What we reported

Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD each developed plans outlining goals to become a district of innovation, or DOI, a designation that gives Texas school districts more flexibility to grant exemptions from state regulations.

EISD began the process to become a DOI by creating a DOI committee at a June 21 board meeting, and  LTISD began its process in September.

The latest

EISD and LTISD trustees approved their respective DOI plans at meetings Dec. 13. Both individual plans include exemptions from Texas Education Code mandates regarding school start dates, teacher certifications, class sizes in kindergarten through fourth grade and the teacher appraisal process.

EISD’s plan included an exemption for instructional minutes. LTISD’s plan included an exemption involving probationary teacher contracts.

What’s next

LTISD Director of Communications Marco Alvarado said one of the first impacts from the designation will relate to the 2017-18 school calendar, which could be crafted with a start date prior to the fourth Monday in August.

Both school districts will hold the DOI designation for five years.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 10 things to look for in 2017 here.