Panel introduces RS32624 to let local districts opt into 'innovation' plans; sponsors say state board retains oversight

Representative Jack Nelson, District 26, brought RS32624 before the House Education Committee to allow local school districts to develop "local innovation plans" that temporarily set aside selected administrative requirements so districts can test new approaches to instruction and operations.

Nelson said the bill would "allow some of the regular school districts to initiate some of the things that charter schools are doing," while keeping a state oversight role: districts would draft a plan, submit it to the State Board of Education for approval, and the board would review approvals every two years with authority to step in sooner if necessary.

The bill’s co-sponsors, Representative Mark Sauter, District 1, and Representative Dan Garner, District 28, said the measure is intended to let public districts adopt innovations that charter schools have used. "The crux of the bill is the local innovation plan means a plan developed by a school district that provides a comprehensive program for innovative education," Sauter read to the committee.

Representative Tanner asked for examples and how student performance would be measured; Nelson said measurement would be determined by the district and the state board, not prescribed by the bill: "If the district and the state board decide they're going to set a couple of things aside and use something else for evaluation, that would be one of the things that's on the table to do that." Representative Clow asked that sponsors bring concrete examples for a public hearing, noting concerns where the bill exempts sections of Title 33 that touch funding and staffing ratios.

Representative Harris raised a constitutional concern: because the bill authorizes the State Board of Education to "designate eligible Idaho school districts as districts of innovation," Harris warned that selecting some districts but not others could conflict with the state constitutional requirement for a "uniform and thorough system of public free common schools." Sauter and other sponsors said the program is opt-in and would not remove the state’s duty to provide a uniform education.

Committee members moved to introduce RS32624; the motion to introduce the request (mover: Representative Clow) was agreed to by voice vote.

The bill was introduced for the committee’s consideration; sponsors were asked to provide more detail and examples at a future public hearing.