The draft of Houston ISD's District of Innovation plan will see its first public hearing March 25, giving the wider community a chance to weigh in on the proposal, which has possible implications on the 2021-22 school calendar.
The HISD District Advisory Committee, a group composed of teachers, parents and community members, will hold the hearing prior to a vote on whether to advance the plan to final approval by the board of trustees, who could then take up the item in their April agenda. To speak during the comment session, residents must register in advance at http://bit.ly/DACSpeakers.
In addition to two other measures, the plan would call for allowing the school district to begin classes before the state's official start date, the fourth Monday in August. By starting earlier, proponents said, students can get in more class time prior to the state-mandated assessments. Statewide, 890 districts are using this policy exemption.
"Should the board vote for the District of Innovation status in April, and if it's determined that it's in the best interest of students to start earlier in the school year, the earliest that we would be able to take a revised calendar to the board would be in May," Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Rick Cruz said.
