Curriculum & Student Services

Dr. Jacob Duce

Dr. Jacob Duce

Assistant Superintendent
jacob.duce@sunnyvaleisd.com


(972) 226-5974

District of Innovation

2022 District of Innovation Plan (Adopted)

District of Innovation Meeting Nov. 28, 2022

2022 Proposed District of Innovation Plan

Sunnyvale ISD is in the process of revising the District of Innovation plan. The proposed plan was posted on October 24, 2022, and a public meeting will be held on November 28, 2022 prior to the Board of Trustees meeting. Sunnyvale ISD has requested exemption from the Texas Education Codes pertaining to:

  1.  First Day of Instruction (EB Legal) (TEC 25.0811)

  2.  Class Size Waiver (EEB Legal) (TEC 25.112, 25.113)

  3.  Teacher Certification (DK Legal/Local) (TEC 21.003)

  4.  Teacher Contracts (DCA Legal) (TEC 21.102)

  5. Ejection of Individuals from Facilities (GKA Legal/Local, GF Local, FNG Local) (TEC 37.105)

  6. Transfer Students Full Year Requirement (FDA Legal) (TEC 25.036)

Sunnyvale ISD District of Innovation Plan (Adopted)

The Sunnyvale ISD Board of Trustees passed a resolution to pursue designation as a District of Innovation (DOI) on November 28, 2016. A public hearing was held, and the DOI team was appointed in December. Based upon district goals and staff/community feedback, the District of Innovation plan has been drafted and accepted by the committee. The DOI team posted the plan for 30 days, held a public meeting for approval, then sought board approval for the local District of Innovation Plan. The Sunnyvale ISD board of trustees approved the plan on March 27, 2017. Sunnyvale ISD has requested exemption from the Texas Education Codes pertaining to:

  1.  First Day of Instruction (EB Legal) (TEC 25.0811)

  2.  Class Size Waiver (EEB Legal) (TEC 25.112, 25.113)

  3.  Teacher Certification (DK Legal, Local) (TEC 21.003)

  4.  Teacher Contracts (DCA Legal) (TEC 21.102)

District of Innovation - Public Notice of Meeting 3/27/17

District of Innovation

House Bill 1842, passed by the 84th Legislature, allows districts to seek designation as a District of Innovation in order to pursue flexibilities available to Texas’ open-enrollment charter schools.

Potential benefits of becoming a District of Innovation include:

  • Local control: Districts decide which flexibilities best suit their local needs.

  • Customization: Districts can create an innovation plan for a level of school (e.g., only high schools), grade level, or a single campus.

  • Autonomy: Districts must submit a district of innovation plan to the Commissioner of Education, but approval is not required.

  • Flexibility: Districts will have the flexibility to implement practices similar to charter schools, including exemptions from certain mandates.

On November, 28, 2016, the Sunnyvale ISD Board of Trustees initiated the process by adopting a resolution to pursue designation as a District of Innovation.

The attached file contains the proposed District of Innovation plan recommended by the District of Innovation team. 

TEKS Resource System

TEKS Resource System Parent Portal

Sunnyvale ISD is participating in a curriculum cooperative, the TEKS Resource System (TRS). This curriculum system assures that our curriculum is comprehensive and is aligned from one grade level to the next. Lessons are presented using the research-based 5E model which encourages children to Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend (or Elaborate), and Evaluate. The parent website allows you to view the content that is covered within each nine week grading period and provides suggestions for supporting your student at home.