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
+ 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
CAVetoed 09/2001Postsec.Relates to California State University Faculty Members. Provides that temporary faculty of the California State University who work 40% of full-time or more, shall not be excluded from membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System if so provided in a collective bargaining agreement or by the university trustees with respect to excluded employees.
Title: A.B. 1081
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

LASigned into law 07/2001P-12Deletes the provisions requiring teachers (contingent upon salary increases) to work an additional three days for staff development.
Title: H.B. 1447
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MSSigned into law 07/2001P-12Eliminates the requirement that the sine die general fund revenue estimate increase by at least 5% annually as a prerequisite to implementing increases in salaries for teachers and assistant teachers and in the allotment for supportive services in accordance with the plan to raise teachers' salaries to the southeastern average.
Title: H.B. 1A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MESigned into law 06/2001P-12Public Law No. 442., (LD 1255) Repeals the current law that establishes a cap on the earnings of retired members of the State Retirement System who return to work as State employees or teachers; allows those retirees to return to covered employment and continue to receive full retirement benefits.
Title: H.B. 941
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NVSigned into law 06/2001P-12Appropriates funds to cover 3% cost of living bonuses for all education personnel.
Title: S.B. 458
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NVSigned into law 06/2001P-12Requires boards of trustees of school district to place a teacher who has been employed by another school district in this State on the salary schedule that is commensurate with the level of education of the teacher; requires school district to give administrators credit for previous administrative service and place them in a salary schedule comparable to their former classification; revises provisions governing certain employees who voluntarily leave their employment.
Title: A.B. 380
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NVSigned into law 06/2001P-12Relates to achievement and proficiency examinations administered in public schools; revises provisions governing the increase of salary for a teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; requires school districts to create and operate regional training programs for professional development of teachers and administrators; authorizes licensure and employment of teachers who are not citizens of the United States.
Title: S.B. 3A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

OKSigned into law 06/2001P-12Expands the resident teacher program to include early childhood teachers. (One-year residency program is required as part of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act.)
Title: S.B. 499
Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/sb499_enr.rtf

ALSigned into law 05/2001P-12Relates to educational employees and certain other employees; provides for accumulation of unlimited days of sick leave; amends various sections.
Title: S.B. 91
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

AZSigned into law 05/2001P-12Relates to school finance; establishes that compensation increases shall be established as part of the teacher's base salary.
Title: S.B. 1263
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

FLSigned into law 05/2001P-12Provides for distribution to classroom teachers who provided international baccalaureate instruction certain bonuses; eliminates the requirement that certain instructional personnel make an election to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program within 12 months after reaching normal retirement date; authorizes a review by a principal prior to reassigning a teacher; deletes provisions relating to salary supplements provided to teachers selected to teach at certain low-performing schools.
Title: H.B. 1193
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

HISigned into law 05/2001P-12Relates to collective bargaining cost items; appropriates funds to pay for public school teacher raises.
Title: S.B. 1379
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

INSigned into law 05/2001P-12Specifies that the additional annuity savings account contributions that may be made by a Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) member or a Teacher's Retirement Fund (TRF) member may not exceed 10% of the member's compensation; provides that a governing body of a unit that is participating in PERF is not required to request a survey of the estimated cost of participation, and the PERF board is not required to provide an estimate of the costs of participation.
Title: S.B. 107
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MESigned into law 05/2001P-12Public Law No. 192.,& 181 (LD 1754)Relates to the Maine State Retirement System; establishes the Consumer Price Index as the benchmark for the cost-of-living adjustments; establishes standards for the determination by the Board of Trustees of the Maine State Retirement System; allows service credit in order to qualify for a service retirement benefit under a special plan to a State employee, teacher member or participating local district member interrupting employment for any services.
Title: S.B. 576
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MTSigned into law 05/2001P-12Provides for pay and benefits for state employees in the statewide, teachers', and blue collar pay plans; revises the departments authority to develop alternative pay plans; eliminates the statutory pay schedule for teachers; increases the state contribution to the employee group benefits program.
Title: H.B. 13
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

