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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 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 IL Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Charter Bus Services S.B. 150 Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that a person may also operate a certain type of charter bus if he or she holds a valid school bus driver permit issued before a specified date. Relates to charter bus student transportation to or from interscholastic athletic... More... ND Rule Adoption 12/2003 P-12 Minimum Standards Required for Buses 67-12-01-01 Establishes rules regarding minimum standards required. Addresses all public school buses operated in North Dakota must meet the minimum body and chassis standards established or referenced in this chapter. NORTH DAKOTA REG 3678 (SN)... More... NJ Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Smoking on School Buses A.B. 3168 Prohibits smoking on school buses, even if students are not present; clarifies that the prohibition on smoking or carrying lighted tobacco on a bus or other public conveyance applies to school buses or other vehicle owned or contracted for by a public or nonpu... More... GA Adopted 11/2003 P-12 Instructional Extension GAC 160-4-2-.14 Clarifies rules regarding instructional extension, a state-funded instructional program beyond the regular school day to address the academic needs of low-performing students. Allows local school systems to spend up to 15 percent of the designated funds on tra... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Postsec. Community College 15-Passenger Vans A.B. 626 Makes legislative finding that 15-passenger vans are unsafe; declares the intent of the Legislature that all school districts, private schools, community colleges, and state universities should require such vans owned by these entities only be driven by a pers... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Transportation Cost Apportionment A.B. 1097 Amends existing law to reduce the annual mileage requirement for each county unified school district to be eligible for an additional annual apportionment for home-to-school transportation costs. Restricts eligibility for the additional annual apportionment to... More... GA Adopted 08/2003 P-12 Student Transportation Surveys; Cost Development GAC 160-5-3-.10; GAC 160-5-3-.11 Clarifies rules regarding student transportation surveys and standard cost development. Determines bus needs for allotment purposes, ascertains standard costs for allotment purposes, and uses allotments for student transportation. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_doc... More... IL Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Chartered and School Buses H.B. 2840 Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the School Code. Provides for chartered bus drivers under specified conditions. Provides that school boards have the power to enter into contracts for school bus services. Provides for fingerprint, drug tests and criminal b... More... NY Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Qualifications of School Bus Drivers S.B. 5582 Amends the education law relating to the qualifications of school bus drivers, monitors and attendants, in relation to the effective date of such act.... More... NY Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Private School Bus Drivers Safety Regulations S.B. 392 Applies the safety regulations of the commissioner of education presently applicable to public school bus drivers to private school bus drivers; requires that the chief administrator of a private school shall approve every school bus driver to ensure that each... More... IL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Stopped School Bus S.B. 311 Provides that a driver must stop his vehicle before meeting or overtaking, from either direction, a school bus stopped at any location for the purpose of receiving or discharging pupils and shall not proceed until the bus has resumed motion or the driver has s... More... NY Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 School Bus Attendants Training S.B. 5620 Requires school bus attendants to receive training relating to the special needs of pupils with a handicapping condition; provides that in addition, school bus attendants shall be required to pass a physical performance test.... More... AK Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 School Transportation S.B. 202 Relates to school transportation; relates to the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/pdf/23/Bills/SB0202B.PDF... More... FL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Bus Transportation S.B. 614 Relates to bus transportation; requires driving records of nonpublic sector bus drivers to be checked for suspended or revoked licenses; provides that private school students may ride on public school buses and public school students may ride on private school... More... LA Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Immorality Grounds for Dismissal of School Employees H.B. 778 Adds a charge of immorality as a cause for dismissal of a teacher, bus driver, or permanent employee; defines immorality as conviction of a felony offense against the public morals. http://www.legis.state.la.us/bills/byinst.asp?sessionid=03RS&billid=HB778&doct... More... LA Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 School Bus Drivers S.B. 141 Requires a restriction which limits a person to operating only a school bus; provides that such restriction shall apply to a person who has taken a skills test in a school bus and who has taken a skills test in a school bus and who has not previously held a co... More... IA Vetoed 05/2003 P-12 Removal of Contract Requirement for Part-Time and Substitute Bus Drivers H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Removes the contract requirement for substitute and part-time school bus drivers. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Session.1/HJournal/02200/02251.html and Section 51: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/cgi-bin/Legislation/File_only.pl?FILE=/usr/ns-home/docs/GA/8... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 School Bus Drivers Who Are Insulin-Dependent Diabetics H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Adds that school bus driver must be immediately suspended from duties, pending termination hearing by district board or authorities of nonpublic school, if a change in circumstances indicates the driver is no longer physically or mentally competent. Specifies... More... IN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Open Door Law S.B. 169 Allows a governing body in an executive session to receive information about misconduct and discuss the status of a school bus driver, who is an independent contractor, or a physician, before the governing body makes a determination; makes provisions regarding... More... ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Child Transportation H.P. 739 (LD 1018) Exempts from school bus inspection standards vehicles vehicles designed to carry 11 or more people, including the driver, driver, that meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards applicable to school buses, Medicaid-enrolled transportation providers who pe... More... KS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requirements for School Bus Drivers H.B. 2220 Amends the Uniform Commercial Drivers' Licensing Act. Creates new section allowing the driving skills test for a school bus endorsement to be waived until September 30, 2005 if the applicant is currently licensed, has experience driving a school bus, has a go... More... MS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 School Bus Drivers and Railroad Crossings/Highway Intersections S.B. 2587 Requires school bus drivers to open the service door and driver's window and listen for approaching trains upon approaching railroad crossings. Also requires school bus drivers, when approaching any highway intersection, to bring the vehicle to a complete stop... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 School Buses S.B. 132 Increases the stopping distance for school buses at railroad crossings to a range of fifteen to fifty feet from the nearest track.... More... NJ Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Screening For School Bus Drivers S.B. 795 Strengthens screening procedures for school bus drivers; provides for a driver's record check for any alcohol and drug related motor vehicle violations.... More... UT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Unauthorized School Bus Entry H.B. 74 Provides that entering a school bus to commit a crime or interfere with the driver, or refusing to leave a school bus upon the order of the driver is a misdemeanor; requires that each school bus be posted with entrance signs stating that unauthorized entry of ... More... VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Display of American Flag Decals in School Buses S.B. 987 Provides that Board of Education regulations addressing school buses shall include provisions for the display of decals depicting the flag of the United States on the sides and rear of school buses.... More... AR Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Cellular Phones and School Buses H.B. 1042 Prohibits a person from using a cellular telephone while operating a school bus. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1042.pdf... More... MT Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Passing School BusesSAME AS: LC0192 H.B. 112 Allows vehicles to pass school buses that are stopped to receive or discharge children in designated school bus turnouts; specifies the requirements necessary to designate a school bus turnout.... More... NJ Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 School Pupils on School Bus S.B. 384 Provides that school pupil may not be on board a school bus unless the bus driver or other employee of the school board or school bus contractor is also on board the bus; provides an exception when the bus driver leaves the bus to assist in boarding or exiting... More... SD Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Nonpublic School Student Transportation S.B. 224 Allows school districts to provide transportation to nonpublic school students if no additional public funds are expended to provide the transportation.... More... WY Adopted 02/2003 P-12 Cost-Based Block Grant Model - Transportation Chapter 20 Pertains to criteria and standards for determining eligible pupil transportation operation and maintenance costs, school bus fleet requirements, operational standards, and school bus purchase procedures used in calculating transportation amounts under the Cost... More... MA Signed into law 01/2003 P-12 School Bus Passing Penalty H.B. 4405 Increases the penalty for passing a school bus. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/seslaw02/sl020443.htm... More... 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