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
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+ Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements
+ Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
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+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
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+ 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
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+ 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
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+ School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation
+ Service-Learning
+ Special Education
+ Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations
+ Special Education--Finance
+ Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming)
+ Special Education--Placement
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+ Special Populations--Military
+ Standards
+ Standards--Implementation
+ State Comparisons/Statistics
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
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+ 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
LAAdopted 10/2004P-12Amends rules to add a requirement for demonstration of reading competencies by alternate teacher certification program completers. http://www.state.la.us/osr/lac/28v01/28v01.pdf
Title: LAC 28:I.903
Source: StateNet

CAVetoed 09/2004P-12
Postsec.
Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and, where appropriate, the State Department of Education, to incorporate into licensure requirements for teacher candidates, professional development requirements for renewal of licenses, and accreditation requirements for preparation programs components to ensure that teachers are capable of teaching children with diverse needs, ethnicities, nationalities, and
languages, of teaching children who bring particular challenges to the learning process, and of teaching in urban and rural settings.

Repeals provisions authorizing the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue or renew emergency teaching or specialist permits in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission and provided that certain conditions are met.

Authorizes the commission to issue or renew acute and anticipated emergency credentials, as defined. Requires an applicant seeking an emergency permit to meet specified criteria, including possession of a baccalaureate degree and passage of the state basic skills proficiency test. Provides that both types of permits shall be valid for only one year, except that the anticipated emergency permit may be renewed for
an additional year if the permitholder meets specified requirements.

Existing law requires that a person employed in a position requiring certification qualifications be classified on a salary schedule on the basis or uniform allowance for years of training and years of experience, as specified. This bill imposes a state-mandated local program by requiring the governing board of a school district to review its compensation policies and revise them as needed to ensure that the continuing professional education for which it grants salary credit is targeted to courses likely to yield clear benefit in terms of the pedagogical instructional leadership, management skills, or academic subject matter knowledge of its employees.]

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to eliminate waivers authorizing the assignment of a credentialholder to a position not authorized by the credential of the holder and that they be authorized only in cases where there is no other alternative but to fill the position with a 30-day substitute teacher. The bill would further express the intent of the Legislature that each teacher serving in a school ranked in the bottom 3 deciles of the Academic Performance Index possess a valid teaching credential authorizing the holder to provide the service to which the holder is assigned.

This bill would also express the intent of the Legislature that this act accomplish specified objectives, including, but not limited to, establishing professional development activities that reward exceptional teachers for continuing to render services in a classroom, collaborations among school districts, professional associations, and postsecondary educational institutions to develop and offer preparation and degree or credential programs that will prepare educational leaders, and that the California State University and the University of California develop technologically delivered professional development and coursework for teachers in geographically isolated areas.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0201-0250/ab_242_bill_20040827_enrolled.pdf
Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_242_veto.pdf
Title: A.B. 242
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

NMRule Adoption 08/2004P-12Relates to alternative licensure requirements.
Title: NMAC 6.60.3.1, .6, .8, thru 11
Source: StateNet

NDRule Adoption 07/2004P-12Establishes rules regarding interim licenses for teacher shortages. Addresses interim licenses for substitute teachers, provisional licenses, interim reciprocal licensure, trade, industry, technical, and health occupations interim license, interim licensure clinical practice option, and interim licensure of applicants with a bachelor's degree from a teacher education program approved by another jurisdiction.
Title: NDAC 67.1-02-04-01, -02 thru -08
Source: StateNet

FLSigned into law 06/2004P-12Relates to education personnel; provides for expunging of criminal history records of applicants for employment at certain education related offices; requires background screening for charter school employees and board members; amends requirements for admission to teacher preparation programs; authorizes programs providing experiences as teacher assistants prior to entering teacher preparation programs for individuals meeting specified criteria; creates teacher preparation institutes that provide professional development, instruction for substitute teachers, alternative certificate programs and establishes criteria for applicants; provides for the creation of guidelines for mentoring of first-time teachers and other programs geared toward the recruitment and retention of quality teachers; requires background screenings and fingerprinting of instructional and noninstructional hires or contractual employees who come in contact with students; specifies a school district's performance assessment may include criteria for assessment of instructional and administrative personnel and student performance; requires training in teaching of reading for certified personnel who teach students who have limited English proficiency; establishes qualifications, requirements and evaluation of substitute teachers; provides for educator discipline by the Education Practices Commission and the Department of Education; amends the Recovery Network Program that assists educators impaired as the result of alcohol abuse, drug abuse or a mental condition. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb2986er.html&Directory=session/2004/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Title: S.B. 2986
Source: Florida Legislative Web site

