ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2002 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 2002. 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--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol
+ Attendance
+ Attendance--Truancy
+ Background Checks
+ Bilingual/ESL
+ Business Involvement
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance
+ Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment
+ Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools
+ 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--Family Living Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ 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--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Does Money Matter?
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ 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--School Boards
+ Governance--School Boards--Training
+ Governance--Site-Based Management
+ Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies
+ Health
+ Health--Child Abuse
+ Health--Mental Health
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment
+ High School--Exit Exams
+ High School--GED (General Education Development)
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Official English
+ Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ International Benchmarking
+ 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
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Recruitment and Retention
+ 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
+ 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--Full-Day Kindergarten
+ P-3 Preschool
+ P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Postsecondary
+ 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--Intellectual Property
+ Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure
+ Postsecondary Finance
+ Postsecondary Governance and Structures
+ Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges
+ Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary
+ Postsecondary Participation--Access
+ Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements
+ Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action
+ Postsecondary Participation--Outreach
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Students--Minority
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Public Involvement
- Reading/Literacy
AZRejected by voters 11/2002P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Revises State Gaming Act; a portion of the revenues from non-tribal gaming devices would support reading programs for students in kindergarten through third grade and scholarships for graduates of Arizona high schools and community colleges. (http://www.sosaz.com/election/2002/info/pubpamphlet/english/prop201.htm)
Title: Proposition 201
Source: Arizona Election Services

FLSigned into law 08/2002P-12Shifts responsibility for establishing rules regarding student report cards from state superintendent to state board. Modifies rules relating to remediation, retention and promotion. Specifically, as stated by legislative summary, "The bill requires retention of students whose reading deficiency is not remedied by the third grade, as demonstrated by scoring at Level 2 or higher on the third grade reading portion of the FCAT. Before third grade, students identified as having a substantial reading deficiency must be given intensive reading instruction." Also, "The bill requires that academic improvement plans describe specific areas of reading deficiency, desired levels of performance in these areas, and necessary support services. The bill requires written parental notification of a substantial reading disability, current services, proposed remediation, and a mandatory third grade retention requirement. The bill outlines good cause exemptions: Limited English Proficient students who have had less than two years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other Languages program; those with disabilities whose individual education plan (IEP) indicates that participation in the statewide assessments is not appropriate; those who demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an alternative standardized reading assessment approved by the State Board of Education; those who demonstrate, through a student portfolio, the mastery of the Sunshine State Standards in reading equal to a Level 2 performance on the FCAT; students with disabilities who were previously retained in kindergarten, first or second grade, who participate in the FCAT and whose IEP or 504 plan shows a remaining deficiency after intensive remediation in reading for more than two years; and students who have received the intensive remediation in reading for two or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency or who were previously retained in kindergarten, grade one or grade two for a total of two years. The bill requires the teacher to document and report any good cause exemption to the principal. The principal reviews and reports a recommendation to the superintendent who makes the final decision. Each step of this process must be in writing. The bill gives the State Board of Education authority to enforce these provisions by requiring that districts submit relevant data, allowing the Commissioner of Education to investigate noncompliance, ordering compliance within a specified time frame, and withholding funds in the event of continued noncompliance." See bill section 371, page 825, line 4 ff: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002E/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0020Eer.pdf
Title: S.B. 20E
Source: http://www.leg.state.fl.us

IDSigned into law 07/2002P-12
Postsec.
PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS-Amends existing law to clarify that only K-8 preservice teachers shall pass the State Board of Education's preservice reading assessment measure, and that passage will be tied to certification rather than graduation.
Title: H.B. 399
Source: Idaho State Board of Education Web site

MDSigned into law 07/2002P-12Allows, if federal funds are sufficient, districts in addition to Baltimore and Prince George's County to apply to department for grants to participate in the Maryland Educational Opportunity Summer Pilot Program. Extends pilot program through June 30, 2007. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/hb/hb1370t.rtf
Title: H.B. 1370
Source: mlis.state.md.us

MDSigned into law 07/2002P-12Establishes tobacco tax as well as special fund to dedicate tobacco tax revenues for education funding. Monies are to 1) provide unrestricted grants to districts; 2) assist local lead agencies and Baltimore City under the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program; and 3) provide funding for adult education and literacy services. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0856e.rtf
Title: S.B. 856
Source: mlis.state.md.us

