What is a District of Innovation?

House Bill 1842 of the 84th Texas Legislature allows traditional independent school districts most of the flexibilities available to Texas’ open-enrollment charter schools. Valley View ISD is utilizing HB 1842 to obtain more flexibility and establish greater local control in an effort to better meet the needs of Valley View ISD students.

What can a District of Innovation do?

Potential benefits of becoming a District of Innovation include:

Local control: Districts decide which flexibilities best suit their local needs.

Customization: Districts can create an innovation plan for a level of the school, grade level, or a single campus.

Autonomy: Districts must submit a district of innovation plan to the commissioner of education, but approval is not required.

Flexibility: Districts will have the flexibility to implement practices similar to charter schools, including exemptions from mandates such as:

• School start date
• 90% attendance rule
• Class-size ratios
• Site-based decision-making processes
• Certain student discipline provisions
• Use of planning and preparation periods
• Teacher appraisal requirements

Texas Association of School Boards District of Innovation Information Page¹

Read the full text of Valley View ISD's District of Innovation Plan. – approved by the board on 11/9/21