OKSigned into law 05/2001P-12Modifies the minimum salary schedule for teachers, setting the base for salary and/or fringe benefits for a beginning teacher with a bachelor's degree at $27,060.
Title: H.B. 1189
Source: Oklahoma Legislative Web Site

OKSigned into law 05/2001P-12Except for school districts with one or more school sites which are identified as low performing or high challenged, all school districts shall be exempt from reporting to the state board the following legislatively-mandated plans: Comprehensive Local Education Plan; school improvement plan; professional development plan; capital improvement plan; and reading sufficiency plan, provided the last reading sufficiency plan submitted by the school district was approved by the state department of education and expenditures for the program include only expenses relating to individual and small group tutoring, assessment, summer school programs, and Saturday school programs.
Title: H.B. 1433
Source: Oklahoma Legislative Web Site

TNSigned into law 05/2001P-12Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to reimburse up to 100 teachers for evaluation fees incurred while obtaining certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Current law authorizes reimbursement of up to 25 teachers. Requires payment of $2,500 per year to nationally certified public school teachers who have a valid teaching license and valid certification, subject to funding in the general appropriations act.
Title: S.B. 1881/H.B. 1921--Omnibus Bill
Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us

WVSigned into law 05/2001P-12Amends Chapter 18A to adjust the minimum salary schedule for teachers ($1,000 increase in basic salaries). Also amends the salary supplements connected to national board of professional teaching standards -- beginning July, 2001, changes from $1,000 to $2,500 to be paid annually to each classroom teacher who holds a valid certificate issued by the national board of professional teaching standards for the life of the certification, but in no event more than ten years for any one certification.
Title: H.B. 102
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 04/2001P-12Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education to provide salary increases to teachers in special settings that may not be eligible for extraordinary salary increases for the 2001-2003 biennium.
Title: S.B. 693
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 04/2001P-12UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE EDUCATOR'S COMPENSATION ACT OF 2001, NO SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM PAYING CERTIFIED STAFF ADDITIONAL SALARY INCREASES AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SALARY SCHEDULE EVEN THOUGH THE CERTIFIED STAFF IS NOT EMPLOYED AN ADDITIONAL TIME PERIOD LONGER THAN THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE SALARY SCHEDULE OR REQUIRED TO PERFORM DUTIES IN ADDITION TO THE CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES REGULAR TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS.
Title: H.B. 2653
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 04/2001Postsec.Amends Arkansas code 6-63-309 to allow institutions of higher education to exceed the maximum salary levels for exceptionally well qualified personnel; relates to non-academic personnel; relates to non-classified personnel.
Title: S.B. 583
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 04/2001P-12Pertains to payment to teachers for additional contract days. This legislation establishes the pay rules for increased work days.
Title: H.B. 2375
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 04/2001P-12Provides for an adjustment in the annuities of those members who retired early under the Teacher Retirement System.
Title: S.B. 232
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

GASigned into law 04/2001P-12Act No. 169., Relates to sick leave for teachers and other public school personnel; provides that sick leave shall not be charged for certain periods of absence due to certain injuries sustained during the performance of duties which are caused by physical assault.
Title: H.B. 164
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MDSigned into law 04/2001P-12Exempts from an offset of a retirement allowance, retirees of the Teachers' Retirement System or the Teachers' Pension System who are reemployed as principals and supervisors of principals; requires county boards of education to provide information to the State Retirement Agency; clarifies that retirees must meet performance requirements for each year of their employment prior to retirement; provides for the act's termination.
Title: H.B. 442, S.B. 221
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NDSigned into law 04/2001P-12Relates to definitions, annuities, participation by retired members who have resumed teaching, and confidentiality of records under the Teacher's Fund for Retirement.
Title: H.B. 1101
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NMVetoed 04/2001P-12Sections 60-62 amends the Educational Retirement Act (ERA) to provide incentives to retain experienced teachers in the classroom. First, it increases the multiplier for calculating retirement benefits for employees under the ERA who have more than 25 years of service. On a incremental scale, the multiplier will increase from 2.35 percent up to a maximum of 2.50 percent for employees with 30 or more years of service. Second, it enhances average annual salary computations for certain members. Finally, it establishes provisions allowing for the return to employment during retirement.
Title: S.B. 308
Source: New Mexico Legislative Web Site

