INNOVATION APPLICATION FRAMEWORK UPDATES

Jamie VanDeWalle, Portfolio Officer

August 29, 2019

Overview

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Objective

3 Today’s Purpose

1 Update IPS Board on how we are currently thinking about Innovation Conversion candidates

2 Introduce new Innovation Jumpstart path

3 Overview of annual Innovation Selection Timeline

4 Paths to Innovation

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New school – A new school may launch in partnership with IPS as an innovation network school.

Conversion – An existing IPS school may convert to innovation status based on the will of the school community and building leadership.

Restart – IPS may recommend that a chronically low-performing school be restarted by a partner.

Charter Partner – A new or existing charter school can enter into partnership with IPS for shared services as an innovation network school.

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Current Status

Restart vs. Conversion

5 Current Context

Restart Conversion

• District chooses restart as dramatic intervention

• Schools had persistent performance challenges

• Historically, community engages once restart decision is made

• IPS selects the partners and makes a presentation to the Board

• Usually near-total staff turnover

• Expect dramatic programmatic changes.

• School brings IPS possibility of innovation as intervention

• Performance has varied

• Community buy in is part of the application process

• School is expected to come with the model and proposed changes/rationale

• Staff turnover has varied

• Expect enhancements but need not overhaul school design/model

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Conversion Pathway

6 Need for Additional Clarity

Is this just for high-performing schools, and what makes a school or leader eligible?

Is there a space for lower-performing schools to initiate the change? What would that criteria be?

Jumpstart Framework

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Provide clarity for stakeholders about eligible candidates for self-initiated change to innovation status.

Proposals

8 Conversion vs. Jumpstart Summary Level

Conversion Jumpstart

• School leader brings IPS the rationale and possibility of innovation as intervention

• Higher performing IPS school – As/Bs

• Community buy in is part of the application process; need nearly full staff buy in and community support

• Guideline to retain +75% of staff

• Expected enhancements of current model but need not overhaul

• School leader, community or teachers bring IPS the rationale and possibility of innovation as intervention

• Could have Cs, Ds or F – in need of improvement

• Community buy in is part of the application process; don’t need full staff buy in, though do need a community anchor

• Guideline to retain ~40% of staff

• Greater overhaul of current model to enact needed improvements

In both models, the school community itself is the one that initiates the change.

Will stay within the LEA (non-charter) at outset

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Proposals

9 5 Paths to Innovation: Future State

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New School: A new school may launch in partnership with IPS as an Innovation Network school within the IPS LEA.

Conversion: A high-performing, existing IPS school may convert to innovation status based on the will of the school leadership and community.

Restart: IPS leadership recommends that a chronically low-performing school be restarted by a partner.

Charter Partner: A new or existing charter school can enter into partnership with IPS for shared services as an Innovation Network school.

Jumpstart: A lower-performing existing IPS school, with community support, may convert to innovation status as a self-initiated improvement strategy.

Innovation Partner Selection

10 Recommended Selection Timeline (Fall 2019)

ElementRestart, Charter Partner

or New SchoolConversionApplicants

JumpstartApplicants

Call for Applicants opens August 16: All paths

Letters of Interest are due October 1: Can indicate 1- or 2-year runway

First-round interviews and contract parameters conversation

Before November 26(interview if 1-year runway; introductory conversations if 2-year)

Applicants intro to Board November datesDecember or January dates

preceding proposed change to innovation

Part I of formal application due November 1 January 7 (one part only)

Restart schools shared publicly(only if needed)

TBD N/A

Part II of formal application due (restarts only)

TBD N/A

Follow-up interviews December–JanuaryThroughout January and February preceding proposed

change to innovation

Matching process (restarts only) Complete mid-January N/A

Partners engage with IPS Board January–March meetings February and March meetings

Contract to IPS Board At or before March meeting preceding proposed change

Innovation Partner Selection

11 Community and Family Engagement

Timeline Action

Fall/Winter

2020 Applicants: Successful applicants make introductory presentation to the Board

Restarts: District staff and principals would meet with staff and community members of any schools recommended for restart and set up calendar of meetings for families and community partnersConversion/Jumpstart: Begin data gathering at the school site with leadershipAll: Begin community conversations with applicants

WinterRestarts: Focus groups in recommended restart schoolsRestarts: Community conversations conclude as part of matching process

JanuaryRestarts: Matching decision shared with school and communityConversion/Jumpstart: IPS teams visit school for site-based data gathering

OngoingAll: Applicants return to the Board with more information as neededAll: District facilitates any communication to school and community regarding Board action