COSigned by Governor 05/2004P-12Concerns educator licensure. Provides requirements for authorization of adjunct instructor, special services intern, emergency applicant, temporary educator, substitute, teacher in residence, career and technical educator, school speech-language pathology assistant, educational interpreter, junior reserve officer training corps instructor, literacy instruction, principal authorization. Provides for issuance of licensures for alternative teachers, provisional teachers, and professional teachers. Provides for issuance of professional special services license, professional principal license, and professional administrator license. Authorizes school districts to develop and implement alternative principal programs to enable individuals from outside the education community to become school principals http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS2004A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/F2FA701F38C118DC87256DB0004D3883?Open&file=1104_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1104
Source: Colorado Legislative Web site

KYSigned into law 04/2004P-12
Postsec.
Specifies that there are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public schools because they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as demonstrated on a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, which characteristics are identified by empirical research as important attributes of quality teachers. Clarifies minimum grade point average and degree prerequisites for work experience-option candidates for the alternative teaching certificate. Adds that work experience-option candidate must possess academic major or passing score on the academic content assessment designated by the education professional standards board. Specifies that alternatively-certified "adjunct instructor" (in such areas as art, music, foreign language, drama, science and other speciality areas) cannot be designated "highly qualified" under the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Establishes two new options for alternative certification. 1): The "university alternative program" allows a university to offer an alternative program that enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently with employment as a teacher in a local district. Specifies the parameters of this certification.

2): The certification of a person in a field other than education to teach at the elementary, middle or high school level, which option must not be limited to teaching in shortage areas. Specifies the parameters of this certification.

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/04RS/HB152/bill.doc
Title: H.B. 152
Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us

MSSigned into law 04/2004P-12Provides that the Teach Mississippi Institute program for alternate route certification for teachers include a fall or spring semester option for non-education majors. Additionally, the bill provides that non-education majors will be eligible to participate in the William Winter Teacher Scholar Loan Program and that those licensed under the nontraditional teaching route will be eligible for awards under the Critical Needs Teacher Scholarship Program.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2004/pdf/SB/2700-2799/SB2712SG.pdf
Title: S.B. 2712
Source: StateNet

IDTemporary Rule Adoption - Concurrently Proposed 03/2004P-12Creates a consistent alternative route to teacher certification for individuals who have already completed college degrees. IDAHO REG 3799 (SN) http://www.idahoboardofed.org/rules/documents/ComputerBasedAlternativeRoute.pdf
Title: IDAPA 08.02.02
Source: Idaho State Web site

MSRule Adoption 03/2004P-12Creates a consistent alternative route to teacher certification for individuals who have already completed college degrees. MISSISSIPPI REG 9102 (SN)
Title: IDAPA 08.02.02
Source: StateNet

SDRule Adoption 03/2004P-12Establishes rules moving the implementation date of a curriculum rule back one year. Enables an individual licensed as a clinical psychologist to administer and interpret individual student psychological evaluations as long as he or she is employed by a psychiatric residential facility. Allows any coursework, renewal or college transcript, that a teacher completes by January 1, 2004, toward his or her next renewal to be honored. Creates rules for an alternative route to certification specific to the Teach for America Program, rather than requiring candidates for the program to have completed a bachelors degree two years prior to applying. SOUTH DAKOTA REG 3983 (SN)
Title: 24:03:06:06.05, 24:15:03:06, 24:15:05:01, 24:15:05:02, 24:15:05:03, 24:15:05:04
Source: StateNet

WASigned into law 03/2004P-12
Postsec.
Relates to residency teacher certification partnership programs; provides partnerships between school districts and state-approved higher education teacher preparation program to provide alternative routes programs.
Title: S.B. 6245
Source: StateNet

+ 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