ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2004 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 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
+ 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
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning
+ Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping
+ 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
+ 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
+ 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
+ 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
ILSigned into law 12/2004P-12Speech-Language Pathology License
S.B. 2395
Amends the School Code. Amends requirements for a speech-language pathologist who provides speech- language pathology services pursuant to a...

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ALEmergency Rule Adoption 11/2004P-12Definitions
AAC 660-5-26-.01
Establishes rules allowing special education services staff employed by the Alabama Department of Education or local school system to provid...

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MARule Adoption 11/2004P-12School Finance Regulations
603 CMR 10.00
Amends rules to implement changes in the process used to calculated special education reimbursements under the so called 'circuit breaker' p...

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MISigned into law 11/2004P-12Special Education and ISDs
H.B. 5839
Clarifies and limits duration of intermediate school district millages to fund special education and vocational education; relates to the li...

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NJSigned into law 10/2004P-12School District Scholarship Foundation
A.B. 2257
Permits a school district that terminates the operation of a separate school for special education pupils and returns all funds legally uwed...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12School Placement for Special Education Students
A.B. 42
Requires the written decision of a state hearing regarding the school placement of individual with exceptional needs to include the reasons ...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Early Intervention Services
A.B. 2909
Requires the State Department of Education to conduct a study of the current methods of providing special instruction and other services to ...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Special Education: Mental Health Services
S.B. 1895
Relates to referral of a pupil suspected of needing mental health services to a community health service by a local education agency, provid...

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CAVetoed 09/2004P-12Special Education: Visually Impaired Pupils
A.B. 662
Creates the Advisory Task Force for Education of Blind and Visually Impaired Pupils to provide input to formulate the most effective policy ...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Teacher Credentialing: Internship Programs
A.B. 2286
Existing law authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, until January 1, 2008, to issue district intern credentials authorizing
per...

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CAVetoed 09/2004P-12Instructional Materials: Electronic Format
A.B. 1010
Requires, with exceptions, a publisher that makes basic instructional materials available to a school district in a hard copy format to also...

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CAVetoed 09/2004P-12Autism Resource Center Office
A.B. 857
Establishes within the Department of Developmental Services, an Autism Resource Center office, to serve families by designating a single age...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12
Postsec.
Special Education Students
A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions)
Prohibits a licensed children's institution and a residential care facility from requiring, as a condition of admission or residency, that a...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Funding for Special Needs Students
A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions)
In provision that adjusts funding for pupils with exceptional needs based on an incidence multiplier for each special education
local plan a...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Special Education in Private Schools
A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions)
Require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to conduct an investigation onsite at any time without prior notice when there is substanti...

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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12Nonpublic Schools Serving Special Education Students
A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions)
Requires a master contracts with nonpublic, nonsectarian schools for the provision of special education and related services to include that...

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IAAdopted 09/2004P-12Requirements for Special Education Endorsements
282 IAC 15.3
Modifies the requirements for the director of special education. Clarifies the authorization to include the 'director of special education o...

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IAAdopted 09/2004P-12Requirements for Special Education Endorsements
282 IAC 15.3
Modifies the requirements of the special education consultant. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Rules/Current/iac/282iac/28215/28215pp7.pdf...

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NYSigned into law 09/2004P-12Students With Disability Services
A.B. 11203
Requires requests for boards of education to furnish services to students with disabilities enrolled in nonpublic schools to be submitted wi...

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CASigned into law 08/2004P-12Pilot Program: Special Education Teacher Preparation
S.B. 1621
Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to participate in a pilot program, which may include the San Joaquin County Office of Educa...

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ILSigned into law 08/2004P-12Special Education Reimbursement
H.B. 4225
Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that reimbursement for individual students with disabilities whos...

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ILSigned into law 08/2004P-12Qualified Teachers
H.B. 6906
Provides that if a school district has a shortage of highly qualified teachers, as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, or a sho...

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MERule Adoption 08/2004P-12Early 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)...

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ALEmergency Rule Adoption 07/2004P-12Individualized Education Program/IEP
AAC 290-8-9-.05(10)(d)
Establishes rules amending language to include the requirements for the Alabama Occupational Diploma. ALABAMA REG 6717 (SN)...

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CASigned into law 07/2004P-12Teacher Credentialing: Special Education
A.B. 2171
Authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue a two-year services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services...

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CASigned into law 07/2004P-12Behavioral Interventions
A.B. 2845
Provides that a person recognized by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst qualifies as a ...

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CASigned into law 07/2004P-12Special Education
A.B. 152
Makes various revisions generally conforming State law with federal requirements relating to pupil identification, assessment and eligibilit...

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LASigned into law 07/2004P-12Medicaid Reimbursement to Schools
S.B. 493
Abolishes the Medicaid School-Based Administrative Claiming Trust Fund and provides for direct reimbursement of monies to public school boar...

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MASigned into law 07/2004P-12
Postsec.
School Building Assistance Program
H.B. 4978
Relates to the School Building Assistance Program; provides for grants, investments, trusts and bonds; creates the School Building Authority...

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MSRule Adoption 07/2004P-12Assessment of Students with Disabilities
IIIB-3
Establishes rules regarding assessment of students with disabilities. Provides that the information contained within the guidelines for test...

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CASigned into law 06/2004P-12Special Education: Due Process Hearing
A.B. 2362
Provides that the hearing officer may not base a decision solely on nonsubstantive procedural errors in due process hearings, for the resolu...

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FLSigned into law 06/2004P-12Deaf and Blind School
S.B. 2918
Requires the Auditor General to conduct audits of accounts and records of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind; provides that the schoo...

