2015 Indiana Code TITLE 20. EDUCATION ARTICLE 25.7. INNOVATION NETWORK SCHOOLS CHAPTER 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF INNOVATION NETWORK SCHOOLS
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IC 20-25.7-4
Chapter 4. Establishment of Innovation Network Schools
IC 20-25.7-4-1
Anti-discrimination
Sec. 1. An innovation network school is subject to all applicable
federal and state laws and constitutional provisions that prohibit
discrimination.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-2
Establishment of innovation network schools
Sec. 2. An innovation network school may be established in the
manner provided by:
(1) section 3 of this chapter; or
(2) section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-3
Establishment of innovation network school by teachers
Sec. 3. (a) Two (2) or more teachers and:
(1) a principal;
(2) a superintendent; or
(3) any combination of individuals described in either
subdivision (1) or (2);
who are currently employed by a school corporation may submit a
plan to a board for the establishment of an innovation network
school.
(b) In considering whether to approve a plan submitted under this
section, the board may consider innovations in the following areas:
(1) Whether the plan:
(A) increases teacher salaries;
(B) achieves financial sustainability for teacher salary
increases under clause (A) by reallocating other funds,
including local, private, state, or federal funds; and
(C) develops measures for determining how the innovations
or teacher empowerment:
(i) improves the quality of classroom instruction; and
(ii) increases the attractiveness of teaching.
(2) Class size and schedule.
(3) Length of school day or year.
(4) Use of technology to deliver highly effective instruction.
(5) Staffing models for teachers, paraprofessionals, and
administrators.
(6) Teacher recruitment, training, preparation, and professional
development.
(7) School governance and the roles, responsibilities, and
expectations of principals in freedom to teach schools, zones,
Indiana Code 2015
and districts.
(8) Preparation and counseling of students for transition to
higher education or careers.
(9) Whether the plan incorporates a school model that uses job
redesign or technology to extend the reach of effective or highly
effective teachers to more students for more pay within budget.
(c) A board that approves a plan under this section may request a
grant from the state board under IC 20-25.7-7 for costs associated
with the development and implementation of a plan developed under
this section. The board shall apply for the grant from the state board
in a manner prescribed by the state board.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-4
Establishment of innovation network school by the board
Sec. 4. (a) A board may:
(1) establish an innovation network school; or
(2) reconstitute an eligible school as an innovation network
school;
as determined by the board.
(b) A board that establishes an innovation network school or
reconstitutes an eligible school as an innovation network school
under this section is not eligible for a grant from the state board under
IC 20-25.7-7 for costs associated with the development and
implementation of this section.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-5
Agreement to establish an innovation network school; terms
Sec. 5. (a) The board shall enter into an agreement with an
innovation network team to establish an innovation network school
or to reconstitute an eligible school as an innovation network school
under section 3 or 4 of this chapter. An innovation network team may
consist of or include teachers, a principal, a superintendent, or any
combination of these individuals who were employed at the eligible
school before the agreement is entered.
(b) The terms of the agreement must specify the following:
(1) A statement that the innovation network school is considered
to be part of the school corporation and not considered a
separate local educational agency.
(2) A statement that the innovation network team authorizes the
department to include the innovation network school's
performance assessment results under IC 20-31-8 when
calculating the school corporation's performance assessment
under rules adopted by the state board.
(3) The amount of state and federal funding, including tuition
support, and money levied as property taxes that will be
distributed by the school corporation to the innovation network
school.
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(4) The performance goals and accountability metrics agreed
upon for the innovation network school.
(5) Grounds for termination of the agreement, including the
right of termination if the innovation network team fails to:
(A) comply with the conditions or procedures established in
the agreement;
(B) meet generally accepted fiscal management and
government accounting principles;
(C) comply with applicable laws; or
(D) meet the educational goals set forth in the agreement
between the board and the innovation network team.
(c) If an agreement is entered into under subsection (a), the board
shall notify the department that an agreement has been entered into
under this section within thirty (30) days after the agreement is
entered into.
