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
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+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive
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+ Adult Basic Education
+ Assessment
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+ Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization)
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+ No Child Left Behind
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+ P-16 or P-20
+ P-3
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- Reading/Literacy
GAAdopted 11/2003P-12Submits rules regarding the Reading First Program System Subgrant, which provides federal funds for scientifically based reading reform for eligible K-3 schools.
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.265
Source: StateNet

CASigned into law 10/2003P-12Prohibits the department of education and the state board of education from developing or implementing requirements or criteria making a local educational agency ineligible for funding for providing primary language instruction and comprehensive English language development instruction to English learners. Requires the state department of education to amend California's Reading First Plan to authorize local educational agencies operating programs in which English learners are not educated through sheltered or structural English immersion to apply for funding under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Requires the revised plan to specify that priority to specified federal funds be
given to programs meeting certain criteria. Prohibits the allocation of a specified appropriation made in the Budget Act of 2003 until the State Board of Education amends the Reading First Plan according to this act and submits it to federal authorities and the federal Secretary of
Education approves the plan. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1451-1500/ab_1485_bill_20031011_chaptered.html
Title: A.B. 1485 §§ 1 - 3
Source: California Legislative Web site

CASigned into law 09/2003P-12Repeals the English Language and Intensive Literacy Program, the Library Literacy Service and the Families for Literacy Program. Creates the English Literacy Program. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1251-1300/ab_1266_bill_20030929_chaptered.html
Title: A.B. 1266 §§ 5 - 6
Source: California Legislative Web site

OHSigned into law 08/2003P-12This section specififes that the following options available to districts under the third grad reading guarantee for students who receive a limited score on the third grade reading achievement test apply to special education students: (1) promotion to 4th grade if the principal and reading teacher agree that other evaluations of the stuent's work indicate that the student is academically prepared for 4th grade;. (2) promotion to 4th grade with "intensive intervention" in that grade, or (3) retention in 3rd grade.
Title: H.B. 3 -- Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Source: Digest of Enactments 2003

AZLine item vetoed 06/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
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 existing state board of education-sponsored charter schools during FY 2003-04;Repeals a FY 2002-03 transfer of monies to the Parental Choice for Reading Success Program and deposits the monies in the General Fund; Allows school districts and charter schools to complete the minimum number of instructional hours in less than 180 days; Repeals the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges (SBDCC), transfers any remaining SBDCC funds to the General Fund, applies this change retroactively to July 1, 2003, and requires the Legislative Council to prepare proposed legislation conforming the repeal of the SBDCC throughout statute. 
Title: H.B. 2534
Source: Arizona Legislation Web site

COSigned into law 06/2003P-12Modifies the eligibility criteria for children in grades 1 through 3 for purposes of the "Colorado Opportunity Contract Pilot Program" (HB03-1160) to require a child to have been continuously attending a public school during the previous school year and has been assessed below grade level on reading readiness or literacy and reading comprehension. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/4295E920CFF3C36387256D080063EA0F?Open&file=1369_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1369
Source: Colorado Legislative web site

COSigned into law 06/2003P-12Specifies that the general assembly intends for the Department of Education, for purposes of Colorado family literacy programs, to actively pursue all federal moneys for family literacy available through the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/B52289055A2999FE87256C87004BAD0F?Open&file=1173_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1173
Source: Colorado Legislative Web site

FLSigned into law 06/2003P-12Revises inservice training requirements for child care personnel; requires training in early literacy and language development; requires annual training and annual health and safety home inspection self- evaluation by family day care home operators; requires annual training of operators of large family child care homes, etc. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=2446&Chamber=Senate&Year=2003&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25202446%2D%3ESession%25202003
Title: S.B. 2446
Source: Florida Legislative Web site

FLSigned into law 06/2003P-12
Community College
Postsec.
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 an associates degree upon high school graduation and develop administrative fees charged by sponsor for provision of services; provides report to Governor; revises eligibility criteria for charter school capital outlay funding; provides allocation criteria for future said outlay appropriations. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=0055&Year=2003A&Chamber=House#BillText
Title: H.B. 55-A
Source: Florida State Web site

