'Schools of innovation' applications denied

GENTRY -- Applications from all four Gentry Schools campuses to become schools of innovation were denied by the Arkansas Department of Education, according to May 28 letters from Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas' commissioner of education.

The reason for the denials, given in all four denial letters, was: "A change in start date or instructional time does not qualify under the definition of innovation."

The letters further explained: "While reviewing your school's application, we reviewed the provisions of the Arkansas Code that pertains to schools of innovation. For instance, Ark. § 6-15-2801(3) defines 'innovation' as 'a new or creative alternative to the existing instructional and administrative practices that is intended to improve academic performance and learning for all students.' Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2803(5) defines 'school of innovation' as 'a school that participates in a district of innovation to transform and improve teaching and learning.' Therefore, our focus was to determine whether the application included new and creative alternatives to improve learning for all students and whether the application had the potential to transform and improve teaching and learning."

A chief element in the applications of all four Gentry schools was flexibility in required instructional times for various subjects and courses.

The letter from Kimbrell did encourage the schools to apply again in the next application cycle which closes on March 1, 2015. Schools had little time in this first cycle of the program to prepare plans but can spend more time on plans for next year's application, should they choose to apply.

In a May 29 letter, Randy Barrett, Gentry superintendent of schools, commended his staff members for their efforts in being among the 11 percent of Arkansas schools which applied for the new program.

"I am personally proud that you made an effort to seek better means to educate our students," Barrett wrote. "Knowing the professionalism of our employees, I suspect we will try again on the next cycle."