ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2003 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 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
+ Counseling/Guidance
+ 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--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges
+ 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
+ Mentoring/Tutoring
+ 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
+ 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
CASigned into law 10/2003Community College
Postsec.
Community Colleges: Part-time Faculty
A.B. 654
Expresses the intent of the Legislature and various policy preferences of the Legislature with respect to part-time community college faculty. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_654_bill_20031012_chaptered.html...

More...
CASigned into law 10/2003P-12
Community College
Postsec.
Concurrent Enrollment: High School & Community College
S.B. 338
Relates to concurrent enrollment of high school students at community colleges on a part-time basis. Requires concurrent enrollment courses to meet certain requirements in order for a community college district to include students in the district's report of s...

More...
ORSigned into law 09/2003Community College
Postsec.
Advanced Technology Education and Training
S.B. 272
Relates to education; creates new provisions; appropriates money; limits expenditures; creates the Advanced Technology Education and Training Fund; appropriates moneys continuously to the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development for grants an...

More...
ILSigned into law 08/2003Postsec.
Community College
Public Community College Board
S.B. 1980
Amends the Public Community College Act to provide for the election of board of trustee members by trustee district rather than at-large. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1980&GAID=3&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=4997&SessionID=3...

More...
NYSigned into law 08/2003Postsec.
Community College
Reducing the Terms of Board of Trustees
S.B. 301
Reduces the terms of community college boards of trustees from a maximum of nine years to seven years....

More...
ILSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.
Community College
Academic Employees of Community College
H.B. 1457
Amends the Educational Relations Act to provide that an academic employee of a community college who provides less than 3 credit hours of instruction per academic semester is not an educational employee within the meaning of the Act. http://www.legis.state.il...

More...
ILSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Federal Trust Fund
S.B. 1375
Amends the Public Community College Act. Creates the ICCB Federal Trust Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that money recovered from federal programs for general administration that are received by the Illinois Community College Board shall...

More...
NCSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community Colleges
S.B. 773
Authorizes community colleges to enter into public/private partnerships for construction projects....

More...
ORSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.
Community College
State Board of Education
H.B. 2193
Allows the Board of Education to submit questions of community college district boundary changes to electors of affected territories; requires the board to submit community college boundary changes to the Legislative Assembly for approval....

More...
AZLine item vetoed 06/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Budget Reconciliation Education
H.B. 2534
Creates budget reconciliation for education and includes the following provisions: Prohibits the State Board of Education from sponsoring additional charter schools in FY 2003-04, and requires the State Board for Charter Schools to provide oversight for existi...

More...
CASigned into law 06/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Temporary Employees
S.B. 955
Prohibits service in professional ancillary activities by persons employed as temporary community college faculty, including, but not necessarily limited to, governance, staff development, grant writing, and advising student organizations, from being used for ...

More...
FLSigned into law 06/2003P-12
Community College
Postsec.
Charter Schools
H.B. 55-A
Requires emphasis on reading; requires certain accountability measures; eliminates the limitations on the number of charter schools per school district; authorizes community colleges to operate charter schools that provide students with the option of receiving...

More...
FLSigned into law 06/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
School Board Member Employment
S.B. 958
Revises options for participants in the Community College Optional Retirement Program; revises certain limitations on positions for which district school boards may employ members after specified period of retirement; revises payroll contribution rates for def...

More...
NYEmergency Rule Adoption 06/2003Postsec.
Community College
Responsibilities and Duties of the University Trustees
NYCRR 8 604.5
Establishes rules concerning a uniform process by which the chancellor engages in an orderly and thorough review of a situation at a community college threatening the college's viability to determine what action, if any, should be taken by the State University...

More...
TXSigned into law 06/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
High School Completion, Pilot BA Degree Program
S.B. 976
Requires districts to analyze information related to dropout prevention. Sec. 29.908. MIDDLE COLLEGE EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM requires: (a) The commissioner shall establish and administer a middle college education pilot program for students who are at risk...

More...
TXSigned into law 06/2003Postsec.Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
S.B. 286
Relates to the continuation and functions of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Addresses membership, procedures, conflict of interest, common course numbering, success initiative (Sec. 51.3062. SUCCESS INITIATIVE: Requires institutions to asses...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Property Tax Assessment and Levy Increases
S.B. 1331
Prohibits a community college district, county, city, or town from levying or assessing primary property tax rates higher than the prior year if its governing board failed to comply with Truth in Taxation (TNT) noticing and hearing requirements.  It also would...

More...
AZSigned into law 05/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Governance; Student Organizations
S.B. 1105
States student political organizations may conduct lawful meetings on community college property, except to influence elections as provided by current statute. Continues the transfer of authorities and responsibilities of the State Board of Directors for Commu...

More...
IAAdopted 05/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Faculty Licensure
281 IAC 21.3(1)
Updates rules governing community college faculty planning. Eliminates the state licensure requirement for community college faculty in lieu of each college developing a faculty plan. Eliminates the state licensure requirements for community college faculty th...

More...
IDSigned into law 05/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Facilities
H.B. 396
Authorizes the State Building Authority to receive contributions from community college districts and to rent, lease, sell or sublease to community college districts; requires approval of the Legislature prior to financing facilities for community college dist...

More...
ARSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.
Community College
College and Technical Institute Study Committee
H.B. 2844
An act to create the two-year college and technical institute study committee. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2844.pdf...

More...
IASigned into law 04/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community Colleges Teachers and Administrators Defined
H.F. 341
Specifies that a "teacher" in a community college includes anyone who is an instructor, but does not include an adjunct instructor; a librarian, including anyone who is a learning resource specialist or a media specialist; or a counselor.
http://www.legis.stat...

More...
KSSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.
Community College
Evaluation of Community College Employees
S.B. 82
Requires full-time community college employees to undergo the following evaluations: During the first two consecutive years of employement, the employee must be evaluated at least once a semester, unless the employee does not work for the complete semester. D...

More...
MSVetoed 04/2003P-12
Postsec.
State Personnel Board
H.B. 773
Removes the repeal on the State Personnel Board; provides that the State Board of Education may increase the salary of the State Superintendent of Public Education upon the approval of the State Personnel Board. Exempts state superintendent of education from ...

More...
NMSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.
Community College
Work Force Skills Development Fund
H.B. 394
Creates the "work force skills development fund" in the state treasury. Provides matching funds for community college programs. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0394.pdf...

More...
WASigned into law 04/2003Postsec.Community College Apprenticeship Programs
H.B. 1061
The legislature finds that (1) Apprenticeships are very rigorous and highly structured programs with specific academic and work training requirements; (2) There is a misperception that apprenticeships are only for noncollege bound students; and (3) The state s...

More...
AZSigned into law 03/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community Colleges
S.B. 1211
Concerns expenditure limitations for community colleges, override ballots and add property tax....

More...
NMSigned into law 03/2003Postsec.
Community College
Work Force Training Act
H.B. 160
Creates the Work Force Training Act and the Work Force Skills Development Fund; provides for customized training at community colleges and matching funds....

More...
ARSigned by Governor 02/2003Postsec.
Community College
County Tax for Community Colleges
H.B. 1019
Requires a county sales tax levied for maintenance and operation of any technical college, two-year college, community college or satellite campus of a community college to be distributed directly to the college.http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003...

More...
NESigned into law 02/2003Postsec.
Community College
Community College Boards of Governors Candidates
L.B. 15
Provides for automatic nomination of candidates for community college boards of governors....

More...
+ 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
+ Remediation (K-12)
+ 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
+ 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