Independent school district

An independent school district (ISD) is a type of school district in some US states for primary and secondary education that operates as an entity independent and separate from any municipality or county, and only under the oversight of the respective state government. As such, the administrative leadership of such districts is selected from within the district itself and has no direct responsibility to any other governmental authority. This independence normally also implies that the district has its own taxing authority that is outside the direct control of other governmental entities.

The state of Texas has by far the largest number of independent school districts, with almost all of its districts falling into this category (Stafford Municipal School District being the notable exception). The term independent may be used to describe other types of school districts, though this is less common.

The use of the term independent can vary in actual application in those states that even use the term. In Kentucky, for example, all school districts are independent of the state, county, and municipal governments. However, state law defines an "independent school district" as one whose jurisdiction does not cover an entire county, instead covering a city or cluster of cities.

Historically, as school districts were formed in the United States, they have generally been tied to municipal or county governments who have funded and administered them.

In Texas during the early 1900s, school districts were generally divisions of county or municipal governments as in most of the country. The onset of the Texas Oil Boom dramatically changed many aspects of the state and many communities within it. Sudden discoveries of large petroleum reserves created numerous boomtowns whose populations often multiplied tremendously in short periods. The growth was often a mixed blessing for these communities. The rapid demographic change in the once small towns often initially caused severe strain on the local school systems unprepared for the rapid influx of students. Even as money was rapidly flowing in the communities, obtaining tax revenue efficiently where it was needed was often complex. Communities dealt with these problems by establishing independent school districts which could establish their own taxing authority and more quickly adjust to changing financial demands. By 1921-2, the state had 858 independent school districts and 7,369 common school districts. Through the middle of the 20th century, many smaller common school districts combined to become independent school districts. This type of school district is still the standard in Texas today. Litigation against school districts is usually handled by law firms specializing in school law and is paid for by professional legal liability coverage designed specifically for educational entities.

According to a 2015 report by the Legislative Research Commission, the research arm of the Kentucky General Assembly,

An ISD is one whose geographic boundaries are defined not by the county lines that define most districts but by historic boundaries within counties. These historic boundaries are associated with districts that did not merge with county districts during the early 20th century, a period when Kentucky’s many small ISDs were consolidating into county districts.

The first known action by the General Assembly to support public elementary and secondary education was a law passed in 1836 that allowed Paducah to conduct a lottery to raise funds for a public school system, thus establishing the predecessor to today's Paducah Public Schools. Two years later, the state enacted its first common school law, which set up a state educational board and provided some state funding. Since state funds were inadequate to support schools, numerous local districts were formed that levied their own taxes to support schools, a practice that was allowed but not mandated by state law. These districts "operated mostly independent of one another and the state board." The General Assembly attempted to address differences in funding between different parts of the state by passing the County School District law in 1908. This law required that by 1910, each county would form a single school district that levied a tax to support its schools, and also establish a high school for white students (at the time, racial segregation was mandated) offering a minimum 2-year program. However, local communities were still allowed to establish their own districts, and the number of such districts increased from about 200 in 1900 to 388 in 1922.