke their innovation status or remove schools based on insufficient academic progress.