ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2001 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 2001. 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--Takeovers
+ Accountability--School Improvement
+ Adult Basic Education
+ Assessment
+ Assessment--Accommodations
+ Assessment--End-of-Course
+ Assessment--Formative/Interim
+ Assessment--High Stakes/Competency
+ Assessment--Legal Issues
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol
+ Attendance
+ Attendance--Compulsory
+ Background Checks
+ Bilingual/ESL
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research
+ Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment
+ Civic Education
+ Civic Education--Character Education
+ Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance
+ Class Size
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Geography Education
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ 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
+ Economic/Workforce Development
+ Education Research
+ Equity
+ Federal
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Litigation
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ Finance--Performance Funding
+ 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--Child Abuse
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ Health--Suicide Prevention
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment
+ High School--Exit Exams
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ 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--Preparation
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress
+ No Child Left Behind--Assessment
+ No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer
+ No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools
+ No Child Left Behind--Report Cards
+ No Child Left Behind--School Support
+ No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services
+ 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 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 Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants
+ Postsecondary Faculty
+ Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation
+ Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure
+ 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 Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Rural
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year
+ School Safety
+ School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution
+ School Safety--Corporal Punishment
- School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension
NCSigned into law 12/2001P-12Prohibits persons contracting with the public schools from disclosing personally identifying information about students; authorizes suspensions for students who make certain false threats, perpetrate certain hoaxes or threaten an act of terrorism; makes emergency response plans confidential.
Title: S.B. 990
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

CASigned into law 10/2001P-12Chapter No.484, Includes the act of aiding or abetting the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another persons as an act for which a pupil may be suspended but not expelled. Provides for an increase in the fine for assault or battery committed on school property against any person. Authorizes the court, if the assault or battery was committed by a minor, to order the minor to undergo counseling, with the cost of such counseling to be borne by the minor's parents.
Title: A.B. 653
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NYSigned into law 10/2001P-12Relates to the suspension of students from schools; relates to teacher removal of disruptive students; requires teachers to provide pupils removed from classrooms with an explanation of such removal with one school day of such removal and an opportunity to be heard; requires the principal to inform the person in parental relation to a removed pupil of such pupil's removal within 1 school day of such removal and provide an informal hearing within 2 school days of such removal.
Title: A.B. 9333
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

LASigned into law 06/2001P-12Authorizes local school boards to adopt zero-tolerance policies for disciplining students; includes certain requirements in such policies; charges fees relative to such requirements.
Title: H.B. 364
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NCSigned into law 06/2001P-12Session Law Number 244., Ensures that the parents or guardians of students who are suspended or expelled for more than 10 days from school receive notice that is in the appropriate language when foreign language resources are readily avialable.
Title: S.B. 811
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NCSigned into law 06/2001P-12Gives school superintendents flexibility regarding the expunction of records of a student's suspension or expulsion from school; requires expunction when the condition in the preceding sentence exists and the school superintendent determines that the record is no longer needed to maintain safe and orderly schools or to adequately serve the child, and expunction is requested by the student's parent or guardian.
Title: H.B. 620
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MDSigned into law 05/2001P-12Requires the State Board of Education to create in a county designated by the State Superintendent of Schools a juvenile justice alternative education pilot program for suspended, expelled and other students; authorizes the State Board of Education on a county board of education to enter a partnership with county circuit court judges to oversee the program; allows the Board to select a private agency to administer the program; requires certain students to attend.
Title: H.B. 825
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NCSigned into law 05/2001P-12Establishes a pilot program under which participating local school administrative units place all students who are on short-term out-of-school suspension in alternative learning programs.
Title: S.B. 71
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NVSigned into law 05/2001P-12Expands causes for expulsion to include possession of a dangerous weapon (in addition to term "firearm) while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus must. For the first occurrence, students must be expelled from the school for a period of not less than 1 year, although he may be placed in another kind of school for a period not to exceed the period of the expulsion. Also applies to students who sell or distribute any controlled substance or who sells or distributes any controlled substance. For second occurences, students are permanently expelled.
Title: S.B. 115
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

WVSigned into law 05/2001P-12Prohibits suspension as discipline for failure to attend class; stipulates other methods of discipline may be used for the pupil which may include, but are not limited to, detention, extra class time or alternative class settings; abolishes corporal punishment; gives teachers authority to exclude from classrooms or school bus any pupil who is guilty of disorderly conduct, who in any manner interferes with an orderly educational process, who threatens, abuses or otherwise intimidates or attempts to intimidate a school employee or a pupil, who willfully disobeys a school employee, or who uses abusive or profane language directed at a school employee. Any pupil excluded shall be placed under the control of the principal of the school or a designee. The excluded pupil may be admitted to the classroom or school bus only when the principal, or a designee, provides written certification to the teacher that the pupil may be readmitted and specifies the specific type of disciplinary action, if any, which was taken. When a teacher excludes the same pupil from his or her classroom or from a school bus three times in one school year, and after exhausting all reasonable methods of classroom discipline provided in the school discipline plan, the pupil may be readmitted to the teacher's classroom only after the principal, teacher and, if possible, the parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) of the pupil have held a conference to discuss the pupil's disruptive behavior patterns, and the teacher and the principal agree on a course of discipline for the pupil and inform the parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) of the course of action. Thereafter, if the pupil's disruptive behavior persists, upon the teacher's request, the principal may, to the extent feasible, transfer the pupil to another setting.
Title: S.B. 439
Source: West Virginia Legislative Web Site

MSSigned into law 03/2001P-12Creates the School Safety Act of 2001; establishes a school safety center to provide technical and crisis assistance to school districts; authorizes school safety grants to local school districts to finance certain programs; establishes a school crisis management program; requires the State Board of Education to develop conflict resolution and peer mediation models and curricula; requires the automatic expulsion of a habitually disruptive student.
Title: S.B. 2239
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

UTSigned into law 03/2001P-12Modifies provisions related to the State System of Public Education by requiring any student who has been expelled from school for a firearm, explosive, or flammable material violation to meet with the school district superintendent to determine if the expulsion should be modified.
Title: S.B. 115
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

VASigned into law 03/2001P-12Reorganizes student discipline statutes; defines disciplinary actions; requires superintendents in expulsion cases to consider factors like student age, grade, attendance, academic and disciplinary history and the feasibility of alternative education; requires expulsion confirmation by the board; excludes students denied private admission; provides for admissions re-petitioning; allows for alternative education programs; requires student reimbursement for unreturned school property.
Title: S.B. 1359
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

VASigned into law 02/2001P-12Relates to exclusion from public school attendance; allows school boards to exclude from attendance students who have been suspended for over 30 days or expelled by another school division or for whom private school admission has been withdrawn regardless of why the disciplinary action was imposed, upon a finding that the student presents a danger to the students or staff of the school division and upon compliance with a hearing process; provides for readmission procedures.
Title: H.B. 1706
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

+ School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault
+ School Safety--Special Education
+ School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes
+ School/District Structure/Operations
+ School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation
+ 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--School Size
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation
+ Special Education
+ Special Education--Finance
+ Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming)
+ Special Education--Placement
+ Special Education--Transition
+ Special Populations--Corrections Education
+ Standards
+ Standards--Implementation
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ 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--Assignment
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers
+ 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--Preparation
+ Teaching Quality--Professional Development
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools
+ Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Technology
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban