H.B. 1842 (84th Session of the Texas Legislature) in part added Chapter 12A to the Texas Education Code (TEC) to create Districts of Innovation. Districts are eligible for designation if certain performance requirements are met and the district follows certain procedures for adoption as outlined in Statute. The designation provides that the district will be exempt from certain sections of the Texas Education Code that inhibit the goals of the district as outlined in the locally adopted Innovation Plan.
The Leander ISD Board of Trustees originally adopted the plan to become a District of Innovation for the sole purpose of allowing LISD flexibility with the school year calendar at the Feb. 15, 2018, Board meeting. This initial plan is effective for five years and expired on Feb. 15, 2023 (read on for renewal information). The plan was developed by teachers and instructional staff from throughout LISD, along with parents, students and community representatives.
In the Spring of 2022, the Innovation Plan Renewal Committee convened to draft a DoI Renewal Plan for consideration. The Board of Trustees approved the District of Innovation Renewal Plan on Oct. 13, 2022, which will be in effect from Feb. 15, 2023 – Feb. 15, 2028.
Subsequently, in January 2026, the Board of Trustees directed administration to explore a possible amendment to the current DoI plan related to certification requirements for Career & Technical Education courses . This amendment was approved by the Board of Trustees on April 2, 2026, and takes effect immediately for the duration of the current plan. Detailed below is the full amendment process.
Innovation Plan Amendment Process
In January 2026, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees authorized district administration to convene the Innovation Plan Committee to review the current LISD DoI Plan and consider a possible amendment regarding teacher certification requirements for Career & Technical Education courses. Thirteen volunteers from DWEIC were randomly selected to fill five staff vacancies and eight parent/community member vacancies. The Innovation Plan Committee met in February 2026 and reviewed certification requirements as well as options for exceptions under District of Innovation. The committee voted to bring forth the amendment to the full DWEIC committee, which occurred in March 2026. Following a vote out of the DWEIC committee, administration presented the proposed amendment to the LISD Board of Trustees for approval. The amendment allowing for exceptions to certification requirements for Career & Technical Education courses was approved during the April 2, 2026, Board meeting.
LISD Innovation Plan Committee Members
- Sarah Grissom, Deputy Superintendent
- Allison Baskind, Parent/Community Representative
- Christy Diver, Parent/Community Representative
- Demetrius Collins, Parent/Community Representative
- Dinesh Salem-Natarajan, Parent/Community Representative
- Eric Snead, LISD Staff Member
- Erica Scassa, Parent/Community Representative
- Joe Ott, LISD Staff Member
- Kim Oliver, Parent/Community Representative
- Laura Anderson, LISD Staff Member
- Lorraine Kyle, LISD Staff Member
- Michael Nauman, LISD Staff Member
- Priscilla Meisel, Parent/Community Representative
- Shajuanne Haire, Parent/Community Representative
LISD District of Innovation Amendment Timeline
- January 8, 2026 — Direction from the Board of Trustees to explore an amendment to the LISD Innovation Plan related to Certification Requirements. The Board of Trustees requested that administration convene an Innovation Plan Subcommittee to review potential exemptions under Texas Education Code (TEC) §21.003
- January 29, 2026 — The District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) solicited volunteers to serve on the Innovation Plan Subcommittee. Representatives were identified to serve with district administration to evaluate how certification flexibility could support the district’s Strategic Plan and staffing needs.
- February 20, 2026 — The Innovation Plan Subcommittee met to review district guiding documents and the current LISD DoI Plan. The subcommittee developed a proposed amendment to the LISD Innovation Plan specifically addressing Certification Requirements, ensuring alignment with the Board of Trustees’ parameters.
- February 27, 2026 — The proposed District of Innovation (DoI) amendment was posted on the Leander ISD website for a minimum of 30 days. This posting provided the community and stakeholders an opportunity to review the changes and provide feedback prior to further action.
- March 5, 2026 — The Innovation Plan Subcommittee presented the proposed amendment to the District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) in a public meeting. DWEIC members reviewed the proposal and held a formal vote to advance the amendment.
- April 2, 2026 — The District of Innovation amendment plan is presented to the Leander ISD Board of Trustees for adoption. (Note: Per 19 TAC §102.1307, approval requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the board).
- April 7, 2026 — The final amended Innovation Plan is updated and posted in a prominent location on the LISD website for the remainder of the term of designation.
- April 7, 2026 — Leander ISD notifies the Commissioner of Education and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of the approval of the District of Innovation amendment. The district submits the updated plan link and the required TEA checklist (Figure: 19 TAC §102.1307(d)) identifying the new and existing exemptions.
Innovation Plan Renewal Process
Innovation Plan Renewal Process
In April 2022, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees authorized district administration to convene the Innovation Plan Renewal Committee to review the current LISD DoI Plan and determine if the plan should be renewed and later submitted to DWEIC and the Board of Trustees for approval. Fourteen volunteers from DWEIC were randomly selected to fill seven staff vacancies and seven parent/community member vacancies. The Innovation Plan Renewal Committee met in May 2022 and updated the LISD District of Innovation Plan in accordance with parameters set forth by the Board of Trustees specifying that the only flexibility the district will seek is the start date of the academic school year. Currently, per TEC 25.0811, a district may not start instruction prior to the fourth Monday in August.
