Massachusetts HD 5968: A communication from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (see Section 92(p) of Chapter 71 of the General Laws) submitting a report on the Implementation and Fiscal Impact of Innovation Schools for fiscal years 2023 and 2024

Summary

This bill is the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's required annual report to the legislature on how innovation schools are operating and their fiscal impact on the state. Innovation schools are in-district schools that operate with increased flexibility in areas like curriculum, budgets, scheduling, and staffing to create custom solutions for their students, and as of 2023-2024, 25 of these schools were operating in 16 districts across Massachusetts. The report affects policymakers and educators across the state by providing data on how this initiative is performing, though it notes there is no direct state funding impact since grant funding for innovation schools was removed from the budget in 2020.

Bill Text

Report to the Legislature:
Implementation and Fiscal Impact of Innovation
Schools

Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2010, Section 8 authorizes the creation of innovation schools.
The statute requires an annual report to the legislature on the implementation and fiscal
impact of innovation schools
March 2025

This document was prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members
Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Brookline, Student Member
Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
Dr. Martin West, Newton

Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, an affirmative action
employer, is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all
members of the public.
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex,
gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Inquiries regarding the Department’s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be
directed to the Human Resources Director, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149. Phone: 781-
338-6105.

© 2025 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Permission is hereby granted to copy any or all parts of this document for non-commercial
educational purposes. Please credit the “Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education.”

This document printed on recycled paper

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu

March 2025

Dear Members of the General Court:

I am pleased to submit a combined 2023 and 2024 report to the Legislature:
Implementation and Fiscal Impact of Innovation Schools pursuant to Chapter 12 of the
Acts of 2010, Section 8. The innovation school initiative is a component of An Act Relative
to the Achievement Gap which allows in-district schools to operate with increased
autonomy and flexibility and create custom-made solutions to meet the needs of their
students. Through a collaborative, local approval process, schools may use any or all of the
autonomies and flexibilities in the following areas: curriculum, budget, school schedule,
staffing, school district policies, and professional development. As reported in the 2022
legislative report, the grant funding for innovation schools was removed from the state
budget in fiscal year (FY) 2020. Accordingly, there is no direct impact on state funds related
to innovation schools.

Revere Public Schools authorized the conversion of one of its high schools to an innovation
school starting in the 2022-2023 school year (FY2023). Two innovation schools closed or
were not reauthorized and ceased to operate with innovation school status at the
conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year (FY2023). An additional four innovation schools
closed or were not reauthorized and ceased to operate with innovation school status at the
conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year (FY2024). Twenty-five innovation schools and
academies continue to operate in sixteen school districts across the Commonwealth.

Within this report you will find an overview of the innovation school model, technical
assistance support provided by the Department, and a current list of innovation schools
and academies throughout the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Johnston
Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
Overview of the Innovation School Model ....................................................................... 2
Operation of Innovation Schools ................................................................................. 2
Authorization Process ................................................................................................ 3
Reauthorization Process ............................................................................................ 4
Appendix A: Innovation Schools List as of School Year 2023-2024 .................................... 5

1

Introduction
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) respectfully
submits this report to the Legislature: Implementation and Fiscal Impact of Innovation
Schools pursuant to Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2010, Section 8, which established M.G.L.
Chapter 71, Section 92(p), which states, in part:

(p) Annually, the commissioner shall report to the joint committee on education, the
house and senate committees on ways and means, the speaker of the ho