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From the ECS State Policy Database 2003 State Policies / Activities

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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 2003. 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--Compulsory Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower) Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Cyber Charters Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Vouchers Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Multicultural Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Demographics Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal 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--School Boards--Training Governance--Site-Based Management Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies Health Health--Child Abuse Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses Health--Suicide Prevention Health--Teen Pregnancy High School High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment High School--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Homework/Study Skills Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay 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 Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure 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--Finance No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement 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 Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid MO Issued 12/2003 P-12 Postsec. Community College Commission on the Future of Higher Education Executive Order 03-07 The Commission of the Future of Higher Education was created by Executive Order 03-07 on March 17, 2003, with a final report due by January ... More... ME November 2003 Ballot 11/2003 P-12 Postsec. Postsecondary Scholarships Question 2 Citizen Initiative: Do you want to allow slot machines at certain commercial horse racing tracks if part of the proceeds are used to lower p... More... ME Rule Adoption 11/2003 Postsec. Higher Education Loan Program 94-457-615 Proposes rules regarding the Higher Education Loan Program. Provides rules that the Authority may not originate federally guaranteed student... More... AR Rule Adoption 10/2003 Postsec. Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Rules and Regs 008.10.3--002 Establishes rules regarding amendments to the rules of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program. http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elec... More... AR Rule Adoption 10/2003 Postsec. Arkansas Workforce Improvement Grant Rules Rules And Regs 008.10.3--001 Establishes rules regarding Arkansas Workforce Improvement Grant rules. http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/elections_pdfs/register/oct-03... More... CA Signed into law 10/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Aid: Grade Point Average S.B. 680 Relates to award of Cal Grants to older and returning adult students. Requires the Student Aid Commission to convene an existing advisory co... More... CA Vetoed 10/2003 Community College Postsec. Student Financial Aid: Eligibility S.B. 328 Requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to establish procedures and forms to enable persons, other than a non-i... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Aid: Cal Grant Program S.B. 728 Provides that any applicant who qualifies to be considered under the simplified needs test established by federal law for student assistance... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 Postsec. Postsecondary Education: Military A.B. 547 Grants to qualifying members of the National Guard, the State Military Reserve and Naval Militia academic leave when active duty interrupts ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Postsec. Governor's Scholarship Programs A.B. 1266 § 30 The Governor's Scholars Program and the Governor's Distinguished Mathematics and Science Scholars Program became inoperative July 1, 2003 an... More... LA Emergency Rule Adoption 09/2003 Postsec. Scholarship/Grant Programs LAC 28:IV.503, 507, 703 Establishes emergency rules amending the Scholarship/Grant programs to allow the Louisiana Office of Student financial Assistance and state ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2003 Postsec. Higher Education Student Grant Program H.B. 1119 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program to the Silas Purnell... More... LA Emergency Rule Adoption 08/2003 Postsec. Scholarship and Grant Programs LAC 28:IV.301, 507, 509, 701, 703, 705, 803, 805, 1701, 1703, 1705, 1903, 2103, 2105 Amends rules relating to the scholarship and grant rules. Provides definitions, application requirements, testing deadlines, provisions of... More... NC Signed into law 08/2003 Postsec. Community College Community College Students H.B. 223 Permits the State Board of Community colleges to use certain funds to provide financial assistance to students with disabilities referral by... More... WI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Postsec. Students Who Sound Taps A.B. 74 Under this bill, a student in grades 6 to 12 or at a University of Wisconsin (UW) System school, in–state technical college, or in–state, pr... More... HI Vetoed 07/2003 Postsec. Nursing Education Loan Program Established S.B. 748 Establishes a nursing education loan program to provide loans for eligible nursing students in an amount of up to $10,000 per student per ac... More... IL Signed into law 07/2003 Postsec. Scholarships H.B. 3274 Provides that each member of the General Assembly may annually nominate two students for scholarships at any state supported university (now... More... LA Signed into law 07/2003 Postsec. TOPS Scholarship Eligibility Requirements H.B. 1657 Concerns eligibility for Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship program. Specifies that current requirement that eligi... More... LA Signed into law 07/2003 Postsec. Qualified High School Students for TOPS H.B. 439 Changes from 2001-02 to 2003-04 the beginning year in