ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2005 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 2005. 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--Computer Based
+ Assessment--End-of-Course
+ Assessment--Formative/Interim
+ Assessment--High Stakes/Competency
+ 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
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts
+ 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--Tax Credits
+ Choice of Schools--Vouchers
+ Civic Education
+ Civic Education--Character Education
+ Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance
+ Class Size
+ Counseling/Guidance
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Censorship
+ Curriculum--Core Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Environmental Education
+ 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--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--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Federal
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Litigation
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ 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
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--College Readiness
+ High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates
+ High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment
+ High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges
- High School--Exit Exams
GAAdopted 12/2005P-12Procedures for Exemption from Graduation Exam
GAC 160-1-3-.09
Establishes "variance" procedure for a student not eligible for waiver (not rendered incapable of passing a section of the GHSGT or the
GHSWT due to a disability or substantial hardship) to demonstrate proficiency on Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT...

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LAAdopted 12/2005P-12General Education Exam and Students with Disabilities
LAC 28: CXV.2319
Allows the Superintendent of Education to waive the final component of the General Education Exam for student with disabilities if the Department of Education determines that the student's disability significantly impacts their ability to pass the final requir...

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CAVetoed 10/2005P-12High School Exit Exams - Alternative Assessments
H.B. 1531
An act to add Section 60856.1 to the Education Code, relating to academic assessment. This bill would permit a pupil to satisfy the English language arts or mathematics portion of the high school exit examination by passing an alternative performance assessmen...

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CASigned into law 10/2005P-12Charter Schools and High School Exit Exams
H.B. 1610
An act to amend Sections 33054, 47605, 47605.6, 47607, 47612.5, and 51745.6 of, and to add Section 47612.6 to, the Education Code, relating to charter schools. Existing law requires that charter schools meet specified statewide standards and conduct the specif...

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CAVetoed 10/2005P-12Exit Exams Waivers for Students with Disabilities
S.B. 586
High school exit examination: pupils with disabilities. This bill would require a school district to grant a high school
diploma to a pupil with a disability, if he or she is scheduled to graduate from high school in 2006 or 2007, does not qualify for that
hig...

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CASigned into law 09/2005P-12Assistance to Students Failing the Exit Exam
A.B. 128
States that funds received through section 37252 for supplemental instruction may be used to provide intensive instruction and services to students who have failed one or both parts of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). Requires the state su...

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CAVetoed 09/2005P-12Adult Learners May Take Exit Exam
A.B. 1057
An act to add Section 60851.3 to the Education Code, relating to education. Require the exit examination to be offered to a person regularly enrolled in an adult education program. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1051-1100/ab_1057_bill_20050908_enrol...

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GAAdopted 07/2005P-12Student Assessments
GAC 160-3-1-.07
Clarifies rules regarding testing programs and student assessment. Clarifies assessment participation requirements for English language learners, students with disabilities, students in each grade K-8, and students taking the Georgia High School Graduation Tes...

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MARule Adoption 07/2005P-12Comprehensive Assessment System and Standards
603 CMR 30.00
Amends the Comprehensive Assessment System and Standards for Competency Determination rules. Adds one discipline in science and technology and engineering to the subjects to be included in the competency determination required for high school graduation starti...

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NYEmergency Rule Adoption 07/2005P-12State Assessment, Graduation and Diploma Requirements
100.5 Title 8 NYCRR
Revises requirements for obtaining a Regents high school diploma, a Regents diploma with advanced designation, and a local high school diploma. This amendment phases in the 65 passing score on the five required Regents exams to meet graduation requirements: ...

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TNSIGNED BY GOVERNOR. 06/2005P-12Bonus Points for
S.B. 1015/Act 446
Authorizes the state board of education to promulgate regulations whereby a student, who narrowly misses passage of one or more of the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests, including one or more parts of the Gateway examination, may petition for an...

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WAPassed 06/2005P-12Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
WAC 180-57-070
Amends rule regarding the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Corrects problem of not adequately covering the reasons why a student might not take the WASL and might not be able to show the statutorily required scale score on the transcript. WASH...

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AZSigned into law 05/2005P-12Remediation Funding
S.B. 1516 (Section 2)
Replaces reference to "reimbursement" with reference to "certificate of supplemental instruction" for student attending a school designated
as an underperforming school or a school failing to meet academic standards. Eliminates option for parent to request rei...

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AZSigned into law 05/2005P-12AIMS Requirements
S.B. 1038
States that a student who does not pass the AIMS must receive a high school diploma if the student meets the alternative graduation requirements established in section 15-701.02. Creates new section 15-701.02 that allows a student in the Class of 2006 and 2007...

