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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 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 GA Adopted 11/2004 P-12 Adopt-A-School Bus Pilot Project GAC 391-3-21-.10 Submits a grant regarding the Georgia Adopt-A-School Bus Pilot Project and the Clean School Bus USA Grant.... More... IL Total Veto Stands. 11/2004 P-12 Speed Limits for School Buses S.B. 2374 Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides for maximum speed limits for vehicles of specified weights and school buses inside and outside urban areas except where otherwise authorized. ... More... MA Signed into law 11/2004 P-12 Governor Amendment of Supplemental Budget Section 30 H.B. 5083 Contains the text of a Governor amendment of Section 30 of the House bill numbered 5076 which relates to state reimbursement for school transportation for certain persons admitted to a day school in another municipality. Does not provide transportation of a pe... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Drivers' Certificates: Medical Examination A.B. 1812 Relates to existing law which requires applicants for an original or renewal certificate to drive a schoolbus, school pupil activity bus, youth bus, general public paratransit vehicle, or farm labor vehicle to submit a physician's report. Allows, as an alterna... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Transportation: Wireless Telephone A.B. 2785 Makes it an infraction to drive a schoolbus or a transit vehicle while using a wireless telephone. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to a driver who is using the wireless telephone for work-related purposes, or for emergency purposes, including, bu... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Home-to-School Transportation A.B. 1253 Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to examine home-to-school transportation funding formulas and determine how current formulas should be modified to allow school districts and county offices of education to initiate new transportation programs ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Home-School Transportation A.B. 2462 Authorizes, commencing with the 2006-07 fiscal year, home-to-school transportation programs to receive a state funding increase in lieu of an inflation or cost-of-living increase. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2451-2500/ab_2462_bill_20040824_enroll... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Air Pollution: Schoolbus Idling at Schools A.B. 2644 Codifies regulations adopted by the State Air Resources Board that establish toxic control measures to limit schoolbus idling and idling at schools. Makes any violation subject to civil and administrative penalties and specifies the maximum civil penalty and t... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Motor Vehicles: Commercial A.B. 3049 Requires person operating a schoolbus to possess a valid commercial driver's license with a passenger endorsement and be issued a schoolbus driver's certificate. (see SEC. 4 and 5) http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_3001-3050/ab_3049_bill_20040930_chapt... More... DE Rule Adoption 09/2004 P-12 School Transportation 14 DAC, Section 1105, 1.0 - 22.7 Amends regulation by adding a new section that includes the responsibilities of non-public, non- profit schools for the administration of their transportation systems under the rules and regulations of the Department of Education. Amends other regulation in or... More... MO Emergency Rule Adoption 09/2004 P-12 School Bus Inspection 11 CSR 50-2.320 Adds rules regarding the inspection of frames on school buses. Specifies out-of-service criteria in buses in need of repair. MISSOURI REG 15080 (SN)... More... NY Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 School District Transportation Laws S.B. 4772 Provides that the transportation of pupils by a school district in child safety zones shall be considered regular aidable transportation; eliminates expiration of and makes permanent provisions of the education law providing for the transportation of pupils in... More... NY Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Safe Routes to School Program A.B. 10057 Relates to establishing the safe routes to school program by the Department of Transportation; provides that money provided by the federal government pursuant to section 152 of title 23 of the United States code be given to localities, through the state Depart... More... IL Signed into law 08/2004 Community College Postsec. Transit Ridership: Low-Income Student Access H.B. 2587 Adds to the list of programs to be funded with the West Central Transit District. Provides for routes, vehicle purchase and Community College Coordination projects. Provides for discounted bus passes. Increases mobility for low income students in certain coord... More... DE Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Cell Phone Use by School Bus Drivers S.B. 174 Prohibits school bus drivers from talking on cell phones while operating school buses while the vehicle is in motion and transporting one or more children; provides that cell phone communications can be made to and from a central dispatch, school transportatio... More... MI Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Signal Light Requirements H.B. 5969 Amends the Pupil Transportation Act to revise the number and color of signal lights on school buses; requires compliance with federal and state safety standards. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/publicact/pdf/2004-PA-0231.pdf... More... MT Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 School Finance and Transportation ARM 10.7.101,.109 thru .111,.115,.118;10.10.202,.309,.316, .320, .611, .614; 10.15.101; 10.20.102, .106; 10.21.101B thru .102E (non-seq),10.22.102 thru .30.403 (non-seq) Establishes rules relating to school finance and transportation. MONTANA REG 4551 (SN)... More... AR Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Specifications Governing School Bus Design ADE 175 Establishes rules regarding the specifications governing school bus design. http://arkedu.state.ar.us/pdf/ade%20175%20school%20bus%20specs.pdf... More... CO Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 06/2004 P-12 Safe Routes To School H.B. 1309 Concerns the creation of A Safe Routes to School Program; directs the Department of Transportation to distribute federal funds to local governments to include projects that improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in school areas. http://www.leg.state.co... More... DE Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 School Bus Drivers: Communication Devices H.B. 379 Clarifies that school bus drivers can use a radio or telephonic communication device to make or receive calls for assistance. