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Committee advances School of Innovation Act after hours of debate on waivers and vendor roles
Summary
Senate Bill 207, creating a voluntary "school of innovation" pathway that allows districts to contract with third-party providers and seek waivers from many statutes and regulations, passed the subcommittee with a committee substitute after extended questions about guardrails, third-party providers, uncertified staff and oversight.
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary & Secondary Education & Workforce Development advanced Senate Bill 207, the School of Innovation Act, with a committee substitute after extended debate over waivers for third-party education service providers, teacher certification, and oversight.
Sen. Steve West, sponsor, described the proposal as a new, optional route districts could use to restructure a single school. Under the substitute explained to the committee, a district could enter a three-year contract with an outside provider, maintain routine district control over transportation, facilities, and SEEK funding, and apply for waivers that would remove regulatory barriers inside the school building. Supporters said the approach is modeled on…
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