ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2000 State Policies / Activities

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies enacted in 2000. This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. To view all, press the button located at the top labeled "Expand All."

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

State Status/Date Level Summary
+ Accountability
+ Accountability--Accreditation
+ Accountability--Measures/Indicators
+ Accountability--Reporting Results
+ Accountability--Rewards
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play
+ Adult Basic Education
+ Assessment
+ Assessment--Accommodations
+ Assessment--End-of-Course
+ Assessment--High Stakes/Competency
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol
+ Attendance
+ Attendance--Compulsory
+ Attendance--Truancy
+ Background Checks
+ Bilingual/ESL
+ Business Involvement
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance
+ Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment
+ Choice of Schools--Tax Credits
+ Choice of Schools--Vouchers
+ Civic Education
+ Civic Education--Character Education
+ Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance
+ Class Size
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Core Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Environmental Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Geography Education
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ Curriculum--Language Arts
+ Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling
+ Curriculum--Mathematics
+ Curriculum--Multicultural
+ Curriculum--Physical Education
+ Curriculum--Science
+ Curriculum--Sex Education
+ Curriculum--Social Studies/History
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Demographics--Enrollments
+ Desegregation
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+ Equity
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Litigation
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+ Finance--Lotteries
+ Finance--Private Giving
+ Finance--Resource Efficiency
+ Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures
+ Finance--Student Fees
+ Finance--Taxes/Revenues
+ Finance--Taxes/Revenues--Alternative Revenues
+ Governance
+ Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule
+ Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest
+ Governance--School Boards
+ Governance--Site-Based Management
+ Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies
+ Health
+ Health--Mental Health
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ Health--Teen Pregnancy
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment
+ High School--Exit Exams
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Official English
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ Leadership
+ Leadership--District Superintendent
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Certification and Licensure
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Compensation and Diversified Pay
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--African American
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic
+ No Child Left Behind--Assessment
+ Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning
+ Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses
+ P-16 or P-20
+ P-3
+ P-3 Child Care
+ P-3 Early Intervention (0-3)
+ P-3 Ensuring Quality
+ P-3 Family Involvement
+ P-3 Finance
+ P-3 Governance
+ P-3 Grades 1-3
+ P-3 Health and Mental Health
+ P-3 Kindergarten
+ P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten
+ P-3 Preschool
+ P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Postsecondary
+ Postsecondary Accountability
+ Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans
+ Postsecondary Faculty
+ Postsecondary Finance
+ Postsecondary Governance and Structures
+ Postsecondary Governance and Structures--Administrative/Leadership Issues
+ Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges
+ Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary
+ Postsecondary Online Instruction
+ Postsecondary Participation--Access
+ Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements
+ Postsecondary Participation--Outreach
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
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+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Promising Practices
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round
+ School Safety
+ School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution
+ School Safety--Code of Conduct
+ School Safety--Corporal Punishment
+ School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension
+ School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault
+ School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes
+ School/District Structure/Operations
+ School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation
+ School/District Structure/Operations--District Size
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching)
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation
+ Service-Learning
+ Special Education
+ Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations
- Special Education--Finance
CAVetoed 09/2000P-12Relates to existing law which requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to calculate allocations to special education local plan areas based on the average daily attendance reported for the special education local plan area for a certain fiscal year in order to mitigate the effects of any declining enrollment. Prohibits the funding reduction from being applied to any special education local plan area determined to be a necessary, small special education local plan.
Title: A.B. 2055
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

CASigned into law 08/2000P-12Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to withhold, in whole or in part, state funds or federal funds allocated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from a district, special education local plan area or county office after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing if the superintendent makes certain findings regarding noncompliance with state and federal law on special education.
Title: S.B. 1843
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MNSigned by governor 05/2000P-12Decreases a district's threshold to qualify for excess cost aid from 4.4 percent to 4.36 percent of general education revenue, beginning in FY 2001. Increase the appropriation for excess cost aid from $60,498,000 to $66,032,000 in fiscal year 2000 and from $79,405,000 to $89,137,000 in fiscal year 2001. Most of the change in these appropriations is to adjust for change in the estimated cost of fully funding the excess cost formula, based on new data becoming available between the end of the 1999 legislative session and the February 2000 budget forecast. Changes in the general education formula and the threshold to qualify for excess cost aid account for only a small portion of the change. The one-time special education cross-subsidy revenue is excluded from the calculation of excess cost aid.
Title: H.B. 3800
Source: Department of Children, Families and Learning

VTSigned into law 05/2000P-12Clarifies the definition of special education services; permits the cost of special education services to be a factor in considering how to provide appropriate services; provides for teacher training; provides for individual education plans; provides for state aid to districts to assist with special education costs.