ILSigned into law 06/2003P-12Provides that the state board has the power and duty to improve the reading and study skills of children from grades 7 through 12 in school districts. Authorizes the state board to administer a Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. Provides how funds for the program shall be distributed to school districts and how funds shall be used by school districts. Requires the state superintendent to annually report to the General Assembly on the results of the program and the progress being made on improving the reading skills of student in grades 7 through 12. Effective July 1, 2003.
http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=381
Title: S.B. 381
Source: Illinois Legislative web site

NVSigned into law 06/2003P-12Revises provisions governing the regional training programs for the professional development of teachers and administrators and the Statewide Council for the Coordination of the Regional Training Programs. Amends NRS 391.544 to provide that through the Nevada Early Literacy Intervention Program established for the regional training program, training for teachers who teach kindergarten and grades 1, 2 or 3 on methods to teach fundamental reading skills, including, without limitation:
(1) Phonemic awareness;
(2) Phonics;
(3) Vocabulary;
(4) Fluency;
(5) Comprehension; and
(6) Motivation.
Also requires an evaluation of training. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/72nd/bills/SB/SB210_EN.pdf
Title: S.B. 210
Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us

OHRule Adoption 06/2003P-12Establishes rules pertaining to OhioReads classroom reading grant program. Specifies rule for giving public notice of hearings, notice of meetings. Provides definition of terms. OHIO REG 10572 (SN)
Title: OAC 3301:1-1-01, 02, 03, 04, 05
Source: StateNet

TXSigned into law 06/2003P-12Under current law, a school district is entitled to compensatory education funding to provide services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or who are at risk of dropping out of school. However, a school district is prohibited from using compensatory education funds for a program provided for dyslexic students under Section 38.003 (Screening and Treatment for Dyslexia and Related Disorders), Education Code. H.B. 1691 allows compensatory education funds to be used for accelerated reading programs for students at risk of dyslexia and for treatment programs for students who have been determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder. (From Bill Analysis, Senate Research) http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01691&VERSION=5&TYPE=B
Title: H.B. 1691
Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

IASigned into law 05/2003P-12Changes repeal date from 2003 to 2004 on chapter establishing statewide early intervention block grant program. Components of this program include K-3 class size reduction and K-3 diagnostic reading assessments. Chapter requires districts to annually report to the department their current class sizes for grades K-3. Chapter also requires districts to annually report to public the percentage of fourth-graders who are proficient in reading, and encourages districts to report to public on K-3 student reading proficiency. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/cgi-bin/Legislation/File_only.pl?FILE=/usr/ns-home/docs/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00500/HF00549/030508.html
Title: H.B. 549 (omnibus bill)
Source: www.legis.state.ia.us

IAVetoed 05/2003P-12Establishes a reading instruction pilot program for students in grades K-8, to be conducted in 2003-04 school year for any district or consortium of districts that meets minimum enrollment numbers. Requires the implementation of systematic intensive phonics reading instruction and direct instruction for students, and observance of National Institute for Literacy standards. Requires the program to offer teacher training and support as well as informal student assessment. Requires districts interested in participating to apply to the department, requires department to offer technical assistance in application submission and information regarding program objectives and operation, in addition to offering program implementation assistance to the district or districts selected. Establishes required components of district applications. Requires participating district(s) to report to the department at the end of the pilot program regarding the program's impact on student achievement, which results the department must report and make recommendations on to specified members of the legislature. See http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Session.1/HJournal/02200/02251.html and Section 69 and Section 71, subsection 3: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/cgi-bin/Legislation/File_only.pl?FILE=/usr/ns-home/docs/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00500/HF00549/030508.html
Title: H.B. 549 (omnibus bill)
Source: www.legis.state.ia.us