NMVetoed 04/2001P-12Effective January 1, 2002, a retired member may be re-employed without having to suspend retirement benefits if the member has not been employed as an employee or independent contractor by a local administrative unit for at least twelve consecutive months from the date of retirement. Such person is entitled to continue to receive retirement benefits but is not entitled to acquire service credit. A retired member who returns to employment shall not make contributions to the fund. Appropriates $121,500 to the educational retirement board for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to fund three full-time-equivalent employees to carry out the provisions of this act.
Title: H.B. 152
Source: New Mexico Legislative Web Site

NMVetoed 04/2001P-12Sections 31 through 41 provide new language to the existing Public School Code and enact a three-tiered system of teacher licensure with a minimum salaries specified for each licensure level. This would apply to both standard 9 ½ month contract and for an annualized contract.
Title: S.B. 308
Source: New Mexico Legislative Web Site

WASigned into law 04/2001P-12Increases the number of hours that teachers' retirement system plan retirees may work in an eligible position to 840 without a reduction in their retirement benefits.
Title: H.B. 1048
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12Increase teacher pay in the state by $1,000 (over 2001 pay) in 2002 and by $3,000 (over 2001 pay) in 2003.
Title: S.B. 598
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12Allows retirants of the Teacher Retirement System to become an active member in order to participate in the Teacher Deferred Retirement Option Plan (T-DROP).
Title: S.B. 194
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12Authorizes nonteaching school district employees who are members of the public employees' retirement system to have nonteaching service after July 1, 2001 covered under the teacher retirement system.
Title: H.B. 1078
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12Allows teachers and other school employees to receive gifts or compensation in recognition of the employee's contribution to education.
Title: H.B. 1063
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12Allows members of the Teacher Retirement System to retire and return to work within 30 days and repeals the earnings limitations after retirement.
Title: H.B. 1272
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 03/2001P-12ANY TEACHER NOT RECEIVING INDIVIDUAL PLANNING TIME AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE PLANNING TIME LOST AT HIS OR HER HOURLY RATE OF PAY.
Title: S.B. 944
Source: State Legislation

COSigned into law 03/2001P-12Concerns the maintenance of public employee retirement benefits for retirees who are hired by a school district during a critical shortage of employees.
Title: H.B. 1186
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

IDSigned into law 03/2001P-12Increases the base salary of teachers, classified personnel and administrative staff; provides for a new minimum salary in each category; requires school districts to adjust the salary schedule to meet the requirement.
Title: S.B. 1114
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

KYSigned into law 03/2001P-12Relates to reorganization; provides that certain employees of the Workforce Development Cabinet, Department of Adult Education and Literacy, and the Department for Technical Education may continue to participate in Teachers' Retirement and that others may opt out; provides that certain employees participate in the Kentucky Employees Retirement System.
Title: H.B. 88
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

WYSigned into law 03/2001P-12Relates to the national teacher certification incentive; modifies program reimbursement levels; eliminates the delayed repeal of the program.
Title: S.B. 13
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 02/2001P-12Increases the lump-sum death benefits for active and retired members of the Teacher Retirement System.
Title: S.B. 167
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 02/2001P-12Provides an increase in the additional monthly benefit for all retirees in the Teacher Retirement System.
Title: S.B. 171
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ARSigned into law 02/2001P-12Amends the teacher retirement system law to define the normal retirement age for the system and adds provisions concerning the normal retirement age.
Title: S.B. 170
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

SDSigned into law 02/2001P-12Any teacher that teaches a course over the Digital Dakota Network shall receive additional compensation for each course and from each school for which the teaching services are provided.
Title: H.B. 1291
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us/

+ 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