House Bill 1228: Districts of Innovation

March 1, 2023 Bill Tracker

Latest Action

---

On February 28, the House Education Committee passed SB 2586. It is now awaiting action on the House floor.

Explanation of the Bill

---

House Bill 1228 would authorize the implementation of community schools within Districts of Innovation, and would add to the current goals and requirements of Districts of Innovation. 

There are currently ten Districts of Innovation across the state. Districts that are granted this designation have the ability to request exemptions from state regulations to implement strategies that improve student achievement. 

Community Schools

Under HB 1228, Districts of Innovation would be authorized to transform their current schools into community schools. The bill defines a community school as a “traditional district public school that partners with community-based organizations to coordinate academic, social, physical health and mental health services.” It lays out five specific criteria that must be met for a school to be classified as a community school. The school must offer:

• Integrated student supports, including but not limited to physical health services and mental health services. 
• Expanded and enriched learning time, such as after-school, weekend, and summer programs.
  
• Active family and community engagement that “brings students’ families into the school” and provides adults “with educational opportunities,” such as GED courses. 
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program components as part of its curriculum.
• A collaborative leadership team, including a full-time director who coordinates the supports described above.
  

Community schools would be allowed to seek and accept “gifts, grants, donations, and funds” from individuals and organizations, for purposes related to the schools’ functions. 

Transition of Low-Performing Schools to Community Schools

Low-performing districts overseeing the transition of multiple schools to the community school model would be given a three-year transition period before becoming eligible for state takeover. 

Under current law, any district may be eligible for state takeover if it meets the Mississippi Board of Education’s definition of a failing school district for two consecutive school years or if more than half of its schools receive an at-risk designation in a given year.

Goals of Districts of Innovation

The current law offers a list of goals that Districts of Innovation may choose to work towards, including decreasing achievement gaps and offering expanded curriculum choices. HB 1228 would add the following goals to this list:

• Increasing student attendance and decreasing chronic absenteeism.
• Decreasing rates of student suspensions and expulsions.
• Increasing access to dual-enrollment courses.
• Increasing college preparation in STEM-related fields. 

Requirements of Districts and Schools of Innovation

All Districts of Innovation would be required to make their goals and performance targets publicly available. After five years of operating under this designation, they would be required to share the results of their performance targets with members of the House and Senate Education Committees and with the general public.