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Minutes for SB384 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Extending the application deadline for authorization to operate as a public innovative district from December 1 to May 1 and deeming applications approved if not approved or denied within 30 days of submission.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 11, 2026
Chairman Erickson opened the hearing on SB384. Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave a brief overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 16)
Proponent:
Troy Pitsch, PhD., Superintendent, Wabaunsee County USD 329, said the greatest barrier to rural innovation today is not a lack of vision or capacity, but a lack of administrative alignment with how school systems actually operate. Currently, districts must apply for Innovative District status by December 1. That requires superintendents to commit to staffing models and local partnerships nearly eight months before a program launches and well before final budget figures or staffing realities are known. This bill moves the application deadline to May 1, which reflects operational reality. While Kansas statute already allows non-certified experts to teach under certain conditions, the Innovative District designation provides something equally important: structural coherence. SB-384's 30-day "deemed approved" provision ensures that when a local board and a qualified professional are ready to serve students, progress cannot be halted by administrative delays. It preserves state oversight while preventing inaction from becoming denial. (Attachment 17)
Dr. Tracy Frederick, Executive Director, Kansas School Board Resource Center, supports this bill as it supports working toward improving outcomes immediately. The urgency cannot be overstated. Districts will lose another year for the opportunity to implement best practices and proven innovations that improve academic achievement quickly. Innovative districts are excused from those regulatory burdens allowing teachers and administrators to focus on the district's purpose of improving student outcomes. (Attachment 18)
Opponent:
Leah Fliter, Assistant Executive Director of Advocacy, Kansas Association of School Boards, said this bill ensures an affirmative, on-the-record decision by the State Board which is critical for clarity, accountability, and public trust. Innovation and accountability are not competing values; they are mutually reinforcing. The existing statutory structure strikes the right balance by supporting innovation while preserving transparency, deliberation, and public trust. (Attachment 19)
Opponent Written Only:
Cathy Hopkins and Beryl New, Legislative Liaisons, Kansas Board of Education. (Attachment 20)
Discussion followed.
Chairman Erickson closed the hearing on SB384.
Chairman Erickson adjourned the meeting at 2:22 pm.
The next Senate Education Committee will be held February 12, 2026, at 1:30 pm in Room 144-S.
