HB 907 - Schools of Innovation Summary

• Creates Section 1002.452 to authorize district school boards to operate "schools of innovation" that implement learner-validated programs including online learning, blended learning, or competence-based learning with student-centered instruction.

• Requires schools of innovation to operate under 5-year performance contracts with the State Board of Education, renewable every 5 years if performance goals and implementation milestones are met.

• Allows schools of innovation to request exemptions from state laws, rules, and policies, but participation in statewide standardized assessments and state/federal accountability systems cannot be waived.

• Establishes a state innovation network to support approved schools, requiring the Commissioner of Education to present a technical assistance plan and the Department of Education to develop evaluation metrics for the network.

• Permits schools of innovation to use alternative grading systems and allows districts to earn additional funding for low-income students using learner-validated measures, with GPA calculations remaining on the standard 4-point scale.