which any student who meets all eligibility requirements can receive a performance rew... More... LA Signed into law 07/2003 Postsec. Tuition Opportunity Awards H.B. 549 Changes minimum ACT score for eligibility for the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship from 19 to 20. Statute already... More... AL Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Postsecondary and Higher Education Tuition H.B. 40 Relates to postsecondary and higher education' authorizes the State to pay the tuition of any qualified student pursuing a degree at any pub... More... AR Rule Adoption 06/2003 Postsec. Technical Careers Student Loan/Forgiveness Program Uncodified Establishes rules regarding Arkansas technical careers student loan forgiveness program. ARKANSAS REG 3469 (SN) http://www.work-ed.state.ar.... More... DE Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Student Loans H.B. 171 Relates to student loans; allows a student loan to be forgiven by the Secretary of Education if the person has a total and permanent disabil... More... FL Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Better Learning and Education Grant Program S.B. 638 Creates Access to Better Learning & Education Grant Program; provides legislative findings regarding education provided by for-profit colle... More... FL Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Scholarship Programs S.B. 354 Abolishes Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Testing Program. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBil... More... GA Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Hope Scholarships S.B. 244 Relates to postsecondary education, removes a restriction on tuition equalization grants for summer school; provides a limitation on the tot... More... IL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Community College FY2004 Budget Implementation (Education) Act S.B. 744 Creates the FY2004 Budget Implementation (Education) Act with the purpose of the Act to make changes relating to education that are necessar... More... ME Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Higher Education Loan PurchaseSAME AS: 1625 S.P. 579 Creates Higher Education Loan Purchase Program; allows the Governor to designate a State agency as a secondary market for higher education l... More... MO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Distribution of the Gaming Commission Fund H.B. 444 Alters the distribution of Gaming Commission Fund; provides funds for veterans facilities, the National Guard College Trust, early childhood... More... TX Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. B-On-Time Loan Program S.B. 4 Authorizes no-interest loans for eligible students to enable those students to attend all public and private or independent institutions of ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Texas Grant S.B. 1007 Currently, the TEXAS Grant program determines eligibility based on a student's final high school transcript. However, most students have al... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Commission for Postsecondary Education H.B. 2008 Establishes the Commission for Postsecondary Education for the purposes of reviewing postsecondary education institutions in order to determ... More... CA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Postsec. Education Finance S.B. 28 Repeals the Teacher Recruitment Initiative Program, administered by the Sacramento County Office of Education, which awards competitive gran... More... GA Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Student Finance Commission H.B. 551 Relates to postsecondary scholarships, loans, and grants; changes certain provisions regarding the Georgia Student Finance Commission and th... More... IN Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Aid Eligibility S.B. 117 Provides if a dependent student has resided with a caretaker relative other than the student's parent for at least 4 years, the student's el... More... MD Signed by Governor 05/2003 Postsec. Educational Excellence Awards H.B. 774 Requires at least a certain amount of funding for certain student financial assistance programs to be allocated to institutions of higher ed... More... ME Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. State Student Grant Program H.P. 950 Amends the State student grant program; provides a description of need for student financial assistance that is consistent with the definiti... More... ME Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Residents S.P. 108 (LD 326) This bill increases the number of foster care residents who are eligible for a tuition waiver at a state postsecondary educational instituti... More... TN Signed into law 05/2003 Postsec. Maximum Grants S.B. 1597 Relates to higher education; provides that the amount of the maximum grant for students enrolled at the eligible institutions of higher lear... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Postsec. Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program H.B. 1882 A high school student who graduates within 36 month or less is eligible to receive a grant of $1,000 toward tuition at any Texas public pri... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Division of Agriculture Special Licence Plate H.B. 2277 Provides for the issuance of a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture special license plate and to use funds for college scholarship... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Arkansas Army and Air National Guard H.B. 2480 Requires State funded colleges and universities to waive up to 25% of tuition costs for Arkansas Army and Air National Guard. ... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Postsec. Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program H.B. 1854 Amends the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program to give priority in awards to applicants agreeing to teach in subject matter area... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Out of State Tuition Paid H.B. 2746 Requires that out-of-state dental student tuition paid by the state of Arkansas be repaid if the student does not return to the state to pra... