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From the ECS State Policy Database 2004 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 2004. 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--School Improvement Adult Basic Education Assessment Assessment--Accommodations Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim Assessment--High Stakes/Competency Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization) Assessment--Performance Based/Portfolio Assessment--Value Added 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--Charter Districts 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--Excusal Curriculum--Family Living Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Multicultural Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Data-Driven Improvement Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Education Research Equity Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Aid to Private Schools Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries 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--Nutrition Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses Health--Suicide Prevention Health--Teen Pregnancy High School High School--Advanced Placement 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--Problem Based Learning Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate 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 Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School 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--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers 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 Brain Development P-3 Child Care P-3 Content Standards and Assessment 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 CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Kindergarten Scheduling A.B. 2407 Authorizes a school district that is implementing an early primary program to maintain kindergarten classes at different school sites within the district for different lengths of time during the school day. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/a... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Preschool for All Program A.B. 712 Requires the California Children and Families Commission to complete and submit a cost study that provides an estimate of the cost of a voluntary Preschool for All program in the state. Convenes a Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee to develop a workfo... More... MI Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 State School Aid Act S.B. 885 Relates to the State School Aid Act of 1979; allocates funds for grants to intermediate districts to provide programs for parents with preschool children to improve school readiness and foster the maintenance of stable families by encouraging positive parentin... More... IA Issued 08/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College IOWA LEARNS COUNCIL Executive Order No. 30 - 2003 Creates the IOWA LEARNS COUNCIL. The Iowa Learns Council shall work towards the ambitious goal of 90% of Iowa children having a quality pre-school experience, and 90% of Iowa high school graduates will go on to complete at least two years of college; shall pro... More... ME Rule Adoption 08/2004 P-12 Early Intervention and Special Education for Children 05-071-180 Establishes rule to allow parents of preschool children with disabilities who are already receiving free appropriate public education (FAPE) services from Child Development Services and who turn five between September 1st and October 15th to choose not to enro... More... HI Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Two-tier Kindergarten Program and Kindergarten Entrance Age S.B. 17 Establishes a junior kindergarten and kindergarten program in the department of education; establishes a pilot program for the 2005-2006 school year; requires the establishment of the program in all public elementary schools beginning with the 2006-2007 school... More... LA Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Extended Kindergarten For Disadvantaged Children S.B. 301 Subject to appropriation, creates the Kindergarten Plus pilot program of classes, at least one in each of the state's eight regional service districts, of extended kindergarten for disadvantaged children from the 2005-06 through the 2007-08 school year. For p... More... CO Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Childhood School Readiness H.B. 1277 Changes the name of the Child Care Commission to the Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission; modifying the responsibilities of the commission. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/64CD1EC1E0B64CA787256DB0004CB158?Open&file=1277_en... More... CT Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 School Readiness Programs H.B. 5690 Concerns school readiness; relates to the state encouraging the development of a network of school readiness programs; relates to the funding of such programs by eligible providers by the Department of Education. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2004/act/Pa/2004PA-0... More... MD Rule Adoption 05/2004 P-12 Standards for Kindergarten Programs COMAR 13A.03.01, .01, .04, 13A.03.02, .01-.12 Proposes rules regarding standards for kindergarten programs and graduation requirements for public high schools. MARYLAND REG 9845 (SN)... More... ME Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Preschool Handicapped Children S.P. 801 Amends applicable statutes and instructs the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to amend rules to clarify that a child who is already receiving free, appropriate public education services through the Child Development Services System ... More... NE Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Compulsory Attendance Ages L.B. 868 LB 868 changes the mandatory ages for compulsory education. From the fiscal note: Currently, ages are from age 7 through age 15. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, children will be required to attend school if they will reach the age of 6 by January 1st of ... More... WV Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Early Childhood Education H.B. 4043 Establishes the priority for early childhood education in the basic skills of reading, mathematics and English language arts.... More... SC Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 02/2004 P-12 Student Readiness Determination H.B. 3871 (Joint Resolution) Approves regulations of the Board of Education; relates to minimum standards for the determination of student readiness.... More... SD Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Kindergarten Standards S.B. 67 Requires school districts to offer kindergarten and to require content standards for kindergarten. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2004/bills/SB67enr.htm... More... AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Student Assessment and Educational Accountability Act of 2004 - Readiness S.B. 33 § 1 Amends Ark. Code § 6-15-404. Requires the state board of education and the state department of education to develop and implement a school readiness screening to validate a child's school readiness when a student enters kindergarten or an developmentally appro... More... AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Postsec. Student Assessment and Educational Accountability Act of 2004 - P-16 S.B. 33 § 10 Adds Ark. Code 6-15-2201. Requires postsecondary education to report on the readiness of high school students for higher education; the state board of education shall require schools and districts to develop strategies to improve student readiness for postseco... More... 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--Teaching Assistants Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Religion Remediation (K-12) Rural Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Code of Conduct School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault 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--School Size 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--Homeless Education Special Populations--Military Standards Standards--Implementation State Comparisons/Statistics State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Ballot Questions State Policymaking--Constitutional Clauses 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 Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban