ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2006 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 2006. 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
NJSigned into law 12/2006P-12Directs Commissioner of Education to contract with independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the Department Of Education and its oversight capacity; relates to public school funding reform.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/SJR/1_I1.PDF
Title: S.J.R. 1; A.J.R. 10
Source: New Jersey Legislature

OHSigned into law 12/2006P-12Any district that leases a building to a community school [charter] located in the district or that enters into an agreement with a community school located in the district whereby the district and the school endorse each other's programs may elect to have data regarding the academic performance of students enrolled in the community school combined with comparable data from the schools of the district for the purpose of calculating the performance of the district as a whole on the district report card. Any district that so elects must annually file a copy of the lease or agreement with the department.

Allows a board of education to renew the contract of any nonlicensed individual, currently employed by the board for one or more years, without first offering the position held by that individual to employees of the district who are licensed individuals or advertising the position as available to any qualified licensed individuals who are not currently employed by the board.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_276
Title: H.B. 276 -- Misc. Sections
Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us

DESigned into law 07/2006P-12Implements enhanced public education financial accountability provisions. Includes vocational- technical school districts and charter school funds and authority.

http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis143.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+374/$file/legis.html?open
Title: S.B. 374
Source: Delaware Legislature

GAAdopted 06/2006P-12Clarifies rules regarding the Comprehensive Academic Performance System (CAPS) Demonstration Site Grant. The intent of the funding is to provide seed resources to stimulate the adoption of a school-based comprehensive academic performance system that consolidates the use of curriculum standards alignment and pacing, benchmark assessment, differentiated instruction, parent involvement, and public accountability. Use of a web-based accountability system is required.

Each participant school, with the support of its affiliated district, must:
(a) Develop and implement an achievement-oriented, comprehensive instructional model that champions standards-based instruction, benchmark assessment, data driven decision-making, differentiated instruction, parent involvement, and public accountability;
(b) Make the time and funding commitments required for the training of leaders, teachers, coaches, parents, community, etc.;
(c) Set annual and benchmark measurable goals for improving learning, teaching and assessment;
(d) Align instruction to state standards for the content that all students should know by grade span and subject;
(e) Conduct formative and summative assessment of student academic achievement at regular intervals;
(f) Utilize results of benchmark student assessments that have clear performance criteria to differentiate instruction;
(g) Publicize student performance statistics at each interval, including statistics by subject, by teacher and by class;
(h) Provide parents with specific information regarding the performance of their students;
(i) Agree to participate in ongoing coordination with the GaDOE and school/system project teams. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/160/1/4/200/72.pdf
Title: GAC 160-1-4-.272
Source: rules.sos.state.ga.us

DESigned into law 05/2006P-12Implements enhanced financial accountability provisions for public school districts and charter schools; relates to district and charter school financial responsibility. Chapter Number 264
http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis143.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+308/$file/legis.html?open
Title: S.B. 308
Source: Delaware Legislature

FLSigned into law 05/2006P-12Defines secondary schools as those serving grades 6-12. Specifies that the following guiding principles must be used in the annual preparation of each secondary school's improvement plan:

(a) Struggling students, especially those in failing schools, need the highest quality teachers and dramatically different, innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
(b) Every teacher must contribute to every student's reading improvement.
(c) Quality professional development provides teachers and principals with the tools they need to better serve students.
(d) Small learning communities allow teachers to personalize instruction to better address student learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses.
(e) Intensive intervention in reading and math must occur early and through innovative delivery systems.
(f) Parents need access to tools they can use to monitor their child's progress in school, communicate with teachers, and act early on behalf of their child.
(g) Applied and integrated courses help students see the relationships between subjects and relevance to their futures.
(h) School is more relevant when students choose courses based on their goals, interests, and talents.
(i) Master schedules should not determine instruction and must be designed based on student needs, not adult or institutional needs.
(j) Academic and career planning engages students in developing a personally meaningful course of study so they can achieve goals they have set for themselves.

Requires local boards to adopt policies to address:

(a) Procedures for placing and promoting grade 6-12 students entering from out of state or from a foreign country, including a review of the student's prior academic performance.
(b) Alternative methods for students to demonstrate competency in required courses and credits, with special support for students who have been retained.
(c) Applied, integrated, and combined courses that provide flexibility for students to enroll in courses that are creative and meet individual learning styles and student needs.
(d) Credit recovery courses and intensive reading and math intervention courses based on student performance on the FCAT. These courses should be competency based and offered through innovative delivery systems, including computer-assisted instruction. Districts should use learning gains as well as other appropriate data and provide incentives to identify and reward high-performing teachers who teach credit recovery and intensive intervention courses.
(e) Grade forgiveness policies that replace a grade of "D" or "F" with a grade of "C" or higher earned subsequently in the same or a comparable course.
(f) Summer academies for students to receive intensive reading and mathematics intervention courses or competency-based credit recovery courses. A student's participation in an instructional or remediation program prior to or immediately following entering grade 9 for the first time shall not affect that student's classification as a first-time 9th grader for reporting purposes.
(g) Strategies to support teachers' pursuit of the reading endorsement and emphasize reading instruction professional development for content area teachers.
(h) Creative and flexible scheduling designed to meet student needs.
(i) Procedures for high school students who have not prepared an electronic personal education plan to prepare such plan.
(j) Tools for parents to regularly monitor student progress and communicate with teachers.
(k) Additional course requirements for promotion and graduation which may be determined by each school district in the student progression plan and may include additional academic, fine and performing arts, physical education, or career and technical education courses in order to provide a complete education program.