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LASigned into law 06/2004P-12Special Education Advisory Panel
H.B. 213
Shifts authority for appointing special education advisory panel members from the department of education to the state board. Requires the ...

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LASigned into law 06/2004P-12Special Education
H.B. 258
Specifies that children with exceptionalities enrolled in state-operated facilities and receiving special education services provided by the...

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MTRule Adoption 06/2004P-12Special Education
ARM 10.16.3136
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL STAFF QUALIFICATIONS   (1)   Any teacher providing special education and related services to students with di...

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MDSigned into law 05/2004P-12School for the Blind
H.B. 741
Requires local education agencies to notify the parents or guardians of blind or visually impaired children, including children with multipl...

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MDVetoed 05/2004P-12State School for the Blind
S.B. 174
Requires local education agencies to notify the parents or guardians of blind or visually impaired children, including children with multipl...

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MESigned into law 05/2004P-12Preschool 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 c...

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MESigned into law 05/2004P-12Educational Funding and Property Tax Relief
S.P. 761
The bill provides that by fiscal year 2009-10 the state share of kindergarten to grade 12 education funding, as described by essential progr...

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MNTo governor 05/2004P-12Human Services
H.F. 2277
Relates to human services; makes changes to licensing provisions; regulates child protection dispositions; clarifies a mental health case ma...

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MSSigned into law 05/2004P-12Exceptional Children
H.B. 1366
Establishes the following provisions pertaining to reimbursement of costs for students with disabilities placed in private facilities:

Aut...

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WYEmergency Rule Adoption 05/2004P-12Special Education Staffing and Funding
Chapter 35
Adopts rules pertaining to the requirements for adequate special education staffing levels. Adjusts the foundation program formula for speci...

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AZSigned into law 04/2004P-12Exempted Child Care Programs in Schools
H.B. 2031
Concerns child care programs; concerns programs exempted from certain provisions; includes professional services rendered for mentally or ph...

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KYSigned into law 04/2004P-12Statute of Limitations on IDEA Violation Administrative Hearings
S.B. 115
Requires that a request for an administrative hearing alleging a violation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act be com...

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KYSigned into law 04/2004P-12Children With Disabilities
H.B. 10
Provides that an exemption from compulsory attendance student may be granted to 1) a child certified by specified professionals to have a ch...

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LAAdopted 04/2004P-12Implementation of Children with Exceptionalities Act
LAC 28:XLIII.373, 449, 517, 519, 904
Adopts rules relating to the removal of the declassified Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and related definitions. Clarifies the resp...

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LAAdopted 04/2004P-12Curricular Design for Exceptional Students
LAC 28:I.901
Repeals rules that address alternate assessment and curricular design for students with disabilities in special schools. Provides consistenc...

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MDSigned into law 04/2004P-12Transitioning Students with Disabilities
H.B. 988
Amends Division of Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Education responsibilities with county boards of education about transition ...

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MDSigned into law 04/2004P-12Positive Behavioral Interventions
H.B. 1288
Requires a county board of education and the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore City to require elementary schools with a suspension...

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MESigned into law 04/2004P-12Developmental Disability Reporting
H.P. 1437
This bill, which implements the recommendations of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, amends the reporting requirements for the D...

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MNSigned into law 04/2004P-12Education
S.F. 2609
Relates to education; includes a mental health community representative on a community transition team for youth with disabilities.

http://...

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MSRule Adoption 04/2004P-12Special Education Teacher Unit Methodology Revision
(Uncodified)
Amends rules concerning a special education teacher unit methodology revision. Incorporates data retrieved electronically through the Missis...

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VASigned into law 04/2004P-12Financial and legal responsibility for special
H.B. 1047
Relates to financial and legal responsibility for special education students with disabilities placed across jurisdictional lines by social ...

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ALEmergency Rule Adoption 03/2004P-12Student Assessment Required for High School Diploma
AAC 290-4-2-.02
Allows students with disabilities who fail one portion of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and meet certain other criteria to receive...

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MARule Adoption 03/2004P-12Comprehensive Assessment System Performance Appeals
603 CMR 30.00
Amends rules relating to the Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) performance appeals process, and incorporates provisions regarding stude...

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NMSigned into law 03/2004P-12Educational Bill of Rights
H.B. 186
Relates to education; enacts the Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing Children's Educational Bill of Rights....

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NYSigned into law 03/2004P-12Electronic Copies of Instructional Materials
A.B. 9837
Requires publishers and manufacturers of instructional materials for students to provide electronic copies of such material for use by disab...

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RIRule Adoption 03/2004P-12Special Education Services
(Uncodified)
Establishes rules to provide that every youth in the system with a disability is entitled to free appropriate public education. RHODE ISLAND...

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UTVetoed 03/2004P-12Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarships
H.B. 115
Creates a program to award scholarships to students with disabilities who attend a private school; specifies criteria for qualifying for a s...

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WASigned into law 03/2004P-12Early Intervention for Deaf Children
H.B. 2765
Establishes an advisory council on early interventions for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families....

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MORule Adoption 02/2004P-12Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
5 CSR 70-742.140
Establishes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is eligible to apply for and receive federal funds under the Individuals wi...

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MORule Adoption 02/2004P-12Missouri's Services for Infants and Toddlers/Disability
5 CSR 70-742.141
Establishes rules describing Missouri's services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. MISSOURI REG 14733 (SN)...

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SDSigned into law 02/2004P-12State Special Education Payment
S.B. 48
Revises the per student allocation for each disability level for the purposes of calculating the payment of state aid to special education....

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SDSigned into law 02/2004P-12Electronic Textbook Versions
H.B. 1221
Requires certain school book publishers to provide electronic versions of textbooks suitable for conversion into Braille....

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+ 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
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ 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