(d) Upon receipt of the notification under subsection (c), the
department shall, for school years starting after the date of the
agreement:
(1) include the innovation network school's performance
assessment results under IC 20-31-8 when calculating the school
corporation's performance assessment under rules adopted by
the state board; and
(2) treat the innovation network school in the same manner as
a school operated by the school corporation when calculating
the total amount of state and federal funding to be distributed to
the school corporation.
A school corporation and an innovation network school are not
entitled to any state funding in addition to the amount the school
corporation and school would otherwise be eligible to receive if the
innovation network school were a public school maintained by the
school corporation.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-6
Use of property; contents, and equipment; transportation;
contracts for goods and services; terms
Sec. 6. (a) For as long as an innovation network team operates an
innovation network school:
(1) the innovation network team may use the school building,
the accompanying real property, and the building's contents,
equipment, and supplies, as provided in the agreement
established under section 5 of this chapter; and
(2) the school corporation may:
(A) provide transportation for students attending the
innovation network school; and
(B) maintain and repair the buildings and grounds consistent
with the maintenance and repair to the school corporation's
other buildings and grounds.
(b) If an innovation network team contracts with a school
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corporation for goods or services, the school corporation may not
charge the innovation network team more for the goods or services
than the school corporation pays for the goods or services.
(c) For as long as an innovation network team operates an
innovation network school, the school corporation may distribute
money levied as property taxes to the innovation network team.
Property taxes distributed to an innovation network team must be
used only for a purpose for which the property taxes could have been
used by the school corporation. Property taxes distributed under this
subsection may supplement services and property provided under
subsection (a) or (b). The parties may jointly modify an agreement
described in section 5 of this chapter to implement this subsection.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-7
Operational autonomy; personnel decisions; collective bargaining;
participation in retirement funds
Sec. 7. (a) The innovation network team shall have full operational
autonomy to run the innovation network school as provided in the
agreement described in section 5 of this chapter.
(b) For any collective bargaining agreement under IC 20-29
entered into after July 1, 2015, a governing body is not bound by its
collective bargaining agreement for employees of an innovation
network school established under this chapter. Employees of an
innovation network team may organize and create a separate
bargaining unit to collectively bargain with the innovation network
team under IC 20-29.
(c) Individuals employed by an innovation network school are
entitled to participate in either:
(1) the state teachers' retirement fund established under
IC 5-10.4; or
(2) the public employees' retirement fund established under
IC 5-10.3.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-8
Applicability of certain statutes and rules to innovation network
schools
Sec. 8. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the
following do not apply to an innovation network school:
(1) An Indiana statute applicable to a governing body or school
corporation.
(2) A rule or guideline adopted by the state board, except for
those rules that assist a teacher in gaining or renewing a
standard or advanced license.
(3) A local regulation or policy adopted by a school corporation
unless specifically incorporated in the agreement established
under this chapter.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the following
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statutes apply to an innovation network school:
(1) IC 20-24-8-5 (statutes applicable to charter schools).
(2) IC 20-28-11.5 (staff performance evaluations).
(3) IC 20-24-6 (employment of teachers and other personnel in
charter schools).
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-9
Enrollment; attendance area
Sec. 9. (a) Any student who lives in the attendance area served by
a school that is operated as an innovation network school under this
chapter may attend the innovation network school. The innovation
network school may not refuse enrollment to a student who lives in
the attendance area.
(b) This subsection applies if the number of applications for a
program, class, grade level, or building exceeds the capacity of the
program, class, grade level, or building. If an innovation network
school receives a greater number of applications than there are spaces
for students, each timely applicant must be given an equal chance of
admission.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-10
Public meeting; terms
Sec. 10. An innovation network team and the board shall hold a
joint public meeting at least two (2) times each year to discuss issues
and progress concerning the innovation network school.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
IC 20-25.7-4-11
Development of program to support establishment of an innovation
network school
Sec. 11. The board shall develop a program to provide support to
teachers and administrators who wish to establish an innovation
network school.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Indiana Code 2015
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