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
+ 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
+ Curriculum--Speech Education
+ 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
+ High School--GED (General Education Development)
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ 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
+ 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
COSigned into law 06/2005P-12Requires the state board to identify volunteer districts, boards of cooperative services and a charter school to send representatives to form the "educational data advisory committee" to work with the department to review school data reporting requirements. Requires the committee, on its own or by written request of a district, board of cooperative services or the state charter school institute, to review these entities' reporting requirements to determine whether the costs of such requirements outweigh the benefits. Authorizes the committee to make recommendations to the state board on repealing or amending statutory and regulatory reporting requirements and requires the state board to forward all recommendations on alterations to statutory reporting requirements to the general assembly. Requires the committee to review each data reporting request not required by statute or rule and notify districts, boards of cooperative services and the state charter school institute whether compliance with the request is mandatory or voluntary.


http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/DC1884F5438814D187256F6B0076EE38?Open&file=019_enr.pdf
Title: S.B. 19
Source: www.leg.state.co.us

MOSigned into law 05/2005P-12REPORT CARDS

Currently, school districts are required to produce an annual
accountability report card for each school building, distribute
copies to the households with students, and make copies available
to other members of the public upon request. This bill transfers
the responsibility for producing the report card to the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, specifying that
there will be report cards for each district, each public school
building in a district, and each charter school. The report card
will be designed to satisfy federal and state statistical
disclosure requirements about academic achievement, finances,
staff, and other indicators. Districts must provide the report
card information by December 1, or as soon as it is ready, and
give preference to distribution methods that will include the
information with other important information, such as student
report cards.

TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS

Currently, the definition of "teacher" for the purposes of tenure
includes certified teachers who teach at the pre-kindergarten
level. The bill clarifies that these teachers must be teaching
in pre-kindergarten programs for which no fees are charged. The
superintendent's supervision of the City of St. Louis district
schools is subject to policies established by the school board,
rather than subject to the control of the board, and the
permissible length of the superintendent's contract is raised.
Currently, the hiring of a treasurer, a commissioner of school
buildings, and a director of personnel is required. The bill
makes the hiring of these positions permissive. The requirement
that the district's teaching appointments and promotions be based
on merit is extended to all employee appointments and promotions.
The remaining references to principals are removed from the City
of St. Louis tenure statute.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Currently, when a school district participates in the Career
Ladder Program, it must match state funds on a sliding scale
based on the assessed valuation per eligible pupil. The bill
permits any district that opted out of the program between July
1, 2001, and July 1, 2005, to rejoin by July 1, 2006, at the same
matching level it qualified for when it last participated in the
program.

Title: H.B. 297
Source: StateNet

OKSigned into law 05/2005P-12One section of this bill creates the Student Tracking and Reporting (STAR) Pilot Program. Requires interoperability with other state student data management and reporting systems; directs exploration of delivery systems for certain purposes; requires utilization of certain system model; requires model to include certain capabilities; creates the Student Tracking and Reporting (STAR) Coordinating Committee.The purpose of the Pilot Program is to provide for the development and implementation of a horizontal school district and school site level student data management and reporting system based on the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) industry open-standard. The developed student data management and reporting system is required to provide horizontal articulation of student academic data, student demographic data and other relevant student information. Horizontal articulation must assimilate the data from the classroom level, to the school site level, and to the district level, with the capability to analyze and disseminate the data back to the school site and classroom level when required by teachers and administrators to support informed and improved classroom instruction. The Pilot Program must incorporate the following objectives:
1. Provide for academic performance reporting at the district level for all students in grade levels five, eight, ten and twelve. Academic performance reporting shall include report card grades, student performance results from multiple standardized assessments, including at least one norm-referenced assessment, state testing program results for grade levels five, eight, and End-of-Instruction assessments, and ACT college entrance examination scores when applicable;

2. Provide for a horizontal data aggregation system at the school district and site level that facilitates storage, retrieval and distribution of data both horizontally, at the school district and site levels, and vertically to the Wave Program, including all necessary student data elements to support academic performance reporting;

3. Provide for a reporting structure at the district level that shall address all state and federal reporting requirements, including those specified in the federal act known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), and data elements used in determining district and site performance levels for the Academic Performance Index. The district level reporting structure shall also provide for the transfer of aggregated school district and site level data in Extensible Markup Language (XML), an industry open-standard data format, to both state and federal agencies if required by the agencies in an aggregated format;

