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Board reauthorizes innovation waiver to pursue a customized accountability system for SSD students
Summary
The board approved reauthorization of the district—s innovation plan and waiver request, aiming to create a separate accountability framework focused on positive post-school outcomes, IEP-based graduation recognition and engagement/course-completion measures; DESIE has indicated willingness to collaborate on metrics.
The Special School District—s board voted to reauthorize the innovation plan and advance an innovation waiver that would allow the district to use a customized accountability system tailored to its students.
Kevin, chief of technical education and operations, told the board the waiver pathway (established under Senate Bill 285 of 2021) permits a district to seek temporary exemptions from specified statutes or regulations to support innovation. "The innovation waiver allows us to set ourselves up for an accountability system that really is customized to our unique student population," he said.
Kevin outlined seven major waiver requests the district is pursuing: creation of an accountability system separate from MSIP 6; adoption of a "positive post-school outcomes" metric in place of a strict 180-day placement measure (to capture part-time, supported employment or volunteer outcomes); recognition of IEP-based graduation outcomes alongside credit-based graduation; emphasis on growth measures (rather than proficiency alone) on MAP/EOCT assessments; a shift from attendance to student engagement and course-completion metrics; and a request that accreditation status be held during the waiver period. The board heard that DESIE—s improvement and accountability staff gave verbal approval in October to work with SSD and refine metrics before consideration by the state board.
Board members asked whether the waiver—s metrics apply to students SSD serves in partner districts (Kevin confirmed SSD-served students are included) and whether SSD is already collecting the necessary data (staff said the district has been updating its student-information system and that several metrics overlap with the district KPI dashboard). Kevin said the district expects to present a refined plan to the state board and is targeting implementation for the 2026-27 school year if approved.
The board approved the reauthorization motion by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the minutes for this item.
