MS HB112

Authorizes the State Board of Education to approve up to five districts of innovation per year for five-year terms, with renewal periods not exceeding five years each.

Requires the State Board to promulgate administrative rules and regulations by December 31, 2014, establishing conditions, procedures, and criteria for district approval including parental support, teacher collaboration, and professional development requirements.

Districts of innovation must maintain compliance with health, safety, civil rights, disability rights, compulsory attendance, graduation requirements, state assessments, financial audits, background checks, and open records laws.

Permits approved districts to use capital outlay funds for operations, hire classified staff with bachelor's degrees, employ teachers on alternative contracts with flexible compensation, extend school days, establish online and alternative programs, use flexible calendars, and modify funding formulas for nontraditional programming.

Schools within districts of innovation must be voluntary participants, except persistently low-achieving schools can be required to participate in the district's innovation plan.