Duncanville ISD discusses expanded District of Innovation exemptions, including changes to vaping discipline and attendance rules

Duncanville ISD staff presented a set of proposed amendments to the district's District of Innovation (DOI) plan, describing several new exemptions the district would request under Texas Education Code Chapter 12A if the board approves them at a later meeting.

Connie Wallace reviewed the statutory background: Chapter 12A allows traditional independent school districts to seek DOI status and certain flexibilities similar to open-enrollment charter schools. Duncanville adopted a DOI plan in 2017, renewed it in 2022 and is proposing to add seven additional exemptions. Staff detailed the suggested exemptions and how the district would use them.

Key proposed exemptions discussed by staff included: - Counseling and staffing certification flexibility: Allow hiring of counselors, and other positions in limited circumstances, who are pursuing certification or hold alternative counseling credentials when certified candidates are unavailable; the district would provide additional training and supports. - Probationary contract flexibility (5-of-8 rule): Permit the district to treat educators who meet the 5-of-8 experience threshold as if they were new to Duncanville for probationary-contract purposes, extending probationary evaluation time up to three years in some cases to assess effectiveness before moving to a term contract. - Vaping and DAEP placements: Request an exemption to the state-mandated requirement that vaping offenses automatically require placement in the Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP). Under the proposed approach principals could use alternatives such as counseling, restorative practices and short-term interventions for certain first offenses; DAEP placement would remain required for incidents involving controlled substances such as THC or when selling/giving occurs. Staff said the state change that triggered this discussion increased both vaping incidents and DAEP placements by 47 percent, straining campus resources. - Attendance and course credit flexibility: Seek authority to waive the 90 percent attendance rule for awarding course credit in limited, targeted cases to support students with unique needs and reduce attrition to virtual or other districts. - Class-size amendment: Remove the current 22-to-1 cap and waiver process to maintain class sizes near a 24-to-1 ratio, reduce transfers caused by class-size limits and limit busing to other campuses.

Staff said these exemptions are intended as tools of last resort if certified employees or other options are not available, and emphasized that the district's first priority remains hiring certified staff. Trustees asked clarifying questions. Trustee Jackie Colton asked about rationale for changing the 5-of-8 treatment; staff said the change gives additional time to evaluate educators new to the district. Trustee Janice Savage Martin questioned aspects of the vaping proposal and the distinction between tobacco-only vapes and those containing THC; staff responded that the proposed policy would divert first offenses to educational/counseling interventions while reserving DAEP for offenses involving drugs or repeated violations.

The presentation also described process steps: staff met with a committee of teachers, the district-level DEIC, the teacher leadership council and principals; the district plans to return the item in May as an action item if the board agrees to proceed, then notify the state commissioner and post the approved exemptions on the district and TEA websites.