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
CASigned into law 10/2003P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Requires the Secretary of State to provide voter registration forms and information to students in all high schools, community colleges, and campuses of the University of California and California State University. Provides that a voter's name would be deleted from the permanent absent voter list only if he or she fails to return an absentee ballot for any statewide general election. Relates to signatures on such ballots. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0551-0600/ab_593_bill_20031011_chaptered.html
Title: A.B. 593
Source: California Legislative Web site

ILSigned into law 07/2003P-12Requires the State Board of Elections and State Board of Education to jointly develop a program for K-12 students in participating school districts in participating counties to vote in a simulated election conducted at actual polling places with volunteers and private funding in conjunction with the general election; requires both Boards to develop and offer an educational component of the program and rules. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=30
Title: H.B. 30
Source: Illinois Legislative Web site

ALIssued 06/2003P-12Designates the American Village Citizenship Trust Statewide Educational Center and Classroom Laboratory in American History, Civics, and Government, as created by §16-44A-30 as the state's American History and Civics Initiative. Creates and charges the American Village Cornerstone of Liberty Commission to work jointly with the Board of Trustees of The American Village Citizenship Trust:

1. To attain the goal for Alabama to educate and inspire its students in critical academic areas of American history and civics, as a foundation for building good citizens.
2. To help invite and host local, state, regional, and national leaders at national ceremonies to lay the "Cornerstone of Liberty" at the American Village Citizenship Trust.
3. To review and make recommendations to secure state and national private and public support for the Cornerstone of Liberty American History and Civics Initiative of The American Village Citizenship Trust, which has as its goal to educate and inspire 100,000 students on-site annually at the state's American history and civics classroom, and also to reach hundreds of thousands of other students in their own local classrooms through a voluntary classroom outreach program in American history and civics, with the mission to help students know American history, cherish the ideals of liberty, and serve our country as good citizens.
4. To recommend other ways in which Alabama can help respond to the call to action issued by United States President George W. Bush, and to help lead this country in a return to the principles set forth by our Founders, that knowledge of American history and civics is an essential foundation for good citizenship.

http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/ex-08-2003-06-05.asp
Title: Executive Order 2003-08
Source: http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov

COSigned into law 06/2003P-12Creates a requirement for the daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance in each public school in the state. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/92F78D48B9E0622D87256D09006210EF?Open&file=1368_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1368
Source: Colorado Legislative Web site

COPassed 06/2003Postsec.Concerns the importance of history and civic education at the college level. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/DC1C87A2F74B970D87256CBC0064C346?Open&file=HJR1027_enr.pdf
Title: H.J.R. 1027
Source: Colorado Legislative Web site

CTSigned into law 06/2003P-12Establishes an official state-wide student voter registration drive; encourages students to learn about civics and participate in the democratic process. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=646&which_year=2003&SUBMIT.x=14&SUBMIT.y=13
Title: S.B. 646
Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site

CTSigned into law 06/2003P-12Encourages student to participate in the election process by serving as poll workers. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00108-R00SB-00647-PA.htm
Title: S.B. 647
Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site

MESigned into law 06/2003P-12Implements the recommendations of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Increases the council membership from 21 to 22, increasing appointments by senate president from 10 to 11, thereby increasing from one to two the appointees who are senate members.
Establishes a legislative co-chair and youth chair for the council. Establishes procedure for selection and term length of each chair. Requires the state education commissioner, secretary of state and director of the office of substance abuse to develop recommendations to establish a permanent youth advisory committee in the executive branch to serve as a resource for any state agency charged with developing, implementing or enforcing policies that relate specifically to youth. These recommendations are to be reported to the legislative youth advisory council.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billdocs/LD075101.doc
Title: H.P. 557
Source: www.mainelegislature.org

MESigned into law 06/2003P-12(House Resolve) Establishes the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education. Commission is to be comprised of three senate members, three house members, and 10 governor appointees representing different levels of the education community. Requires the commission to study: 1. The extent to which citizenship education, including service learning, is currently included in the visions, missions, values and practices of Maine school administrative districts and institutions of higher education; 2. The extent to which existing preservice and in-service professional development programs for educators address citizenship education; 3. National models for educational continua that cover preschool through college with the potential for preparing Maine students to be active and engaged citizens; and 4. Models for involving students and giving them a voice in the governance of our institutions and providing opportunities for student engagement and leadership. Requires the commission to report its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the legislature by December 3, 2003.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billdocs/LD042501.doc
Title: H.P. 333
Source: www.mainelegislature.org

MOSigned into law 06/2003P-12Requires every school to devote a period of time equal to one class period to an observance that conveys the meaning and significance of Veterans Day. Requires such observance to take place on or as close as possible to Veterans Day. Requires the local board, in consultation with the administrators of each school in the district, to determine the activities which will constitute the required observance.
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/03info/billtext/tat/sb325.htm
Title: S.B. 325
Source: www.senate.state.mo.us

IASigned into law 05/2003P-12Eliminates language allowing schools to use phase III funds to establish character education programs. 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

IASigned into law 05/2003P-12Makes appropriation from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund for various initiatives, including for a $400,000 grant to a program that utilizes high school mentors to teach life skills, violence prevention, and character education in an effort to reduce the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00600/HF00685/Current.html
Title: H.F. 685
Source: www.legis.state.ia.us

MNSigned into law 05/2003P-12Effective 2003-04 school year and thereafter, requires recitation of the pledge of allegiance in all public schools, including charter schools, at least once a week. Allows a local board or charter school board of directors to waive this requirement by annual majority vote, and allows board waiving requirement to adopt district or school policy on recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Allows any student or teacher to opt out. Effective 2004-05 school year and thereafter, requires district or charter school that has a student handbook or school policy guide to include a statement that anyone wishing to opt out of recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance for any personal reasons may do so, and that students must respect another person's right to make that choice.