LASigned into law 05/2003P-12Clarifies that at least nine semester hours in the teaching of reading must be completed by anyone seeking certification at any level below the secondary level. Adds that candidates for teacher certification who have participated in any alternate teacher education program must be given the option of either completing the same number of semester hours as required for the teaching of reading for undergraduate program applicants or must possess the reading and literacy competencies identified in scientifically based reading research at the national level and approved by the state board of education for the teaching of reading.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/bills/byinst.asp?sessionid=03RS&billid=HB568&doctype=BT
Title: H.B. 568
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

WASigned into law 05/2003P-12A new section is added to chapter 28A.630 13 RCW. Creates the special services pilot program to encourage participating school districts to provide early intensive reading and language assistance to students who are struggling academically. The goal of such assistance is to effectively address reading and language difficulties resulting in a substantially greater proportion of students meeting the progressively increasing performance standards for both the aggregate and disaggregated subgroups under federal law. A maximum of two school districts may participate. Ends in 1997 (four years duration). http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/House/2000-2024/2012-s2_pl.pdf
Title: H.B. 2012
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov

CAEmergency Rule Adoption 04/2003P-12Establishes emergency rules concerning the Reading First Program, specifying how the amount of the grant for each approved subgrant application is calculated. http://www.cde.ca.gov/regulations/reading1stemereegs041803.pdf
Title: Title 5 CCR 11990
Source: California State Web site

NVTemporary Rule Adoption 04/2003P-12Amends rules concerning literacy standards for kindergarten and elementary school. NEVADA REG 3130 (SN)
Title: NAC 389.2433, 389.248, 389.2932, 389.29415, 389.299
Source: StateNet

NMSigned into law 03/2003P-12
Postsec.
Amends Section 22-2-2 (Z)(BB and CC) to require the state board to approve education curricula and programs
offered in all two-year public post-secondary educational institutions, except those in Chapter 21, Article 12 NMSA 1978, that lead to
alternative licenses for degreed persons or licensure for educational assistants; and (CC.) withhold program approval from a college of
education or teacher preparation program that fails to offer a course on teaching reading that: (1) is based upon current scientifically based
reading research; (2) aligns with state board-adopted reading standards; (3) includes strategies and assessment measures to ensure that beginning teachers are proficient in teaching reading; and (4) was designed after seeking input from experts in the education field.
http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0212MarkedUp.pdf
Title: H.B. 212 (Omnibus Bill)
Source: New Mexico Legislature

NMSigned into law 03/2003P-12Amends Section 22-8-43. The public school reading proficiency fund dollars are to be distributed to public schools that implement innovative, scientifically-based reading programs. (Changed from research-based.) Schools are required to show evident that they are using scientifically based reading research to improve proficiency. Section 22-13-1.3 amends design of reading initiative to also include scientifically-based reading research. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0212MarkedUp.pdf
Title: H.B. 212 (Omnibus Bill)
Source: New Mexico Legislature

ORAdopted 01/2003P-12Revises the reading endorsement content area and compentencies and amends rules to require completion of a reading program. Increases fees for the following: initial licensure, renewing licenses, adding endorsements, reinstating licenses, reinstating a suspended license, and revoked licenses. OREGON REG 23951 (SN)
Title: OAR 584-017-0170, 584-063-0055, 584-060-0061, 584- 065-0050
Source: StateNet

TXAdopted 01/2003P-12Proposes rules related to the reading specialist certificate and student services certificates. Specifies the rules for general provisions for issuance of the reading specialist certificate, minimum requirements for admission to a reading specialist preparation program, and transition and implementation dates. TEXAS REG 84539 (SN)
Title: 19 TAC 239.90 thru 239.95
Source: StateNet

TXAdopted 01/2003P-12Amends rules relating to the number of required continuing professional education hours by classes of certificates. Requires holders of the new standard reading specialist certificate to complete 200 hours of continuing professional education every five years in order to renew the certificate. TEXAS REG 84538 (SN)
Title: 19 TAC 232.851
Source: StateNet

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