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DESigned into law 05/2005P-12
H.B. 3
Eliminates multi-tiered diplomas in Delaware, establishing instead the "State of Delaware High School Diploma" to each student graduating from a Delaware public high school, beginning with the Class of 2008. Mandates that, beginning with the Class of 2008, dip...

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DESigned into law 05/2005P-12High School Graduation Requirements and Exit Exams
S.B. 72
Provides that high school diplomas issued in 2005 will be the same as were awarded in 2004. States that in 2006, the department must award a "State of Delaware High School Diploma" to a student who completes the state course requirements, or the district requ...

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NVAdopted 05/2005P-12High School Proficiency Examinations
NAC 389.027, .051, .056, .058, .061, .071
Amends provisions governing high school proficiency examinations. NEVADA REG 3705 (SN)...

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OKSigned into law 05/2005P-12Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005
S.B. 982
New law establishing the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005. One new section establishes the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. The purpose is to improve student mastery of the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) for sixth-grade mathematics ...

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OKSigned into law 05/2005P-12End-of-Course Tests
S.B. 982, Sections 6 and 8
Creates new section. Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2008-2009 school year, every student must demonstrate mastery of the state academic content standards in a minimum of four out of six selected subject areas in order to receive a high...

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ARSigned into law 04/2005P-12Grade 3-8 Assessments, End-of-Course Exams and Remediation
H.B. 2824
Requires a student not passing an immediately previous grades 3-8 benchmark assessment or in a secondary level end-of-course assessment to participate in remediation activities as required in the student's individualized academic improvement plan beginning in ...

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AZVetoed 04/2005P-12Department Reporting and Student Testing
H.B. 2033
Requires the department to report to specified members of the legislature on its budget status every two months for the first half of each fiscal year and every month thereafter. Requires every report to include the department's current funding surplus or shor...

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AZSigned into law 04/2005P-12Special Education and the AIMS
S.B. 1352
States that a student with an individualized education program (IEP) is not required to earn a passing score on a competency test required for high school graduation unless the student is learning at a level appropriate for the student's grade level in a speci...

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INSigned into law 04/2005P-12
Postsec.
Core 40 Curriculum
S.B. 200
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, requires, with certain exceptions, a student to complete the Core 40 curriculum in order to graduate from high school. Beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year, requires, with certain exceptions, a student to have co...

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VASigned into law 03/2005P-12Credits for Industry Certification
S.B. 1045
Directs the Board of Education to provide for the award of verified credits for passing scores on industry certifications, state licensure examinations, and national occupational competency assessments approved by the Board of Education. School boards shall re...

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MDRule Adoption 02/2005P-12General Instructional Programs
COMAR 13A.01.04.04, .05, .03.02.02, .04, .01 thru .09
Adopts rules to the Maryland State Board of Education. Deals with graduation requirements in public high schools in Maryland. Merges the English Grade 9 High School Assessment with the Grade 10 Reading Assessment to create a single test - an English High Schoo...

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OHSigned into law 02/2005P-12Parent's Week, Teacher Compensation, Testing Sections
H.B. 493
Designates the fourth week of September as Parent's Week; revises provisions governing child support collection. Qualifies teachers employed by chartered nonpublic schools for annual stipends for holding valid certificates issued by the National Board for Prof...

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+ High School--GED (General Education Development)
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ International Baccalaureate
+ Leadership
+ Leadership--District Superintendent
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership
+ 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--Tenure
+ Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ 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 Child Care
+ P-3 Early Intervention (0-3)
+ P-3 Ensuring Quality
+ P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits
+ P-3 Family Involvement
+ P-3 Finance
+ P-3 Grades 1-3
+ P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten
+ P-3 Preschool
+ P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Partnerships--University/School
+ 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 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 Participation--Outreach
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Students--Minority
+ Postsecondary Success--Completion
+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Remediation (K-12)
+ Rural
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year
+ 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 Safety--Special Education
+ School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes
+ 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--Placement
+ Special Education--Transition
+ Special Populations--Corrections Education
+ Special Populations--Gifted and Talented
+ Special Populations--Homeless Education
+ Standards
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ STEM
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ Students
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ Students--Mobility
+ Students--Records/Rights
+ Teaching Quality
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative
+ 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--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects
+ Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Attitudes
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining--Strikes
+ Technology
+ Technology--Computer Skills
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Textbooks and Open Source