Senate Unanimously Approves DeKruif's Education 'Innovation Zones'

Under a plan authored by Sen. Al DeKruif schools will be allowed to share services and join together as “,” asking leaders, teachers and parents to offer ideas to combine services within school districts, in exchange for the state lifting many mandates placed on local districts.

The bill, which was approved 66-0 in the Senate Thursday, is a  that would encourage two or more schools to put together a plan on how they would innovate,” DeKruif said.

“What this bill does is ease some of the mandates we place on schools. This bill is intended to get teachers more deeply involved in getting teachers, principals, superintendents – even parents – convincing us in St. Paul how to best educate kids, and then proving it. I believe they are going to come up with ideas that were not thought of before,” he said.

DeKruif said the intent is to open doors to creativity that is currently discouraged under laws, mandates and administrative rules. The plan has bipartisan support and is meant to help a school expand curriculum that might not normally be available.

The measure has been approved in the House and goes to the Governor for
approval.

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