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Laredo ISD to review District of Innovation plan after TEA rule changes; committee hears timeline for 2025–27 update
Summary
Staff outlined the District of Innovation (DOI) designation, current exemptions in LISD and a fall‑2026 timeline for proposed amendments to respond to new TEA restrictions on uncertified teachers in core subjects.
Laredo ISD staff briefed trustees on the district's District of Innovation (DOI) designation at the Sept. 3 Curriculum & Instruction Committee meeting and described a timeline to review and amend the DOI in response to new restrictions from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The DOI lets local districts seek limited exemptions from certain Texas Education Code requirements; Laredo ISD has used DOI exemptions for school start dates and to allow industry practitioners to teach some CTE and dual‑enrollment courses. Monica Calles, who presented the item, told trustees the current DOI runs through 2027 and that the district must consider recent TEA guidance that narrows allowable uncertified assignments over a three‑year phase.
Calles summarized the plan and schedule staff proposed:
- Fall 2025: collaborative review of the current DOI plan and alignment with new TEA restrictions. - Spring 2026: gather feedback from campus leaders, teachers and parents and begin drafting proposed changes. - Summer 2026: finalize proposed changes and consult legal counsel. - Fall 2026: present proposed DOI amendments to the board for approval; if approved, post the plan for the required 30‑day public comment period.
Calles noted Laredo ISD currently has about 69 teachers participating in DOI arrangements (a mix of content and CTE assignments) and that changes under TEA will phase down exemptions for uncertified teachers in core content over time; CTE and fine‑arts exemptions are less affected. She said LISD already notifies parents when an uncertified teacher will be in a classroom for more than 30 days.
Trustees asked about elementary practice (elementary teachers remain generalists and LISD maintains bilingual certification practices) and requested a future breakdown of DOI teachers by program and student counts. Staff said they would return with more detailed data during the proposed review cycle. No board action was taken at this committee meeting.