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Postsec. Minority Teacher Scholarship H.B. 2187 Amends the critical needs minority teacher scholarship program; creates a commission for selecting scholarship recipients. http://www.arkleg... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Arkansas Workforce Improvement Grant Program S.B. 882 Creates the Arkansas Workforce Improvement Grant Program; provides funding for collegiate level adult education.... More... ID Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Robert R. Lee Promise Scholarship S.B. 1134 Changes the name of the Idaho Promise Scholarship Program to the Idaho Robert R. Lee Promise Scholarship Program. http://www3.state.id.us/oa... More... ID Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Rural Physician Incentive Program H.B. 301 Creates a Rural Physician Incentive Program; provides for payments from an incentive fund financed with moneys from a surcharge on State sup... More... LA Emergency Rule Adoption 04/2003 Postsec. Exceptions to Initial and Continuous Enrollment Requirement in TOPS LAC 28:IV.2103 Specifies that the exception in the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) to the initial and continuous enrollment requirements fo... More... MT Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Collegiate License Plates Scholarship Donations H.B. 549 Increase scholarship donation for collegiate license plates from $20 to $30. http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2003/billhtml/HB0549.htm... More... MT Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Community College Educational Aid for Convicts Exonerated by DNA Testing S.B. 183 Provides educational aid to a convict exonerated of a crime by postconviction DNA testing. Specifies that "aid" under this section must incl... More... NM Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. Tuition Scholarships S.B. 377 Provides tuition scholarships for qualified individuals who attend a state educational institution within one year after completing high sch... More... CO Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Annual Allowable Cash Funds S.B. 189 Concerns the annual allowable cash funds for state supported institutions of higher education; adds funds received from student financial ai... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Reviewing the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship Program H.C.R. 141 In response to concerns about program effectiveness and fairness, directs the Interim Joint Committee on Education to study the five-year-ol... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Assistance S.B. 130 Relates to the Higher Education Student Loan Corporation, KHESLC; changes the definitions of eligible borrower, institution and lender to in... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Aid H.B. 40 Deletes references that prohibit the use of student financial aid funds, including Education Excellence Scholarship funds, for students who ... More... ME Rule Adoption 03/2003 Postsec. Maine College Savings Program 94-457-611 Implements the NextGen Scholarship programs. Eliminates all references to the Procedures and Guidelines. Makes other minor changes. http://w... More... MS Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Postsec. Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Incentive S.B. 2482 Expands applicability requirements of Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program from those intending to teach in geographical areas of the ... More... ND Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Assistance S.B. 2200 Spells out student ranking provisions as they relate to the student financial assistance and scholars programs. If two or more eligible stu... More... SD Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Regents Scholarship Program H.B. 1026 Establishes the regents scholarship program and makes an appropriation therefor.... More... UT Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Nonresident Tuition for Higher Education H.B. 75 Allows the board to grant scholarships for a waiver of the nonresident portion of total tuition charged by public institutions of higher edu... More... WV Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Eligibility for Higher Education H.B. 2051 Expands the eligibility for higher education adult part-time student grants.... More... NE Signed into law 02/2003 Postsec. Minority Scholarship Program Act L.B. 106 Provides for inclusion of associate degree program students under the Minority Scholarship Program Act.... More... 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--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Governance and Structures 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--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Purposes of Public Education Reading/Literacy Religion Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Week Scheduling/School Calendar--Year School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault School Safety--Special Education 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--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Special Education Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations Special Education--Finance Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming) Special Education--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Immigrant Education Standards Standards--Implementation State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Ballot Questions State Policymaking--Politics State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions 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--Employment Students--Mobility 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--Paraprofessionals Teaching Quality--Preparation Teaching Quality--Professional Development Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining--Strikes Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Internet Safety Textbooks and Open Source Urban--Governance