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
- Religion
UTAdopted 09/2002P-12Requires Utah public schools to display the United States national motto, consistent with state law. UTAH REG 25218 (SN)
Title: R277-475
Source: StateNet

ILSigned into law 06/2002P-12Amends the Silent Reflection Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Allows students in the public schools to voluntarily engage in individually initiated, non-disruptive prayer that is not sponsored, promoted, or endorsed in any manner by the school or any school employee.
Title: H.B. 4117
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

SCSigned into law 06/2002P-12Authorizes the governing body of a school board or school district to adopt a policy that permits the use of a brief opening or closing message by a student at a high school graduation exercise; provides the conditions under which this message may be delivered; authorizes the governing body of a school board or school district to adopt a policy that permits the use of a brief opening or closing message by a student at athletic or other events.
Title: H.B. 4683
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Requires department to annually distribute to all local board members, superintendents principals and teachers the complete guidelines on "Religious Expression in Public Schools" published by the U.S. Department of Education. 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

MDSigned into law 05/2002P-12
Postsec.
Authorizes the Department of General Services to purchase materials, supplies and equipment on behalf of specified private elementary and secondary schools; prohibits the Departments of General Services from purchasing religious materials on behalf of a private elementary of secondary school or nonpublic institutions of higher education. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/hb/hb0779t.rtf
Title: H.B. 779
Source: mlis.state.md.us

OKSigned into law 05/2002P-12The each board of education is required to ensure that the public schools within the district observe approximately one minute of silence each day for the purpose of allowing each student, in the exercise of his or her individual choice, to reflect, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity that does not interfere with, distract, or impede other students in the exercise of their individual choices. The state Attorney General authorized to intervene in any legal proceeding to enforce the provisions of this act and shall represent any school district or employee named as a defendant.
Title: S.B. 815
Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/sb815_enr.rtf

LAVetoed 04/2002P-12Forbids any public elementary or secondary school student in Bossier Parish to be prohibited from participating in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer at any time before, during or after the school day as long as such prayer is nonsectarian, noncoercive, and nondisruptive. Requires that in the case of any challenge to the constitutionality of this section, all costs of the challenge must be borne by the Bossier Parish School System.
Title: H.B. 22A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

LASigned into law 04/2002P-12Requires that school prayer or meditation be silent.
Title: H.B. 13A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

OHSigned into law 04/2002P-12Permits the board of education of a school district to provide for a period of silence each school day for reflection or meditation upon a moral, philosophical, or patriotic theme; prohibits boards of education, schools, or employees of the school district from requiring a pupil to participate in such a period of silence; prohibits the board of education of a school district from adopting policies pertaining to religion or religious expression.
Title: H.B. 394
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ALSigned into law 03/2002P-12Urges the State Superintendent of Education and State Board of Education to encourage principals and teachers in public schools to display the national motto, "In God We Trust". http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2002rs/resolutions/sjr86.htm
Title: S.J.R. 86
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

VASigned into law 03/2002P-12Requires all school boards to post the statement, "In God We Trust, the national motto, enacted by Congress in 1956," prominently and in a conspicuous place, in each of their schools for all students to read. Governor's recommendations were to change language to "may" and preclude the use of private funds - use public funds only. Recommendations were rejected, however. Final language specifies that local boards have descretion to accept private funds to support. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+ful+CHAP0895
Title: H.B. 108, S.B. 608
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

+ 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