HOUSTON – The board of managers voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a ‘District of Innovation’ designation for the Houston Independent School District.
The five-year DOI strategic plan will bring several new policies aimed at improving student performance. They include hiring uncertified teachers without the requirement of notifying parents or guardians, more flexibility in determining class size, and increasing instructional days from 172 to 185 per school year.
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Supporters of the new teacher appraisal system say it will help the district attract and retain high-quality teachers starting in the 2025-2026 school year. According to Houston ISD, the system will be informed by local context and aligned to specific school and district goals, as well as streamlined to reduce administrative burden so principals and teachers can focus on coaching and instruction.
It’s not clear yet how the new system will be implemented on individual campuses.
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Before Thursday’s meeting, Houston ISD was one of the only school systems in Texas without DOI status.
The plan to become a ‘District of Innovation’ was approved by a 61-member District Advisory Committee before it went before the board of managers. That committee is made up of parents, teachers and community members -- some of whom were hand-selected by Superintendent Miles, who stepped into his role earlier this year.