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
+ 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
MISigned into law 12/2002P-12School Construction Liability
S.B. 670
Clarifies liability for certain school construction projects; provides that the architect or engineer preparing the plans and specifications...

More...
CASigned into law 09/2002P-12Library Materials Act
A.B. 1781
Repeals certain provisions of the California Classroom Library Materials Act of 1999. Authorizes a school district to use funding from the I...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Temporary Prohibition on Forming or Entering Existing Joint Technological Education Districts
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Establishes moratorium from November 30, 2002 until June 30, 2004 on creation of new joint technological education districts unless specifie...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Lease-to-Own Facility Finance Programs
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Creates new sections permitting 1) school facilities board to acquire school facilities to permit local districts to use through a lease-to-...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Deficiencies Corrections Deadlines and State Schools for Deaf and Blind
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
States that dates by which actions must be completed do not apply to the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind. Requires that sch...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Duties of School Facilities Board
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Requires that school building inspection carried out by school facilities board every five years ensure compliance wtih routine preventative...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Auditor General
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Eliminates provision in statute that requires school-wide audit team in the office of the auditor general to randomly audit each school dist...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Minimum Adequate Gross Square Footage Requirements
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Makes addition to subsection forbidding local board to reduce pupil square footage when such action would cause the district to fall below m...

More...
AZBecame law without governor's signature 06/2002P-12Minimum School Facility Adequacy Requirements
Omnibus--H.B. 2710
Estabishes specific circumstances under which excess square footage in new construction may not be included in the gross square footage. Als...

More...
COSigned into law 06/2002P-12Criminal Background Checks
H.B. 1459
Expands inquiry process at nonpublic schools from applicants to include employees of such schools. If nonpublic school employee is subject o...

More...
KSSigned into law 06/2002P-12District Aid for Consolidated Districts
S.B. 551
Concerns certain school districts and the computation of state financial aid; relates to powers and duties of schools and school districts; ...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12School District Boundary Adjustments
H.B. 2084
Allows the governing boards of a unified school district, adjacent common and union high school districts to authorize minor boundary adjust...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12School District Insurance
H.B. 2198
Relates to school district insurance; permits public agencies to jointly purchase workers' compensation, property and liability insurance or...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12Minor District Boundary Adjustments
H.B. 2084
Allows the governing boards of a unified school district, adjacent common and union high school districts to authorize minor boundary adjust...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12School District Unification and Consolidation Commission
S.B. 1180
Establishes state-level school district unification and consolidation commission; establishes required membership and duties. http://www.azl...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2002P-12School Closure Community Meetings
S.B. 1180
Requires thirty days' written notice to all parents of students at school board is considering closing prior to community meeting on closure...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Education Facility Survey
S.B. 20E
According to state legislative summary, "To ensure that educational facilities information used by the legislature is accurate, [section] is...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Personnel Nominations
S.B. 20E
Allows school boards more time to decide on personnel nominations when the Legislature adjourns before May 31....

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Proposed School Site on Contaminated Land Prohibited
S.B. 20E
New section forbids building of K-12 school on or adjacent to known contaminated site unless action has been taken to ascertain that student...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Community Education Coordinators Eliminated
S.B. 20E
Eliminates subsection allowing districts to employ community education coordinators to promote, coordinate, organize, and administer communi...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Education Code Re-Write: District, Community College, and University Uniform Records and Accounts
S.B. 20E
Requires state department rules re: accounts and financial records of districts, community colleges and universities to adhere to the requir...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Relocatable Classrooms
S.B. 20E
Eliminates date for purgation of certain relocatable classrooms and establishes system by which districts may obtain permission to continue ...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12Education Code Re-Write: Summer Food Programs for Low-Income Pupils
S.B. 20E
Creates new section mandating that districts report to the department by February 1, 2004 on their participation in federal summer food serv...

More...
FLSigned into law 05/2002P-12
Postsec.
Education Code Re-Write: Small Schools
S.B. 20E
To reduce the anonymity of students in large schools, encourages local boards to adopt policies to encourage any school that does not meet t...

More...
ALSigned into law 04/2002P-12Pay Increases for Public Education Employees
H.B. 340
Relating to the salaries of public education employees, to provide for a revision of the State Minimum Salary Schedule and to reflect pay in...

More...
HISigned into law 04/2002P-12Licensing of School Bus or Van Operators
H.B. 2580
States that a school bus or van operator shall be properly licensed to operate the category of vehicles that the operator operates as a scho...

More...
LASigned into law 04/2002P-12Probationary Period of Non-Teaching Employee
S.B. 35A
Reinstates provisions providing for the probationary period of a school employee who is promoted in a school system with a population of 425...

More...
LASigned into law 04/2002P-12District Consolidation
S.B. 65A
Allows parish governing authorities to consolidate certain precincts; relates to the redistricting and reapportionment of a parish, city, or...

More...
MDSigned into law 04/2002P-12District Purchasing of Goods or Commodities
S.B. 480
Authorizes a county board to participate in contracts for goods or commodities awarded by other public agencies or intergovernmental purchas...

More...
MDSigned into law 04/2002P-12Bidding for Goods or Commodities
H.B. 492
Authorizes a county board to participate in contracts for goods or commodities awarded by other public agencies or intergovernmental purchas...

More...
MDSigned into law 04/2002P-12Montgomery County Redistricting
H.B. 712
Redistricts the Board of Education districts of Montgomery County; alters compensation received by the president; does not apply to incumben...

More...
MSSigned into law 04/2002P-12School District Reapportionment and Consolidation and Reconstitution
S.B. 2864
Establishes rules for district reapportionment or consolidation; addresses composition of governing boards of reconstituted districts. http:...

More...
IASigned into law 03/2002P-12District Reorganization
S.B. 2260
Relates to the reception or dissolution of area education agencies....

More...
IDSigned into law 03/2002P-12Funding for Border Districts
S.B. 1363
Relates to public school students attending school in another state by deleting language which is in conflict with the border district allow...

More...
IDSigned into law 03/2002P-12School Abatement
S.B. 1434
Amends existing law to clarify requirements for the abatement of unsafe or unhealthy conditions in school buildings; defines a serious safet...

More...
KSSigned into law 03/2002P-12Closure of School Buildings in Certain Districts
S.B. 394
Allows any school district to close any of its school buildings at any time the district's board of education finds that the building should...

More...
MESigned into law 03/2002P-12
S.B. 733
Creates a study group to study school administrative unit organization; provides that the group shall study the history of formation of dist...

More...
NMSigned into law 03/2002P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Learning Center Districts
H.B. 307
A learning center district may be established in a school district or community college district upon adoption of a resolution by the local ...

More...
WASigned into law 03/2002P-12Health Care Plans Available
H.B. 2536
Gives the health care authority to publish and distribute to nonparticipating school districts and educational service districts by October ...

More...
ALSigned into law 02/2002P-12Redistricting According to 2000 Census
S.B. 187
Divides the state into State Board of Education districts; specifies such districts based upon the 2000 federal census....

More...
NMVetoed 02/2002P-12Redistricting District Boundaries
H.B. 153
A school district with membership that is greater than thirty-five thousand students is required to redistrict. The state board must adopt a...

More...
IDSigned into law 01/2002P-12Elections on Proposed Closures of Secondary Schools
S.B. 1485
Provides that in proposed closure of public secondary schools which are thirty miles or more distant from another public secondary attendanc...

More...
+ 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