Senate passes innovative schools bill

Staff Reports
March 19, 2008

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A bill that would allow schools to largely govern themselves, raise private funding and be responsible for their own budgets was passed by the state House this week.

The bill -- Senate Bill 130, which was carried by Senate President Peter Groff -- would allow schools to have an "innovation plan" if approved by their school board to determine teacher salaries and hiring, to oversee the school's budget and to even seek other private funding to help students.

Roger Fiedler, spokesman for the Greeley-Evans School District 6, said the District 6 school board likes the idea of innovation schools in general, but that the board won't take an official stance on the bill until board members can learn about all the amendments and changes that are made to it.

If and when the bill becomes law, Fiedler said, District 6 plans on following the vision of it.

School board officials like that the bill would waive some rules and regulations so schools can increase achievement among their students, Fiedler said.

The bill would not release students in innovation plan schools from the federal No Child Left Behind Act nor the state's Colorado Student Assessment Program.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.