Alice ISD board renews District of Innovation plan; staff outline certification support for teachers

The Alice Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Aug. 29 to approve the district's District of Innovation (DOI) renewal plan for 2025–26.

Staff told trustees the DOI revisions remove a local certification exemption that the state legislature eliminated and add supports to help teachers obtain required certifications. "We are asking to try to get everyone as certified and then we are here to help them and support them to get themselves certified," a staff presenter said, describing district plans for testing, tutoring software and computer lab access at Alice High School where teachers can work together to prepare for certification tests.

Board materials and a staff presentation referenced a state requirement change that affects teachers currently operating under the DOI. Staff said they plan to purchase about 60 licenses for a software program to support teacher certification and to provide computer-lab time on Mondays and Wednesdays at the high school; teachers can also access the resources remotely. The district identified 69 teachers on the DOI list; staff said not all are required to test in subject areas that the new requirement covers.

Trustees moved, seconded and passed the DOI renewal plan by voice vote. Staff noted collaboration with an attorney and DOI committee members to revise the plan and said the change aligns district procedures with new state legislative requirements.