CASigned into law 06/2002P-12Allows Fresno Unified School District to apply for a waiver from certain regulations so as to allow the district to use designated funds for pupils at Cooper Middle School performing below basic or far below basic in math and reading on the California Standards Tests an instructional day 60 minutes longer than at other middle schools in the district instead of offering supplemental instructional programs the monies were originally intended to provide. Cooper Middle School may also offer an instructional day 60 minutes longer than at other district middle schools to students who have scored above below basic on the math and reading portions of the California Standards Tests. Includes parental opt-out, which requires that children be placed in a regular program at another district middle school. Program must be evaluated by state superintendent and reported on to general assembly by December 31, 2004. Section repealed as of January 1, 2005. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1251-1300/ab_1285_bill_20020621_chaptered.html
Title: A.B. 1285
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

COSigned into law 06/2002P-12Creates the School-Readiness Child Care Subsidization Program on and after January 1, 2003, which program offers three-year school-readiness subsidies to county departments of social services to increase the school readiness of children age 5 and younger enrolled in the Colorado child care assistance program or enrolled at a child care facility. A county department is eligible to apply for funds if it has in its boundaries one or more neighborhood elementary schools rated "low" or "unsatisfactory" in the state accountability system. Creates a voluntary school-readiness rating system to evaluate the services provided by a child care provider to prepare children for elementary school. County-level pilot site agency community is designated as recipient of subsidation applications. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/F453E914F9BF456F87256B22004BB389?Open&file=1297_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1297
Source: www.leg.state.co.us

MOSigned into law 06/2002P-12Requires districts to have reading programs for kindergarten through grade three that are based on scientific research. The programs must contain five elements, one of which is phonics. Explicit systematic phonics, as defined in the bill, is permitted as part of the program.
Title: H.B. 1711
Source: House Research Stafff Summaries

AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12Requires diagnostic assessment of a child's reading proficiency before instruction; requires teaching of phonics; permits multiple reading instruction curricula by each school district and charter school.
Title: H.B. 2465
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

COSigned into law 05/2002P-12Expands the Summer School Grant Program to provide funding to school districts for the operation of intensive literacy and reading comprehension education services to students preparing to enter the first grade who scored at an unsatisfactory level on the kindergarten reading readiness assessment. Only schools providing full-day kindergarten are eligible to apply for grant funds. The department is encouraged to apply for "No Child Left Behind" funds to help support the program. Bill also reduces the funds available to qualifying schools in the teacher pay incentive program for low-performing schools. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/FAB1CA6943E47F8F87256B3C004D317E?Open&file=1304_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1304
Source: www.leg.state.co.us

COSigned into law 05/2002P-12Establishes a Family Literacy Education Grant Program within the Department of Education; permits local education providers to apply for grants in order to provide family literacy education, adult literacy education or English language literacy education. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/749A738EBAEFDEC587256B3E0082C23B?Open&file=1303_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1303
Source: www.leg.state.co.us

DESigned into law 05/2002P-12Before enactment of this legislation, this subparagraph banned any 3rd-, 5th- or 8th-grader scoring Well Below the Standard on the state reading assessment from being promoted to the next grade unless the student participated in a summer school program and attained a proficient-level score on the state reading assessment before the start of the new school year. The subparagraph now states that a 3rd-, 5th- or 8th-grader scoring Well Below the Standard on the state reading assessment may not be promoted to the next grade unless he/she attends a summer school program and scores at Below the Standard or above on the state reading assessment before the start of the next school year and, if the student at the end of summer school scores at Below the Standard, the student's parents/guardian and the district agree upon an individual improvement plan. In addition, a separate subparagraph barred any 8th-grader performing Well Below the Standard on the state math assessment from being promoted to the next grade unless he/she attended summer school and attained a proficient score on the state math assessment before the beginning of the new school year. The new legislation changes this such that now no 8th-grader scoring Well Below the Standard on the state math assessment can be promoted unless he/she attends summer school and scores at Below the Standard or above on the state math assessment before the start of the new school year and, if the student performs at Below the Standard, the student's parents/guardian and the district agree on an individual improvement plan. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS141.NSF/vwLegislation/
Title: S.B. 322
Source: www.legis.state.de.us