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS142.NSF/vwLegislation/... More... LA Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 School Buses H.B. 384 Provides relative to the use of visual stop indicator signals on school buses; includes requirements regarding when a school bus, which is not receiving or discharging passengers, meets or is following another school bus that has such signals activated. http:/... More... GA Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Safety on School Buses H.B. 1179 Relates to elementary and secondary schools, so as to provide that the offense of disrupting the operation of a public school applies to disruption of public school buses and established public school bus stops. Requires school buses to meet safety specificati... More... MO To governor 05/2004 P-12 School District Emergency Preparedness H.B. 1070 Allows for the adoption of emergency preparedness plans for the use during natural disasters or other community emergencies by school districts. 1. The board of education of each school district in this state is authorized to adopt an emergency preparedness p... More... TN Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 School Transport Seatbelt H.J.R. 953 Creates a special joint committee to study the need to require the use of seatbelts in all vehicles used to transport school children in Tennessee. This special joint committee, consisting of three Representatives and three Senators, shall report its findings ... More... ID Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Charter Schools S.B. 1443 Adds to and amends existing law relating to the public charter schools to provide transportation reimbursement for public virtual schools; clarifies computation of support units for charter schools formed by conversion of an existing traditional public school;... More... KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 School Bus Standards S.B. 124 Amends KRS 156.153 to require that school bus standards and specifications be set by the Kentucky Department of Education rather than by the Kentucky Board of Education; deletes obsolete language; amends KRS 189.540 to conform. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECOR... More... MD Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund H.B. 97 Alters the date by which the Secretary of State Police is required to report to the Governor and General Assembly on the status of the School Bus Safety Enforcement Fund; relates to drivers illegally failing to stop for school vehicles.... More... MD Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Operation of School Vehicles H.B. 356 Authorizes specified school vehicles to be operated for a specified amount of time; providing that school vehicles operating under a certain exception must be maintained under a certain preventive maintenance plan.... More... MS Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Bus Driver Compensation H.B. 1177 Relates to the State Board of Education; authorizes compensation for certain school bus drivers for expenses incurred when acquiring an initial or renewal of a commercial license to drive a school bus. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2004/html/HB/1... More... ID Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 School Transportation S.B. 1331 Amends existing law to provide for the State Board of Education's power and duty to authorize the supervisor of school transportation to conduct certain reviews and audits; sets priority for the selection of districts for reviews and audits; provides for the b... More... ID Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Transportation Safety Awareness License Plates S.B. 1311 Adds to and amends existing law to establish the Idaho School Transportation Safety Awareness license plate program; and to create the Pupil Transportation Support Program Fund with funds continuously appropriated to the state Department of Education to be use... More... ID Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 School Transportation S.B. 1344 Amends existing law relating to pupil transportation to provide that the current pupil transportation model contract developed by the State Department of Education shall be used; allows for addenda to meet local requirements; requires the submission of contrac... More... IN Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Special Purpose School Buses H.B. 1253 Allows a school corporation to use special purpose buses to provide regular transportation of school children from their residences to school and from one school to another school under specified situations. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2004/HE/HE1253.1... More... IL Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Transportation Costs H.B. 763 Allows reimbursement for allowable direct costs of transporting pupils for regular, vocational and special education. Relates to reimbursement for expenditures made to Regional Transportation, a mass transit district or an urban transportation district under a... More... SD Adopted, On November 2004 Ballot 02/2004 P-12 Provision of Certain Services to All Children HJR 1003/Constitutional Amendment B Proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election amendments to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota to authorize the provision of certain services to all children of school age. The Constitution allows the Legislat... 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--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