H.B. 1842 (84th Session of the Texas Legislature) amended Chapter 12 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) to create Districts of Innovation. Districts can be designated as such if they meet specific performance requirements and adhere to procedures outlined in the statute. This designation allows districts to be exempt from certain sections of the TEC that may hinder their goals as defined in their locally adopted Innovation Plan. The designation is valid for a term not exceeding five years.

**Process:**
On August 8, 2016, during a meeting of the Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees, the Board adopted a resolution to explore the opportunity of being designated as a District of Innovation. The Board appointed a committee comprised of educators, parents, and community members to draft a plan for consideration by Galena Park ISD stakeholders. The Board approved this plan on August 23, 2016. As a result, Galena Park ISD joined a growing number of Texas public school districts seeking this designation.

**May 2016:**
District leadership learned about H.B. 1842, and representatives attended an informational session hosted by the Region 4 Education Service Center.

**July 2016:**
District administrators held meetings to assess whether pursuing the District of Innovation designation would benefit Galena Park ISD. They decided to proceed with the process, citing the benefits to students and staff.

**August 8, 2016:**
The Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees formally began the process by unanimously passing a resolution to investigate the possibility of District of Innovation status.

**August 23, 2016:**
At a special meeting called by the Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees, district staff conducted a public hearing to discuss the development of a local innovation plan. Following the hearing, the Board approved the District of Innovation Advisory Committee, which consists of 25 campus and district staff members, along with representatives from various district stakeholder groups, including local chapter representatives from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), the Retired Educators Association, the Teacher Leadership Council, the Community Leadership Council, and the local Ministers’ Alliance.