MDSigned by governor 05/2002P-12Provides that if additional federal funding becomes available for the Maryland Educational Opportunity Summer Pilot Program, counties other than Baltimore County and Prince George's County are eligible to apply to the department for grants. Extends pilot program through Juned 30, 2007.
Title: H.B. 1370
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MDSigned into law 04/2002P-12Requires the department of education to distribute need- and performance-based grants for adult education. Adult education and -literacy grant funds under this program may be used for GED instruction, the Maryland Adult External High School Program, ESL, family literacy and basic skills and literacy instruction. Funding is as provided in state budget. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0737t.rtf
Title: S.B. 737
Source: mlis.state.md.us

IDSigned into law 03/2002P-12Amends existing law to define the students who shall be included in calculations relating to the reading assessment. Students counted must have attended at least 90% of school days between the fall and spring test administrations.
Title: S.B. 1412
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

UTSigned into law 03/2002P-12Specifies the duties, powers, and membership of a school community council and establishes a process for the selection of council members. specifies the duties, powers, and membership of a school community council; consolidates the school plan to improve student reading achievement and the School LAND Trust plan; Each school community council is to annually evaluate the school's U-PASS test results and use the evaluations in developing a school improvement plan. Each school improvement plan mustl: (a) identify the school's most critical academic needs; (b) recommend a course of action to meet the identified needs; (c) list any programs, practices, materials, or equipment that the school will need to implement its action plan to have a direct impact on the instruction of students and result in measurable increased student performance; and (d) describe how the school intends to enhance or improve academic achievement, including how financial resources available to the school, such as School LAND Trust Program monies received will be used to enhance or improve academic achievement. The school improvement plan shall focus on the school's most critical academic needs but may include other actions to enhance or improve academic achievement and community environment for students. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2002/bills/sbillenr/sb0167.htm
Title: S.B. 167
Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us

VASigned into law 03/2002P-12Amends the Standards of Quality to require, within the Standards of Accreditation, guidance counselors in elementary schools at the following staffing levels: one hour per day per 100 students, one full-time at 500 students, and one hour per day additional time per 100 students or major fraction thereof. In addition, elementary schools may employ one full-time reading specialist.
Title: H.B. 1136
Source: http://hod.state.va.us/welcome.htm

VASigned into law 03/2002P-12Directs the Board of Education, in making selections for basal textbooks for reading in kindergarten through third grade to establish a minimum decodability standard based on words that students can correctly read by properly attaching speech sounds to each letter to formulate the word at seventy percent or above for such textbooks. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+ful+CHAP0421
Title: H.B. 794
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

WASigned into law 03/2002P-12Repeals student improvement goals provisions, includes reading and mathematic goals. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2001-02/Senate/5800-5824/5823-s_sl_03272002.txt
Title: S.B. 5823
Source: www.leg.wa.gov

CASigned into law 01/2002P-12Intensive reading instruction is to be offered four hours per day for six continuous weeks during the summer or when school is not regularly in session. Due to facilities constraints or for other educational reasons, a school district may offer intensive reading instruction before school, after school, on Saturdays, or during intersession, or in a combination of summer school, before school, after school, Saturday, or intersession instruction. Services may be provided to pupils during the regular instructional day if the instruction is delivered by a certificated employee, provided that the employee is not the pupil's regular classroom teacher, and does not result in the pupil being removed from regular classroom instruction. Other service providers should have appropriate training in the teaching of reading. A school district that operates a program pursuant to this article is not required to provide a meal or snack to pupils participating in the
program.
Title: A.B. 804
Source: California Legislative Web Site

+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ 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--Expulsion/Suspension
+ School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools
+ 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--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--Transportation
+ Service-Learning
+ Special Education
+ Special Education--Finance
+ Special Education--Placement
+ 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--Employment
+ Students--Records/Rights
+ Teaching Quality
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative
+ 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--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--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--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban