Charter-like Concept Attracts 33 Schools So Far (UPDATED)

by Steve Brawner ([email protected]) 131 views 

Thirty-three Arkansas schools have applied to become a “school of innovation,” which would offer charter school-like flexibility without making them charter schools. The deadline to apply is midnight Thursday.

(Editor’s note: As an update to this story, 129 schools applied by the deadline.)

Created by the Legislature in 2013, the school of innovation designation allows schools to be granted waivers by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) from certain state laws and regulations.

According to Megan Witonski, ADE assistant commissioner for learning services, the most common waiver request so far involves starting the school year earlier than currently allowed by state law. This winter’s weather, which forced some districts to shorten their school year, is one motivation, she said. Getting a head start on student assessments, which occur at the end of the year, is another. Schools also want to lengthen the fall semester and shorten the spring semester so they are equal lengths.

Other schools are asking for more flexibility in the 180 days of “seat time” students are required to be in a classroom.

Some schools that have not yet applied are considering significantly shorter summer vacations and longer breaks elsewhere during the school year in hopes of improving student retention of academic subjects.

The schools of innovation concept is similar to charter schools in that waivers offer schools more flexibility in how they educate students.

But the concept is different in other respects.

The charter school process occurs mostly at the administrative level. Potential schools of innovation must create a council of innovation composed of teachers, administrators, students and community members that produces a vision and up to 10 goals. From there, the plan must be ratified by a 60 percent majority of all school employees along with the superintendent and school board.

Charter schools are approved by an ADE Charter Authorizing Panel, with the State Board of Education having the power to review decisions. Once approved, charter schools are eligible for planning and implementation grants.

No such grant money is available for schools of innovation. Approval is granted by the commissioner of education alone and can be rescinded at any time. Because there is no “charter,” a school can reverse course and return to its previous teaching methods whenever it wants.

The rules for the application process were not finalized until Feb. 13, so schools have not had much time to apply. Witonski said some schools decided to wait until next year once they got involved in the process.

Schools of innovation are required to post their applications on their school and school district websites. Witonski said the goal is to create a collaborative and sharing process so schools can learn from each other.

She said the schools of innovation process could lead to significant changes in education.

“Honestly, we have never really looked at in Arkansas some creative alternatives to our existing instructional practices or how we do administration,” she said. “We’ve never had that moment where we kind of paused and went, ‘OK, let’s stop and just look at what we’re doing.’”