# Title 67 — Public Instruction, Superintendent of

## Article 67-19 — Accreditation: Procedures, Standards, and Criteria

## Chapter 67-19-03 — Innovative Education Program

### § 67-19-03-01. Definitions.

As used in this section:
1. "Board" means the school board of a public school district.
2. "Governing board" means the board or governing body of a nonpublic school.
3. "Superintendent" means the superintendent of public instruction.
History: Effective January 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2
### § 67-19-03-02. Participation.

Any public school or school district or any nonpublic school may apply to the superintendent for
participation in an innovative education program.
History: Effective January 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2
### § 67-19-03-03. Planning proposal - Innovative education program.

To be considered, the planning proposal at a minimum must include:
1. Rationale and vision.
a. Provide justification for implementation of an innovative education program. Cite
research, evidence-based, or best practice information.
b. Describe how the innovative education program will:
(1) Improve the delivery of education;
(2) Improve the administration of education;
(3) Provide increased educational opportunities for students; or
(4) Improve the academic success for students.
2. Stakeholder engagement. Describe how the planning process included stakeholders.
Stakeholders should include district and school leaders, teachers and teacher leaders,
students, parents, school district board or school governing board members, community and
business leaders, and institutions of higher learning where appropriate.

3. Public school district board and nonpublic school governing board - Approval. The board or
governing board must approve the innovative education program planning proposal.
Documentation of approval must include:
a. In the case of a public school, approved minutes of the meeting at which the innovative
education program planning proposal was discussed and approved by the district board
and signed by the president of the board and the superintendent; or
b. In the case of a nonpublic school, approved minutes or an official statement indicating
when the innovative education program planning proposal was discussed and approved
by the governing board and signed by the chair of the governing board and the chief
executive officer.
4. Professional development. Establish and describe a professional development plan aligned to
the innovative education program.
5. Application process.
a. Schools, school districts, and nonpublic schools are encouraged to submit an innovative
education program planning proposal by November first.
b. No specific form is required.
c. Innovative education program planning proposals should be mailed or emailed to the
director, office of school approval and opportunity.
History: Effective January 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2
### § 67-19-03-04. Implementation proposal - Innovative education program.

To be considered, the implementation proposal at a minimum must include:
1. A copy of the approved innovative education program planning proposal along with evidence
of one year of planning.
2. Stakeholder engagement. Describe how the innovative education program implementation
proposal planning process included stakeholders. Stakeholders should include district and
school leaders, teachers and teacher leaders, students, parents, school district board or
governing board members, community and business leaders, and institutions of higher
learning where appropriate.
3. Implementation plan. The innovative education program implementation proposal must:
a. Describe how the implementation proposal aligns with the school's vision for teaching
and learning.
b. Describe the plan to initiate the implementation plan.
c. Include measurable goals and objectives, timelines, and action plan, including parties
responsible for completion of activities.
d. Provide information on how the implementation plan is expected to:
(1) Improve the delivery of education;
(2) Improve the administration of education;

(3) Provide increased education opportunities for students; or
(4) Improve the academic success of students.
4. Public school district board and nonpublic school governing board - Approval. The board or
governing board must approve the innovative education program implementation proposal.
Documentation of approval must include:
a. In the case of a public school, approved minutes of the meeting at which the innovative
education program implementation proposal was discussed and approved by the district
board and signed by the president of the board and the superintendent; or
b. In the case of a nonpublic school, approved minutes or an official statement indicating
when the innovative education program implementation proposal was discussed and
approved by the governing board and signed by the chair of the governing board and the
chief executive officer.
5. Professional development. Establish and describe a professional development plan aligned to
the innovative education program.
6. Continuous improvement.
a. Provide documentation of commitment made to a continuous improvement process that
will guide schools toward the vision created by the innovative education program
planning proposal.
b. Describe how the use of data will guide the innovative education program implementation
proposal.
7. Evaluation criteria.
a. Describe the evaluation measures to monitor the progress of innovative education
program implementation as well as the measures to be used to evaluate how the
program has:
(1) Improved the delivery of education;
(2) Improved the administration of education;
(3) Provided increased education opportunities for students; or
(4) Improved the academic success of students.
b. The evaluation plan must include multiple measures, such as quantitative and qualitative
indicators, short-term and long-term goals, academic, school climate, and timelines.
c. Early stages of evaluation must include measures, such as attendance, disciplinary
incidents, student engagement, student voice, student and parent surveys, and evidence
of improved instructional practices.
d. Mid-stages and later stages of evaluation must include measures of student
performance, including academic content skills, performance indicators, as well as
proficiency and growth measures.
8. Sustainability. Describe a sustainability plan designed to ensure the plan is embedded in
future planning giving consideration to possible changes to school and district leaders,
building administration, the district superintendent, the governing board or the chief executive
officer.

9. Application process.
a. Schools, school districts, and nonpublic schools are encouraged to submit an innovative
education program implementation proposal by March first. Proposals may be submitted
throughout the school year with the knowledge that implementation will begin after the
proposal has been approved.
b. No specific form is required.
c. Innovative education program implementation proposals should be mailed or emailed to
the director, office of school approval and opportunity.
History: Effective January 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-06-08.2
### § 67-19-03-05. Waiver.

When deemed appropriate and necessary to implement the innovative education program
implementation proposal, the superintendent may grant a waiver of all or part of statute as provided in
subsection 2 of North Dakota Century Code section 15.1-06-08.1.
History: Effective January 1, 2018.
General Authority: NDCC 15.1-06-08.1, 28-32-02
Law Implemented: NDCC 15.1-06-08.1
