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
INSigned into law 05/2005P-12Defines "phonologic weakness." Requires the department of education to develop and implement a plan to
(1) train teachers, especially the teachers directly involved in reading and language arts, about phonologic weakness and its role in reading development;
(2) determine which reading instruments can be used to detect phonologic weakness before formal reading instruction begins;
(3) determine which reading instruments can be used to assess student reading and spelling development; and
(4) apply the results of the assessment using reading instruments to a child's instructional program.

Requires the department to develop a technical assistance manual related to the plan and adopt reading instruments to diagnose reading and writing development. Requires each instrument adopted to be based on scientific research concerning reading development and have adequate reliability and validity.

http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/HE/HE1488.1.html
Title: H.B. 1488
Source: www.in.gov

OKSigned into law 05/2005P-12Requires the state board to develop rules that allow every school district, school, administrator, teacher, and student of the public school system in this state to choose to participate in scientifically based research designed for the purpose of improving academic achievement in accordance with all relevant state and federal laws. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06SB/sb982_enr.rtf

Title: S.B. 982, Section 13
Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/

WASigned into law 05/2005Postsec.Authorizes an independent nonprofit Washington Academy of Sciences. The legislature finds that public policies and programs will be improved when informed by independent scientific analysis and communication with state and local policymakers. Throughout the state there are highly qualified persons in a wide range of scientific disciplines who are willing to contribute their time and expertise in such reviews, but that presently there is lacking an organizational structure in which the entire scientific community may most effectively respond to requests for assessments of complex public policy questions. The principal mission will be the provision of scientific analysis and recommendations on questions referred to the academy by the governor, the governor's designee, or the legislature. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5381.PL.pdf
Title: S.B. 5381
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov

ARIssued 04/2005P-12Declares Arkansas will participate in the Compact for Education Research and Development. Council is intended to create a partnership among member states for purposes of creating a high quality, sustained research and development effort that would improve teaching, learning, and effective management of schools throughout the member states.
Title: Executive Order 04-01
Source: Governor's Web Site

KYSigned into law 03/2005P-12
Postsec.
Requires colleges and universities to:

(a) Utilize institution-wide resources to work with elementary and secondary educators and other entities to align curriculum content to ensure that students who achieve proficiency on standards established at the prekindergarten through secondary levels will require no remediation to successfully enter a postsecondary education program;
(b) Provide quality undergraduate teacher preparation programs to ensure that those preparing to teach reading or mathematics at all grade levels have the necessary content knowledge, assessment and diagnostic skills, and teaching methodologies;
(c) Deliver appropriate continuing education for teachers in reading and mathematics through institutes, graduate level courses, and other professional development activities that support a statewide agenda for improving student achievement in reading and mathematics;
(d) Conduct or assist with research on best practices in assessment, intervention strategies, teaching methodologies, costs and effectiveness of instructional models, and other factors as appropriate to reading and mathematics;
(e) Provide staff to consult and provide technical assistance to teachers, staff, and administrators at elementary, middle, and secondary school sites;
(f) Assume active roles in the statewide initiatives referenced in Sections 2 and 5 of this Act; and
(g) Develop written procedures for measuring the effectiveness of activities outlined in paragraphs (a) to (e) of this subsection.

Declares an emergency.

http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93.htm
Fiscal note: http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93/FN.doc
Title: H.B. 93 (Section 1, paragraph 7)
Source: lrc.ky.gov

KYSigned into law 03/2005P-12Specifies that the teachers' professional growth fund is to provide teachers with high quality professional development in content knowledge in reading and classroom-based screening, diagnostic, assessment and intervention strategies. States that the fund may be used to provide grants to local school districts to support staff participation in specific, statewide initiatives for the professional development of teachers and administrators in specific content areas as established by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Board of Education as established in this bill; to provide grants to colleges and universities to plan and develop statewide professional development institutes and other professional development services; and to provide grants to local school districts, to colleges and universities, or other entities to assist the Kentucky Department of Education in evaluating costs and the effectiveness of activities and initiatives established under the teachers' professional growth fund.

