Suggested innovations

(1) In considering or creating an innovation plan or a plan for creating an innovation school zone, each local school board is strongly encouraged to consider innovations in the following areas: (a) Curriculum and academic standards and assessments; (b) Accountability measures, including but not limited to expanding the use of a variety of accountability measures to more accurately present a complete measure of student learning and accomplishment. The accountability measures adopted by an innovation school or an innovation school zone may include, but need not be limited to: (I) Use of graduation or exit examinations; (II) Use of end-of-course examinations; (III) Use of student portfolio reviews; (IV) Use of national and international accountability measures such as the national assessment of educational progress and the program for international student assessment; (V) Measuring the percentage of students continuing into higher education; and (VI) Measuring the percentage of students simultaneously obtaining a high school diploma and an associate's degree or a career and technical education certificate. (c) Provision of services, including but not limited to special education services; services for gifted and talented students; services for English language learners; educational services for students at risk of academic failure, expulsion, or dropping out; and support services provided by the state department of human services or county departments or agencies of human or social services; (d) Teacher recruitment, training, preparation, and professional development; (e) Teacher employment; (f) Performance expectations and evaluation procedures for teachers and principals; (g) Compensation for teachers, principals, and other school building personnel, including but not limited to performance pay plans, total compensation plans, and other innovations with regard to retirement and other benefits; (h) School governance and the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of principals in innovation schools or schools within an innovation school zone; and (i) Preparation and counseling of students for transition to higher education or the work force.