LISD Innovation Renewal Committee Members
- Laurelyn Arterbury, Chief of Staff
- Madeline Daulton, LISD Staff Member
- Carla George, Parent/Community Representative
- Cynthia Hughes, LISD Staff Member
- Lauren Houser, LISD Staff Member
- Jennifer Meyer, LISD Staff Member
- Kimberly Oliver, Parent/Community Representative
- Kevin Owens, Parent/Community Representative
- Ali Palacios, LISD Staff Member
- Emily Riordan, LISD Staff Member
- Gwynn Ritchey, Parent/Community Representative
- Kathleen Schoening, Parent/Community Representative
- Ratul Sengupta, Parent/Community Representative
- Tina Strauss, LISD Staff Member
- Paige Williams, Parent/Community Representative
LISD District of Innovation Timeline
- April 7, 2022 – The LISD Board of Trustees received information regarding the renewal process for Districts of Innovation and requested that administration convene an Innovation Plan Renewal Committee. The Board of Trustees reiterated that the only exemption to be discussed in the DoI renewal process was the First Day of Instruction.
- April 28, 2022 – The District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) accepted volunteers to serve on the Innovation Plan Renewal Committee. Seven parent/community representatives and seven LISD staff representatives were randomly drawn to serve with the LISD Chief of Staff on the Innovation Plan Renewal Committee
- May 24, 2022 – The Innovation Plan Renewal Committee met and reviewed district guiding documents including the Leander ISD Vision and Mission statements, Strategic Plan, and the current Leander ISD DoI Plan. The Innovation Plan Renewal Committee amended the LISD Innovation Plan based on the Board of Trustee parameters. The committee members agreed to continue with the DoI renewal process while honoring the parameter that the only exemption to be considered was the First Day of Instruction.
- June 2, 2022 – Innovation Plan Renewal Committee members received the updated DoI plan electronically and provided feedback to the LISD Chief of Staff affirming their approval of the plan to be posted on the LISD website for a minimum of 30 days for community input.
- July 13 – August 19, 2022 – The renewed LISD Innovation Plan posted on the Leander ISD website with opportunity for community feedback.
- September 15, 2022 – The LISD Innovation Plan presented to the Districtwide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) in a public meeting for feedback and DWEIC vote. DWEIC approved Innovation Plan as presented.
- September 16, 2022 – Notification to the Commission of Education and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of intent to renew DoI plan and submission of DoI plan to TEA.
- October 13, 2022 – District of Innovation renewal plan presented to Leander ISD Board of Trustees. Board approved the plan as presented by a 5-0 vote (2 trustees were not in attendance during the vote).
- October 21, 2022 – The Innovation Plan is posted on the LISD website
- October 21, 2022 – Leander ISD notified the Commissioner of Education and Texas Education Agency (TEA) of approval of the District of Innovation renewal plan and submitted the DoI plan to TEA.
Innovation Plan Process
District of Innovation History
The 84th Legislative Session passed House Bill 1842 amending Chapter 12 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) by adding Chapter 12A entitled “Districts of Innovation”. Districts of Innovation (DOI) provided traditional school systems flexibilities from some specific mandates, thus expanding opportunities for local control.
LISD Innovation Committee
The Leander Independent School District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to study the Districts of Innovation process on November 16, 2017. On December 7, 2017 the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to form an Innovation Committee from the Districtwide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC). In the same motion, the Board of Trustees outlined the parameters for the Innovation Committee, specifying that the only flexibility the district will seek is the start date of the academic school year. Currently, per TEC 25.0811, a district may not start instruction prior to the fourth Monday in August.
The Innovation Committee was formed on December 12, 2017 and is comprised of the Chief of Staff and fourteen members of the Districtwide Education Improvement Council (DWEIC). The fourteen members from DWEIC were randomly selected from volunteers to fill seven staff vacancies and seven parent/community member vacancies.
LISD Innovation Committee Members
- Matt Smith, Chief of Staff
- Angela Haas, Wiley Middle School
- Jessy Hanshaw, Running Brushy Middle School
- Monette McIver, Community Representative
- David Morgan, Parent Representative
- Amber Patrick, Reagan Elementary
- Catherine Robinson, Steiner Ranch Elementary
- Amber Ryder, Parent Representative
- Chris Simpson, Leander High School
- John Tomaszewski, Parent Representative
- Susan Whisenant, Parent Representative
- James Williams, Community Representative
- Amanda Willim, Reed Elementary
- Sylvia Wood, Rouse High School
- Mei Xu, Parent Representative
LISD District of Innovation Timeline
- Nov. 16, 2017 – The LISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution to initiate the Districts of Innovation process in LISD.
- Dec. 7, 2017 – The Board of Trustees held a public hearing on Districts of Innovation and directed an Innovation Committee to study and develop a LISD Innovation Plan.
- Dec. 12, 2017 – The Districtwide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC) convened to hold a random drawing from the DWEIC volunteers for seven LISD staff representatives and seven Non-LISD staff representatives to serve with the LISD Chief of Staff on the Innovation Committee.
- Dec. 18, 2017 – Two additional volunteers from the DWEIC parent/community group were selected through a random drawing to fill the final open positions on the Innovation Committee.
- Dec. 19, 2017 – The Innovation Committee met to study and craft a LISD Innovation Plan based on the Board of Trustee parameters.
- Jan. 9, 2018 – The Innovation Committee met a second time to continue the development of a LISD Innovation Plan.
- Jan. 11, 2018 – The LISD Innovation Plan was presented to the Districtwide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC).
- Jan. 12, 2018 – The Innovation Plan is posted on the LISD website
- Feb. 8, 2018 – A Public Meeting was held on the Innovation Plan.
- Feb. 12, 2018 – The Commissioner of Education was notified of LISD’s intent to vote on the adoption of the Innovation Plan.
- Feb. 15, 2018 – Board of Trustees voted on the adoption of the Innovation Plan.