Requires the department to:
(a) By February 1, 2007, increase the number of approved applied, integrated, and combined courses available to districts.
(b) By the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, make available a professional development package designed to provide the information that content area teachers need to become proficient in applying scientifically based reading strategies through their content areas.
(c) Share best practices for providing a complete education program to students enrolled in course recovery, credit recovery, intensive reading intervention, or intensive math intervention.
(d) Expedite assistance and decisions and coordinate policies throughout all divisions within the department to provide districts with support to implement the Florida Secondary School Redesign Act.
(e) Use data to provide the Legislature with an annual longitudinal analysis of the success of this reform effort, including the progress of 6th grade students and 9th grade students scoring at Level 1 on FCAT Reading or FCAT Math.

Directs the commissioner of education to create and implement the Secondary School Improvement Award Program to reward public secondary schools that demonstrate continuous student academic improvement and show the greatest gains in student academic achievement in reading and math.

Pages 35-39 of 160: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006
Title: H.B. 7087 - Section 19
Source: www.myfloridahouse.gov

TXSigned into law 05/2006P-12Requires the commissioner, in consultation with the comptroller, to develop and implement a financial accountability
rating system for school districts in this state that: (1) distinguishes among school districts based on levels of financial performance; and
(2) includes procedures to: (A) provide additional transparency to public education finance; and (B) enable the commissioner and school district administrators to provide meaningful financial oversight and improvement.

The commissioner shall annually establish and publish the proposed expenditures for each school district as determined by the
commissioner based on an evaluation of information relating to the best practices of campuses and districts. The commissioner shall consider unique characteristics of the district, including the district's size. The proposed expenditures must include amounts for: (1) instructional expenditures; (2) central administrative expenditures; (3) district operations; and (4) any other category designated by the commissioner.

If the board of trustees of a school district intends to exceed the proposed expenditures established by the commissioner, the board must adopt and publish a resolution that includes an explanation justifying the board's actions.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/data/docmodel/793/billtext/pdf/HB00001F.PDF
Title: H.B. 1 C (Sections 2.05; 2.09)
Source: Texas Legislature

KYSigned into law 04/2006P-12Requires, on or before December 1 of each year, that the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee adopt an annual research agenda for the Office of Education Accountability. Provides that the agenda shall be amended to include studies directed by the General Assembly in the next succeeding session. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/06RS/HB581/bill.doc
Title: H.B. 581
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

WASigned into law 03/2006P-12Declares an intent to reactivate the center for the improvement of student learning, and to create within the center an educational ombudsman to serve as a resource center for parents and students and as an advocate for students in the public education system.
Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to report to the legislature by September 1, 2007, and thereafter biennially, regarding the effectiveness of the center for improvement of student learning, how the services provided by the center for improvement of student learning have been used and by whom, and recommendations to improve the accessibility and application of knowledge and information that leads to improved student learning and greater family and community involvement in the public education system. Creates the office of the education ombudsman within the office of the governor for the purposes of providing information to parents, students, and others regarding their rights and responsibilities with respect to the state's public elementary and secondary education system, and advocating on
behalf of elementary and secondary students. Requires the education ombudsman to report on the work and accomplishment of the office and advise and make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the state board of education annually. The initial report to the governor, the legislature, and the state board of education shall be made by September 1, 2007, and there shall be annual reports by September 1st each year thereafter. The annual reports shall provide at least the following information: (1) How the education ombudsman's services have been used and by whom; (2) Methods for the education ombudsman to increase and enhance family and community involvement in public education; (3) Recommendations to eliminate barriers and obstacles to meaningful family and community involvement in public education; and
(4) Strategies to improve the educational opportunities for all students in the state, including recommendations from organizations and groups provided in this act.Provides that if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.One of the new duties is to edentify strategies for improving the success rates of ethnic and racial student groups with disproportionate academic achievement.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/3127-S.PL.pdf
Title: H.B. 3127
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov

ILAdopted 02/2006P-12Provides standards for the conduct of financial audits of regional offices of education and certain educational service centers. http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/index/register/register_volume30_issue7.pdf (starts page 329 of 520, see esp. 338 of 520)
Title: 74 IAC 420.130, 140, 310, 320, 410, 420, 430, 630, 640, 710, 720
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

+ 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--Legal Issues
+ 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
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ 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--Alignment
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Core Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Environmental Education
+ Curriculum--Family Living Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Geography Education
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ Curriculum--International Education
+ Curriculum--Language Arts
+ Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling
+ Curriculum--Mathematics
+ Curriculum--Physical Education
+ Curriculum--Science
+ Curriculum--Sex Education
+ Curriculum--Social Studies/History
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults
+ Demographics--Enrollments
+ Economic/Workforce Development
+ Education Research
+ Equity
+ Federal
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Federal
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ Finance--Performance Funding
+ 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--Site-Based Management
+ Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies
+ Health
+ Health--Child Abuse
+ Health--Mental Health
+ Health--Nutrition
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ Health--Suicide Prevention
+ Health--Teen Pregnancy
+ 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
+ Instructional Approaches--Constructivism
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning
+ 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--Recruitment and Retention
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ 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--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers
+ No Child Left Behind--Report Cards
+ No Child Left Behind--School Support
+ No Child Left Behind--Special Populations
+ 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 Finance
+ P-3 Governance
+ 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
+ Parent/Family--Research
+ 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--Foster Youth
+ Postsecondary Students--Military
+ Postsecondary Students--Minority
+ Postsecondary Success--Completion
+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Promising Practices
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution)
+ 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--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness
+ 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--Inclusion (Mainstreaming)
+ Special Education--Placement
+ Special Education--Transition
+ Special Populations--Corrections Education
+ Special Populations--Foster Care
+ Special Populations--Gifted and Talented
+ Special Populations--Homeless Education
+ Standards
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Ballot Questions
+ State Policymaking--Politics
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ STEM
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ Student Achievement--State Trends
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ Students
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ 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
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Technology
+ Technology--Computer Skills
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source