On October 27, 2016, Birdville ISD’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to become a District of Innovation (DOI). A District of Innovation is a concept passed in the 84th Texas Legislative Session in House Bill 1842 that gives traditional independent school districts most of the flexibilities available to Texas’ open enrollment charter schools. To access these flexibilities, a school district must adopt an innovation plan, as set forth in Texas Education Code chapter 12A.
BISD adopted an innovative plan that allows the District to be exempt from:
- Minimum attendance for class credit or final grade;
- First day of instruction requirements (allowing school to begin earlier in August); and
- Length of school day requirements (awarding a student credit based on mastery of content as opposed to simply meeting class time).
“The District of Innovation is an avenue to allow flexibility so our educators can better meet the needs of our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Darrell G. Brown.
To learn more about BISD’s District of Innovation Plan, visit birdvilleschools.net/innovation.
Trustees also voted to move forward with having North Richland Middle School designated as a certified Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) campus. In order to qualify as a STEM-certified campus, all of the math and science teachers will be immersed in a year-long training experience that assists them in understanding and aligning their practices to the research which defines quality STEM instruction. Training for staff includes face-to-face and online sessions, as well as onsite coaching visits by STEMscope consultants.