4. Develop, define and implement necessary data elements and codes to meet reporting requirements to support horizontal articulation of data at the district and site level and to provide effective transfer of data for state and federal reporting. Provided, that if SIF or the State Board of Education has not defined data elements and codes necessary for the development of the student data management and reporting system, the participating pilot program school districts may create the necessary data elements and codes to support horizontal articulation of data at district and site levels and to provide effective transfer of data for state and federal reporting requirements. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit the State Board of Education from defining data elements and codes not defined in the SIF specifications for the Wave Program and from requiring all school districts, including the pilot program school districts, to use the data elements for the vertical transfer of data. These data elements and codes may include, but are not limited to, expanded student entry, gain and loss codes and unique course identification codes;

5. Provide for a historical data warehousing system at the school district and site levels to archive and retrieve comprehensive student data in order to provide all Pilot Program teachers and administrators with the necessary student academic performance indicators, including report card grades and multiple assessment data, to inform and improve instructional programs at the classroom level;

6. Provide for the aggregation of student performance credentialing at both school district and site levels. The Pilot Program schools shall develop credentialing criteria that shall include, but is not limited to, all areas of academic performance as outlined in paragraph 1 of this subsection, plus additional performance indicators pertaining to life skills, citizenship, and when applicable, employability skills and career awareness/exploration. Pilot Program schools shall develop a summary or condensed portfolio of student credentialing results within the transcript of all graduating students, to include cumulative credentialing data for students from grades six through twelve. The student credentialing portfolio shall be developed so that it can be electronically distributed via secure vertical transmission. Any transmission of a student portfolio to institutions of higher education and to other entities such as potential employers shall comply with the provisions of the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA);

7. Provide for a continuous school and student improvement framework through the measurement of comprehensive, cumulative student growth by analyzing multiple academic performance measurements. Such measurements shall document relative growth over time so as to determine continuous improvement at the individual student, grade and school-wide levels; and

8. Provide for professional development in the use of techniques and tools to improve student achievement to teachers in the Pilot Program. Provide training to administrators and support personnel in the implementation of the student data management and reporting system.
Title: H.B. 1021 (multiple provisions)
Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06HB/hb1900_engr.rtf

SCSigned into law 05/2005P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Adds a new chapter (59) establishing the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act. Provides for the development of a curriculum organized around a career cluster system that must provide students with both strong academics and real-world problem solving skills. During the 2005-06 school year, the department of education must develop a guidance and counseling model that provides standards and strategies for school districts to use and follow in developing and implementing a comprehensive guidance and counseling program for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in their districts. Before July 1, 2006, the department of education is required to develop state models and prototypes for individual graduation plans and the curriculum framework for career clusters of study. Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, counseling and career awareness programs on clusters of study must be provided to students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and they must receive career interest inventories and information to assist them in the career decision-making process. Before the end of the second semester of the eighth grade, eighth grade students in consultation with their parents, guardians, or individuals appointed by the parents or guardians to serve as their designee shall select a preferred cluster of study and develop an individual graduation plan. By the 2006-07 school year, middle schools and by 2007-08 high schools shall provide students with the services of a career specialist who has obtained a bachelor's degree and who has successfully completed the national Career Development Facilitator (CDF) certification training or certified guidance counselor having completed the Career Development Facilitator certification training.Provides for the traits that must be incorporated into school board policies addressing character education. Expands the report card to include dropout data. Establishes and sets membership for the Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council. Sets the functions as:
(1)    advise the Department of Education on the implementation of this chapter;
(2)    review accountability and performance measures for implementation of this chapter;
(3)    designate and oversee the coordination and establishment of the regional centers;
(4)    report annually by December first to the Governor, the General Assembly, the state board and other appropriate governing boards on the progress, results, and compliance with the provisions of this chapter and its ability to provide a better prepared workforce and student success in postsecondary education;
(5)    make recommendations to the department of education for the development and implementation of a communication and marketing plan to promote statewide awareness of the provisions of this chapter; and
(6)    provide input to the state board of education and others as appropriate.
http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/prever/3155_20050519.htm
Title: H.B. 3155
Source: http://www.scstatehouse.net

ARSigned into law 04/2005P-12Concerns assessments scores for students attending the Arkansas school for mathematics, sciences and the arts of the University of Arkansas. Requires assessment scores under the Arkansas Comprehensive, Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program for
assessments taken by students attending the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts to be sent to the public school district the student attended immediately prior to transferring to the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts. Requires these scores to be included on the school district's reports.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb2881.pdf
Title: H.B. 2881
Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us

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