Requires that professional development programs for which teachers may receive support from the fund provide training in the use of research-based and developmentally appropriate classroom-based screening, diagnostic, assessment, and intervention strategies.

Requires that, beginning June 1, 2006, through the 2009-2010 school year, priority for the use of funds from the teachers' professional growth fund be to train and support teams of teachers from all school levels to be trained as reading coaches and mentors or as mathematics coaches and mentors in statewide institutes referenced in Sections 1 and 2 of this bill, and for selected teachers to be highly trained in providing diagnostic assessment and intervention services for students in the primary program struggling with mathematics.

Requires the design of the statewide mathematics institutes to train mathematics coaches and mentors to be developed by the Committee for Mathematics Achievement. Requires the design of the professional development program to provide highly trained mathematics intervention teachers in the primary program to be developed by the Center for Mathematics in collaboration with public and private institutions of postsecondary education.

Requires that the development of the statewide program to train reading coaches and mentors be coordinated by the Kentucky Department of Education with recommendations from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development and the reading steering committee established in KRS 158.794. Mandates that the design of the program reflect a consensus of the agencies involved in the development of the program. Requires the training program for reading coaches and mentors to complement other statewide reading initiatives, funded with state and federal funds, and that the program give priority to teachers in grades 4-12. Requires that the program be implemented no later than June 1, 2006.

Declares an emergency.

http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93.htm
Fiscal note: http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93/FN.doc
Title: H.B. 93 (Sections 5 and 6)
Source: lrc.ky.gov

KYSigned into law 03/2005P-12This act is to be cited as the "Read to Achieve Act of 2005." Relates to reading; makes an appropriation therefor; describes the general assembly's findings and intent regarding reading. Defines "comprehensive reading program," "reading diagnostic assessment," and "reading intervention program." Eliminates the Early Reading Incentive Fund and the Early Reading Incentive Grant Steering Committee; establishes the Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund and the Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant Steering Committee to provide renewable, two-year grants to help teachers and library media specialists improve the reading skills of struggling readers in the primary program. Requires the state board to:

1. Identify eligible grant applicants, taking into consideration how the grant program described in this section will relate to other grant programs;
2. Specify the criteria for acceptable diagnostic assessments and intervention programs;
3. Specify the criteria for acceptable ongoing assessment of each child to determine his or her reading progress;
4. Establish the minimum evaluation process for an annual review of each grant recipient's program and progress;
5. Identify the annual data that must be provided from grant recipients;
6. Define the application review and approval process;
7. Establish matching requirements deemed necessary;
8. Define the professional development and continuing education requirements for teachers, library media specialists, administrators, and staff of grant recipients;
9. Establish the conditions for renewal of a two-year grant; and
10. Specify other conditions necessary to implement the program.

Sets forth principles that program grant applicants must meet for the applicant's request for funding to be approved.

Requires the department's annual report on the use of grant funds to include comparisons of the overall costs and effectiveness of intervention programs, and every other year to include an estimate of the cost to expand the reading diagnostic and intervention grant program.

Modifies the membership and expands upon the powers of the Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant Steering Committee.

Requires the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development: Early Childhood through Adulthood to undertake specified advisory and research duties. Requires the center's research agenda to consider the impact of various reading and intervention programs:
1. In eliminating academic achievement gaps among students with differing characteristics, including subpopulations of students with disabilities, students with low socioeconomic status, students from racial minority groups, students with limited English proficiency, and students of different gender;
2. In schools with differing characteristics, such as urban versus rural schools, poverty versus nonpoverty schools, schools with strong library media center programs versus schools with weak library media center programs and schools in different geographic regions of the state;
3. In terms of their costs and effectiveness; and
4. In maintaining positive student progress over a sustained period of time.

Requires the Early Childhood Development Authority to provide that primary students, regardless of age, who are having difficulty with reading may be referred and receive a second vision examination as described in KRS 156.160 at no cost to the parent.

http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/SB19.htm
Title: S.B. 19
Source: lrc.ky.gov

+ 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
+ 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