Local Innovation Plan

Amended August 2023

The District of Innovation concept was passed into law by the 84th Legislative Session in House Bill 1842, which created Texas Education Code chapter 12A. The law allows traditional independent school districts to access most of the flexibilities available to Texas’ open enrollment charter schools. To access these flexibilities, a school district must adopt an innovation plan, as set forth in Chapter 12A.

The district's original Local Innovation Plan was approved by the Plano ISD Board of Trustees on November 15, 2016 for a five-year term. On March 2, 2021, the board approved a proposal to begin the process to revise and renew the Local Innovation Plan for a second five-year term. Based on direction provided by the board and input from various district stakeholders, and following all guidelines provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Local Innovation Committee proposed an updated plan, which was presented to the board and approved on May 18, 2021. 

This new five-year term is from June 1, 2021, to June 1, 2026. The Local Innovation Committee will continually monitor the effectiveness of the plan and recommend to the Board of Trustees any suggested modifications. Components of the plan are listed below. Download and view the entire plan (English | Español).

An additional amendment was added on August 22, 2023, creating a tenth amendment. The plan continues to be in effect through June 1, 2026.  

• Uniform start date for academic calendar
• Campus behavior coordinator
• Probationary contracts for experienced teachers
• Educator certification for teachers in non-compliance programs
• Minimum attendance for class credit
• Teacher appraisals
• Teacher planning and preparation time
• Class size (kindergarten through fourth grade)
• TRS Active-Care insurance 
• Discipline for e-cigarettes (vaping)

Search the online policy manual.