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)
CASigned into law 10/2003P-12Teacher Certification and Dropout Prevention Programs
A.B. 841
Requires each outreach consultant utilized for purposes of a school- based motivation and maintenance program to possess a Dropout Prevention Specialist Certificate from a California State University. Requires a school- based motivation and maintenance program...

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CASigned into law 09/2003P-12Expulsions; Graduation Requirements; Special Education
A.B. 300
Revises the review day for expulsions; Provides that if a pupil completes algebra coursework in grades 7 or 8, the pupil is not exempt for the high school graduation requirement for algebra; Revises deadlines for individualized education programs; Includes oth...

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ILSigned into law 08/2003P-12Crime Prevention
S.B. 1107
Requires the Chicago Board of Education to establish a pilot program to prevent crime by developing guidelines to identify students at risk of committing crimes (limited to students who have engaged in serious acts of misconduct in violation of the board's pol...

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OHSigned into law 08/2003P-12State Public School Accountability System
H.B. 3--Section 3302.01
Creates the Ohio Accountability Task Force to study the state's accountability system (to make recommendations, periodically review fees for data analysis and reporting, periodically report to the department and state board, to examine the implementation of th...

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NHSigned into law 07/2003P-12Dropout Prevention and Recovery
H.B. 619
This bill establishes a dropout prevention and dropout recovery program in the department of education to provide a variety of services to high school students. The program is required to: (a) Provide and coordinate services designed to assist pupils in the su...

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RIBecame law without governor's signature 07/2003P-12Student Equity Investment Fund
H.B. 6055
Allocates moneys from the student equity investment fund based on each district's proportion of resident children eligible for USDA reimbursable school meals relative to the total number of eligible students statewide....

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CTSigned into law 06/2003P-12Special Education Services
H.B. 6391
Acknowledges and address special education needs of children in the juvenile justice system. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6391&which_year=2003&SUBMIT.x=14&SUBMIT.y=13...

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CTSigned into law 06/2003P-12Funding to Promote Children's Well-being
S.B. 886
Requires the State Prevention Council to determine long-term goals, strategies and outcome measures to promote the health and well being of children and families including; early intervention strategies, an increase in healthy pregnant women and newborns, a de...

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GASigned into law 06/2003P-12Child Abuse Records
S.B. 201
Relates to child abuse and deprivation records; permits the Department of Human Resources to share access to child abuse records and release information from such records to the Office of School Readiness, includes principals, guidance counselors, school socia...

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NHSigned into law 06/2003P-12Dropout Prevention
S.B. 116
Establishes a committee to study methods to prevent or reduce the high school dropout rate....

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TXVetoed 06/2003P-12Public School Dropouts
H.B. 1518
Having high school dropout rates affects the Texas economy and decreases not only the state's future tax revenues but also its ability to attract new business. Some believe that Texas' method of reporting dropouts has obscured the dropout problem, resulting in...

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TXSigned into law 06/2003P-12Public School Mentoring Services
S.B. 16
Authorizes each school district to provide a mentoring services program to students at risk of dropping out of school. The bill requires a district that provides a mentoring services program using compensatory education funds to meet standards adopted by the g...

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TXSigned into law 06/2003P-12School Dropout Data
S.B. 894
Requires the commissioner to develop a process for auditing school district dropout records electronically. The commissioner must also develop a system and standards for review of the audit or use systems already available at the agency. The system must be d...

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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...

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COSigned into law 05/2003P-12Juvenile Adjudication Proceedings
H.B. 1025
Allows the court to order a student with an individual education program to comply with this program as a condition of probation. The court must take into account the juvenile's intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior and emotional behaviors associated wit...

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INSigned into law 05/2003P-12Student Discipline
S.B. 186
Provides that a student who is expelled from a charter school is subject to the same requirements for enrollment in another school corporation as a student who is expelled from a public school or required to separate from a nonpublic school or a school in a st...

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MDSigned into law 05/2003P-12Children in Informal Kinship Care Relationships
S.B. 32
Defines "informal kinship care" as a child who is not under the care or custody of social services living with a relative due to serious family hardship. Defines "serious family hardship." Requires a district receiving a child living in an informal kinship car...

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MDSigned into law 05/2003P-12Residential Child Care Programs
S.B. 178
Defines "residential child care program" and specifies that group homes, alternative living units and emergency shelter care are classified as such. Requires a licensed operator of a residential child care program who receives state funding and who has legal c...

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NVSigned into law 05/2003P-12Training Programs for Teachers
S.B. 36
The governing body of a regional training program may facilitate and coordinate access to information by teachers and administrators concerning issues related to suicide among pupils. Such information must be offered for educational purposes only. Receipt of o...

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TNSigned into law 05/2003P-12Young At-Risk Students
S.B. 1975
Revises the criteria for determining at-risk children for pre-school and early learning programs from those "who live below the poverty line determined pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 9847" to those "who meet eligibility requirements identical to those met by sc...

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TNSigned into law 05/2003P-12Public School Dropout Rates
H.J.R. 19
Creates a special joint committee to study public school dropout rates in Tennessee. This special joint committee, consisting of 5 Representatives and 5 Senators, shall reports its findings and recommendations no later than February 1, 2004, at which time the
...

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TXSigned into law 05/2003P-12Relates to Public School Dropout and Completion
S.B. 186
Requires dropout rates, including dropout rates and district completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12, be computed in accordance
with standards and definitions adopted by the National Center for Education Statistics of the United States Department of Edu...

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AZSigned into law 04/2003P-12Students
S.B. 1238
Requires student level data for the Student Accountability Information System (SAIS) to include reasons for a withdrawal, if provided by the pupil or the parent or guardian of the pupil. The Arizona Department of Education must include data relating to student...

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COSigned into law 04/2003P-12School Attendance Law
H.B. 1226
Concerns a juvenile's right to counsel at proceedings under the School Attendance Law of 1963. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/C38AB5E15B8915CF87256CAB000098EF?Open&file=1226_enr.pdf...

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NMSigned into law 04/2003P-12Prevention Programs for the Youth
H.B. 700
Relates to juveniles; authorizes public support for public-private partnerships to develop after-school and other prevention programs for the youth of New Mexico; provides for fund distribution....

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COSigned into law 03/2003P-12Teen Pregnancy And Dropout Prevention
H.B. 1028
Concerns the continuation of the statewide pilot program for teen pregnancy and dropout prevention. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/2909E7C05A4AB41187256C87004DB7AE?Open&file=1028_enr.pdf...

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MSSigned into law 03/2003P-12Method of Reporting Graduation and Dropout Rates
H.B. 859
Requires the department to annually report graduation and dropout rates to the legislature in terms of grades 7-12 and grades 9-12 cohort groups, both by district and statewide. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/HB/0800-0899/HB0859SG.htm...

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+ 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
+ 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