HUNTINGTON -- Many of the things going on inside the walls of the small Metro Early College High School in Columbus, Ohio, are out of the norm.

From a trimester calendar to block scheduling to its grading system, Columbus' science, technology, engineering and math school operates much differently than a typical public high school. But while teachers have the flexibility in presenting the content and students are able to demonstrate knowledge almost entirely through project-based learning, they still must meet the Ohio Department of Education's standards.

Would West Virginia educators have the same latitude?

A proposal introduced by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin in his State of the State Address in February could essentially provide some of the same, if not more, freedoms to the proposed science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, school to be started on the campus of Marshall University within three years.

The School Innovation Zones bill, as proposed, would give teachers, principals and school communities greater control over critical education factors that affect student achievement.

In a summary provided by Manchin's staff, the bill would "allow schools that have been designated as innovation zones to have flexibility to collaboratively devise and implement school improvement strategies that are currently restrained or restricted by policies of the State Board of Education and the West Virginia Code, and to apply for waivers of such policies and statutes."

That could include a grading system where students must reach mastery on a subject before moving on in their studies. Or a school calendar that emulates Marshall's so the high school students who are eligible can take classes and remain at the same pace.

"(This bill) allows an area like Huntington and Cabell County to do things differently than what we've been allowed to do under West Virginia state code," said Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne. "We need to have a high school that promotes and supports these things. We have a lot of students we need to take from a high to a higher level."

There also is $500,000 included in Manchin's fiscal year 2010 budget for schools that become innovation zones. The State Board of Education would determine the amount on a case-by-case basis, and only after it's given an approval to the innovation zone plan.

Though state money from that budget line item likely wouldn't cover the cost of startup, it certainly would help. Just ask Metro principal Marcy Raymond, whose school was started with state and corporate dollars and must always receive some support from business and community partnerships to reach sustainability.

Plymale, the chair of the Senate Education Committee, along with Marshall University President Stephen Kopp and West Virginia Superintendent Steve Paine, said this bill could help both administratively and financially in getting the school up and running with the same flexibility that has been afforded to Metro High School.

"Innovation zones provide the ability to experiment with educational models," Kopp said. "It's a learning laboratory for professional development."

Maynard said that he is still working on the business plan, but estimates startup costs to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, he said federal money may be available in the recently passed stimulus package.

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