More details:
This Act focuses on students in the entire educational system, not just the special education system, and addresses containment of special education costs while at the same time continuing to deliver appropriate services that meet the needs of Vermont students. It includes, among other items, the following provisions:

Assignment of responsibility for developing and maintaining the educational support system to either the superintendent or principal.

Requirement for an annual report to the Commissioner of Education on the status of each school's educational support system and a description and justification of how Medicaid funds were used.

Amendment to the definition in state statute of "special education" to clarify that Vermont requires no more in services than is required under federal law.

Specification of the conditions under which IEP teams can take costs into consideration when selecting services for a student with disabilities.

Expansion of the Commissioner of Education's annual report on special education costs to include the rate of growth or decrease in costs, outcomes for students, availability of special education staff, consistency of implementation statewide, status of educational support systems.

Development and implementation by the Commissioner of Education of a two-year plan to contain special education costs while continuing to meet the needs of all Vermont students by increasing the capacity of general education to meet the needs of students outside of special education, using cost-effective practices and operating special education programs across the state consistently and within federal requirements. The plan includes:

Formation of a partnership with higher education to improve teacher preparation and professional development.

Strengthening the educational support systems around the state by focusing on preschool through fourth grade literacy, and prevention and intervention for students with emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Support for special education teachers and administrators and help in using cost-effective practices by working with higher education to increase the availability of special education administrators, teachers and related services providers; providing training opportunities for teachers and para-professionals; providing legal support, information and training to avoid conflict and assist in making cost-effective legal and procedural decisions; employing consultants with expertise in particular disability areas; providing guidance in the completion of annual service plans; and developing, with the University of Vermont, a decision-making model for IEP teams to use.

Efforts to make special education programs consistently-implemented and cost-effective statewide by studying IEPs in the most common disability areas and providing schools data on the range of costs associated therewith; increasing the capacity to audit and monitor special education programs statewide; training to school district leaders on cost-effective practices; and more clearly defining eligibility rules.

Development of recommendations to change the special education funding formula to make it more sustainable while at the same time not simply shifting costs to local taxpayers.

Drafting and submittal of annual reports to the legislature on progress made toward strengthening the educational support system, containing special education costs, and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

Assisting school districts with unusual or unexpected costs by allocation of up to two percent of appropriations for special education expenditures assuming the districts requesting the funds have submitted Medicaid bills for reimbursement for at least 85 percent of eligible students.

Establishment of statewide targets in fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004 for limiting increases in total special education expenditures. Special education appropriations shall be based on these targets.

Repeal of the caps on special education expenditures enacted as part of Act 71 in order to allow the above-mentioned plan time to work.

Conduct of a study by the Secretary of Administration and the Joint Fiscal Office, along with a variety of others, on how interagency services could assist students with disabilities under the age of twenty-two.

Although not expressly part of this Act, the Appropriations Act contains significant funding to carry out the provisions of the above-mentioned plan.
Title: H.B. 629
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm

NESigned into law 04/2000P-12This bill clarifies several aspects of how students, spacificly Special Ed. students, are to be treated in the state. It clarifies that special ed. students are "children from birth to the age twenty-one years". The bill also clarifies that schools are required to provide an education to children who are homeless. And it further defines that if a student's resident district is unable to provide special education services then they must contract with a non-resident district to provide those services.
Title: L.B. 1243
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

SDSigned into law 03/2000P-12The legislation deals with the transfer of a special education student from a resident district to a nonresident district. Under previous law the resident district was held responsible for the students education, under the new law the nonresident district becomes responsible for the students education.
Title: H.B. 1058
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

SDSigned into law 03/2000P-12Allows certain children to be included as a level 2, 3, 4, or 5 disability for the purpose of calculating special education state aid.
Title: S.B. 23
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

UTSigned into law 03/2000P-12Relates to individuals with disabilities; provides a specified appropriation to the State Office of Rehabilitation to purchase assistive technology devices and services under rules made by the State Board of Education.
Title: S.B. 131
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

KYSigned into law 02/2000P-12Relates to the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; provides that rights for infants, toddlers, and parents served by the State Early Intervention System are mandated by participation in Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; deletes limitation to available funding.
Title: H.B. 51
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

+ Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming)
+ Special Education--Placement
+ Special Education--Transition
+ Special Populations--Corrections Education
+ Special Populations--Gifted and Talented
+ Special Populations--Homeless Education
+ Standards
+ Standards--Implementation
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Politics
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ Students
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ Students--Records/Rights
+ Teaching Quality
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds.
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds.
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Substitute Teachers
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Pay-for-Performance
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits
+ Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness
+ Teaching Quality--Induction Programs and Mentoring
+ Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals
+ Teaching Quality--Preparation
+ Teaching Quality--Professional Development
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Technology
+ Technology--Computer Skills
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban
+ Whole Child