Effective 2003-04 school year and thereafter, unless local board waives requirement of weekly recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, requires districts to provide instruction in the proper etiquette, display, and respect of the United States flag, and in patriotic exercises. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/getbill.pl?session=ls83&version=latest&session_number=0&session_year=2003&number=sf287
Title: S.F. 287
Source: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us

TXSigned into law 05/2003P-12Added a new objective to the list of objectives of public education. OBJECTIVE 5: Educators will prepare students to be thoughtful, active citizens who have an appreciation for the basic values of our state and national heritage and who can understand and productively function in a free enterprise society. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=00319&VERSION=5&TYPE=B
Title: H.B. 319
Source: StateNet

TXSigned into law 05/2003P-12Requires the board of trustees of each school district to provide for the observance of one minute of silence during each school day at each school in the district. Also requires local boards to require require students, once during each school day at each school in the
district, to recite the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag and the pledge of allegiance to the state flag. On written request from a student's parent or guardian, a school district must excuse the student from reciting a pledge of allegiance.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=00083&VERSION=5&TYPE=B
Title: S.B. 83
Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

TXSigned into law 05/2003P-12
Postsec.
Relates to the display of the United States national motto in public elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.
Title: H.B. 219
Source: StateNet

TXSigned into law 05/2003P-12Directs the Texas Education Agency and the state board to adopt and promote a virtues education program and to provide school districts with materials and support to assist in the program's implementation; and that the virtues education program include age-appropriate curricula and educational material and be structured to provide instruction beginning in kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=CR&BILLSUFFIX=00073&VERSION=5&TYPE=B
Title: H.C.R. 73
Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

ARSigned into law 04/2003P-12Requires the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by all public school students. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2388.pdf
Title: H.B. 2388
Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site

ARSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.Creates a program for college students to participate in the election process as poll workers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1487.pdf
Title: H.B. 1487
Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site

COSigned into law 04/2003P-12Makes satisfactory completion of a course on federal and state civil government a requirement of high school graduation in the state; directs each school district board to convene a community forum periodically to discuss adopted standards in civics and graduation requirements. http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl2003a/sl_159.htm
Title: S.B. 36
Source: Colorado State Web site

IASigned into law 04/2003P-12Local boards or heads of a nonpublic school may require service learning units for a service learning endorsement on a high school diploma or as a condition of graduation (in Iowa, all high school graduation requirements are determined at the district level). Also requires local boards and authorities of nonpublic schools to consider recommendations from the appointed school improvement advisory committee (which must exist in every district in Iowa) to implement character education in the curriculum. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00100/HF00180/Current.html
Title: H.F. 180
Source: http://www.legis.state.ia.us

ARSigned into law 03/2003P-12Creates Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools on the last full week of classes in September. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2756.pdf
Title: H.B. 2756
Source: State legislative web site

ARSigned into law 03/2003P-12Requires public school districts to allow and encourage teachers to read or display documents of American or state history. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/SB57.pdf
Title: S.B. 57
Source: State legislative web site

KYSigned into law 03/2003P-12Requires all public high schools to observe Veterans Day as established in this section. Requires a class period on Veterans Day or on one of the five school days before Veterans Day to be devoted to observance of Veterans Day; observance requires students to attend a Veterans Day program approved by the principal and which is comprised of a teacher and a veteran speaking on the meaning of Veterans Day. Encourages public high schools to contact the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs and veterans' service organizations, including but not limited to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, for advice on developing their Veterans Day program. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/03RS/HB303/bill.doc
Title: H.B. 303
Source: StateNet

UTSigned into law 03/2003P-12This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's public elementary and secondary schools to promote character and citizenship education through an emphasis on teaching civic responsibility and respect for others. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2003/bills/hbillenr/hcr007.pdf
Title: H.C.R. 7
Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us

UTSigned into law 03/2003P-12The pledge of allegiance to the flag must be recited at the beginning of the day in each elementary public school and once a week at the beginning of a school day in each public secondary school in the state. http://bb.utahsenate.org/perl/bb/bb_find.pl
Title: S.B. 105
Source: StateNet

VASigned into law 03/2003P-12Directs the state board to establish criteria for awarding a diploma seal for excellence in civics education and understanding of the state and federal Constitutions and the democratic model of government for the standard and advanced studies diplomas.
Title: H.B. 1503
Source: StateNet

VASigned into law 03/2003P-12Amends the two uncodified Acts of Assembly requiring the posting of the National Motto in public schools to add the required posting of the text to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, along with the statement, The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Title: H.B. 2140
Source: StateNet

VASigned into law 03/2003P-12Modifies the current character education requirement to require instruction in what is designated as the Virginia Statement of Values; requires school boards to provide for the posting of the Virginia Statement of Values in each public school classroom in which civics, social studies, history, or government instruction occurs; provides that school boards may accept cash or in-kind contributions to meet this requirement.
Title: H.B. 1498
Source: StateNet

ARSigned into law 02/2003P-12Creates a program for high school students to participate in the election process as poll workers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1028.pdf
Title: H.B. 1028
Source: State legislative web site

+ 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
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+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
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+ No Child Left Behind
+ No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress
+ No Child Left Behind--Assessment
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+ No Child Left Behind--Finance
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+ Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning
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+ P-16 or P-20
+ P-3
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+ Postsecondary
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+ Postsecondary Faculty
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+ Postsecondary Finance
+ Postsecondary Governance and Structures
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+ Postsecondary Online Instruction
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+ Public Attitudes
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+ Teaching Quality
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+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds.
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education
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+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay
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+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools
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+ Urban--Governance