READ FIRST TIME 02/25/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing creation of innovation schools and innovation zones in school districts; amending RCW 28A.305.140 and 28A.655.180; adding new sections to chapter 28A.630 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) School district boards of directors should be encouraged to grant schools of the district maximum possible flexibility to meet the needs of students and the communities in which they live; and
     (b) Particularly in schools and communities that are struggling to improve student academic outcomes and close the educational opportunity gap, there is a critical need for innovative models of public education that are tailored to the unique circumstances and needs of the students in those schools and communities.
     (2) Therefore, the legislature intends to create a framework for change that includes:
     (a) Leveraging community assets;
     (b) Improving staff capacity and effectiveness;
     (c) Developing family, school, and higher education partnerships;
     (d) Implementing evidence-based practices proven to be effective in reducing demographic disparities in student achievement; and
     (e) Enabling educators and parents of selected schools and school districts to restructure school operations and develop model school programs that will improve student performance.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop a process for school districts to apply to have one or more schools within the district designated as an innovation school. A group of schools that share common interests, such as geographical location or educational focus, or that sequentially serve classes of students as they progress through elementary and secondary grades may be designated as an innovation zone. An innovation zone may include all schools within a school district. Consortia of multiple districts may also apply for designation as an innovation zone, to include all schools within the participating districts.
     (2) Applications requesting designation of innovation schools or innovation zones must be developed by the educators, parents, and communities of participating schools in collaboration with the school district administration. School districts must ensure that each school has substantial opportunity to participate in the development of the innovation plan under section 4 of this act.
     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall develop common criteria for reviewing applications and for evaluating the need for waivers of state statutes and administrative rules as provided under section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Applications to designate innovation schools and innovation zones must be submitted by school district boards of directors to their respective educational service districts by February 1, 2012, to be implemented beginning in the 2012-13 school year. Innovation plans must be able to be implemented without supplemental state funds.
     (2) Each educational service district boards of directors shall review applications from within the district using the common criteria developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Each educational service district shall recommend approval by the office of the superintendent of public instruction of no more than three applications in each district. At least one of the recommended applications in each educational service district must propose an innovation zone, as long as the application meets the review criteria.
     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall verify that the innovation plans of the applicants recommended by the educational service districts contain the required elements under section 4 of this act before approving the applications and designating the innovation schools and innovation zones.
     (4) Designation of innovation schools and innovation zones under this section shall be for a six-year period, beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) Each application for designation of an innovation school or innovation zone must include a proposed plan that:
     (a) Defines the scope of the innovation school or innovation zone and describes why designation would enhance the ability of the school or schools to improvement student achievement and close the educational opportunity gap;
     (b) Enumerates specific, research-based activities and innovations to be carried out under the designation;
     (c) Justifies each request for waiver of state statutes or administrative rules as provided under section 5 of this act;
     (d) Justifies any requests for waiver of state statutes or administrative rules that are in addition to the waivers authorized under section 5 of this act that are necessary to carry out the proposed innovations;
     (e) Identifies the improvements in student achievement that are expected to be accomplished through the innovations;
     (f) Includes budget plans and anticipated sources of funding, including private grants and contributions, if any;
     (g) Identifies the technical resources desired, the potential costs of those resources, and the institutions of higher education, educational service districts, or consultants available to provide such services;
     (h) Identifies the evaluation and accountability processes to be used to measure student and innovation school or innovation zone performance;
     (i) Includes a written statement that school directors and administrators are willing to exempt the designated school or schools from specifically identified local rules, as needed;
     (j) Includes a written statement that school directors and local bargaining agents will modify those portions of their local agreements as applicable for the designated school or schools;
     (k) Includes written statements of support from the district's board of directors, the superintendent, the principal and staff of schools seeking designation, each local employee association affected by the proposal, the local parent organization, and statements of support, willingness to participate, or concerns from any interested parent, business, institution of higher education, or community organization; and
     (l) Commits all parties to work cooperatively during the term of the pilot project.
     (2) A plan to designate an innovation school or innovation zone must be approved by a majority of the staff assigned to the school or schools participating in the plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1)(a) The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education, each within the scope of their statutory authority, may grant waivers of state statutes and administrative rules for designated innovation schools and innovation zones as follows:
     (i) Waivers may be granted under RCW 28A.655.180 and 28A.305.140;
     (ii) Waivers may be granted to permit the commingling of funds appropriated by the legislature on a categorical basis for such programs as, but not limited to, highly capable students, transitional bilingual instruction, and learning assistance; and
     (iii) Waivers may be granted of other administrative rules that in the opinion of the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education are necessary to be waived to implement an innovation school or innovation zone.
     (b) State administrative rules dealing with public health, safety, and civil rights, including accessibility for individuals with disabilities, may not be waived.
     (2) At the request of a school district, the superintendent of public instruction may petition the United States department of education or other federal agencies to waive federal regulations necessary to implement an innovation school or innovation zone.
     (3) The state board of education may grant waivers for innovation schools or innovation zones of administrative rules pertaining to calculation of course credits for high school courses.
     (4) Waivers may be granted under this section for a period not to exceed the duration of the designation of the innovation school or innovation zone.
     (5) The superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education shall provide an expedited review of requests for waivers for designated innovation schools and innovation zones. Requests may be denied if the superintendent of public instruction or the state board of education conclude that the waiver:
     (a) Is likely to result in a decrease in academic achievement in the innovation school or innovation zone;
     (b) Would jeopardize the receipt of state or federal funds that a school district would otherwise be eligible to receive, unless the school district submits a written authorization for the waiver acknowledging that receipt of these funds could be jeopardized; or
     (c) Would violate state or federal laws or rules that are not authorized to be waived.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the education committees of the legislature on the progress of the designated innovation schools and innovation zones by January 15, 2013, and January 15th of each odd-numbered year thereafter. The report must include recommendations for waiver of state laws and administrative rules in addition to the waivers authorized under section 5 of this act, as identified in innovation plans submitted by school districts.
     (2) Each innovation school and innovation zone must submit an annual report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction on their progress.
     (3) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, through the center for the improvement of student learning, must collect and disseminate to all school districts and other interested parties information about the innovation schools and innovation zones.

Sec. 7   RCW 28A.305.140 and 1990 c 33 s 267 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state board of education may grant waivers to school districts from the provisions of RCW 28A.150.200 through 28A.150.220 on the basis that such waiver or waivers are necessary to:
     (a) Implement successfully a local plan to provide for all students in the district an effective education system that is designed to enhance the educational program for each student. The local plan may include alternative ways to provide effective educational programs for students who experience difficulty with the regular education program; or
     (b) Implement an innovation school or innovation zone designated under section 3 of this act.
     (2) The state board shall adopt criteria to evaluate the need for the waiver or waivers.

Sec. 8   RCW 28A.655.180 and 2009 c 543 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The state board of education, where appropriate, or the superintendent of public instruction, where appropriate, may grant waivers to districts from the provisions of statutes or rules relating to: The length of the school year; student-to-teacher ratios; and other administrative rules that in the opinion of the state board of education or the opinion of the superintendent of public instruction may need to be waived in order for a district to implement a plan for restructuring its educational program or the educational program of individual schools within the district or to implement an innovation school or innovation zone designated under section 3 of this act.
     (2) School districts may use the application process in RCW 28A.305.140 to apply for the waivers under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.630 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   This act expires June 30, 2019.