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
+ 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
NCSigned into law 07/2006P-12Requires vision screening for children entering kindergarten.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/House/HTML/H2699v5.html
Title: H.B. 2699
Source: http://www.ncleg.net/

NDAdopted 07/2006P-12Repeals rules pertaining to kindergarten or first grade early entrance.
http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/67-26.pdf
Title: NDAC 67-26
Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov/

NYVetoed 07/2006P-12Requires every child enrolling in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or first grade in a public elementary school to present a dental health certificate. Dental health certificates must contain a report of a comprehensive dental examination performed on such child.
Title: A.B. 6640
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

IASigned into law 06/2006P-12Increases membership on the community empowerment state board. Requires family support services in the community empowerment initiative to include home visitation. Creates a community empowerment gifts and grants account in the Iowa empowerment fund. Makes an appropriation to the school ready children grants account of the Iowa empowerment fund. Makes an appropriation for preschool tuition support for low-income families. Makes an appropriation for efforts to improve the quality of early care. Makes an appropriation to the community empowerment gifts and grants account. Creates a business community investment advisory council to advise the Iowa empowerment board. Directs the advisory council to advise the Iowa empowerment board on the best means to leverage private investment in early care, health, and education services and provide options for creating model projects for public-private partnerships to support quality early care, health, and education programming in communities. Requires the advisory council to submit a report with recommendations and findings to the Iowa empowerment board on or before December 31, 2006. Lists specific areas report must address.

Makes an appropriation for professional development and training activities for persons working in early care, health, and education by the Iowa empowerment board in collaboration with representation from Iowa state university of science and technology cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics, area education agencies, community colleges, child care resource and referral services, and community empowerment area boards. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=HF2769
Title: H.B. 2769
Source:

COSigned into law 05/2006P-12Concerns the age specifications relating to compulsory school attendance. Every child who has attained the age of seven years and is under the age of seventeen years (changed from 16), except as provided by this section, must attend public school for at least the following number of hours during each school year: (I) One thousand fifty-six hours if a secondary school pupil; or (II) Nine hundred sixty-eight hours if an elementary school pupil during each school year; except that in no case shall in a grade other than kindergarten; (III) Nine hundred hours if a full-day kindergarten pupil; or (IV) four hundred fifty hours if half-day kindergarten pupil.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/1617BA178EE19B4F872570CA0062EC9C?Open&file=073_enr.pdf
Title: S.B. 73
Source: Colorado Legislature

MNSigned into law 05/2006P-12Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a kindergarten readiness assessment representative of incoming kindergartners. The assessment must be based on the department of education kindergarten readiness assessment at kindergarten entrance study.
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H4162.3.html&session=ls84
Title: H.B. 4162
Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/

DESigned into law 04/2006P-12Requires school districts by the start of the 2008- 2009 school year, to offer any kindergarten-eligible child the option of attending full-day kindergarten if the child's parent or guardian chooses; provides that if a parent wants to send his or her child for only a half-day, the parent would be permitted to do so; becomes effective upon a specific appropriation by the General Assembly.
http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis143.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+251/$file/0041430100.doc?open
Title: S.B. 251
Source: Delaware Legislature

COVetoed 03/2006P-12Authorizes of additional school district revenues to fund costs associated with full-day kindergarten programs. Districts that receive voter approval for additional revenue must: use evidence-based research demonstrating the types of programs and methods appropriate for full-day kindergarten; not limit parents to enrolling their children in half-day programs; and not serve children through a full-day kindergarten component of the district's preschool program.

http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/602F9F4FC4AEF24C8725708A0068082D?Open&file=1005_enr.pdf

Title: H.B. 1005
Source: CO Legislative Web Site

KYSigned into law 03/2006P-12Clarifies that a school district may advance a child through the primary program if he or she is at least five but less than six years old; allows the child to be classified as other than a kindergarten student for purposes of funding if the student is determined to have acquired the academic and social skills taught in kindergarten as determined by local board policy. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/06RS/SB35/bill.doc
Title: S.B. 35
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MDIssued 03/2006P-12Amends amend Executive Order 01.01.2005.34, which established the Advisory Council for Children; the Governor's Office for Children as a separate agency within the Executive Department to provide a coordinated, comprehensive, interagency approach to the development of a continuum of care that is family and child- oriented and that emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and community-based services for all children and families with special attention to at-risk populations; and the Children's Cabinet and the Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund. Expands the membership of the Advisory Council. http://www.gov.state.md.us/executiveorders/2006/0603eo.html
Title: 01.01.2006-03 (Executive Order)
Source: http://www.gov.state.md.us

NMSigned into law 03/2006P-12Extends the Kindergarten Plus Pilot Project; expands eligibility to add other school districts with high- poverty schools; makes an appropriation; provides that teachers and educational assistants are to be paid at the same rate and under the same terms; provides for evaluation.
http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/06%20Regular/final/HB0043.pdf
Title: H.B. 43
Source: http://legis.state.nm.us

SDSigned into law 03/2006P-12Requires all children to attend kindergarten; establishes a minimum length of time for kindergarten programs; provides that any child under a specified age is eligible for admittance to a nursery school.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/bills/HB1175enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1175
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us

UTSigned into law 03/2006P-12This bill modifies the recommended time to provide the assessment of reading and numeric skills given to potential kindergarten students. The assessment should take place in the spring prior to the kindergarten year, but no later than June 15th prior to the school year.
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/bills/hbillenr/hb0226.pdf
Title: H.B. 226
Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us

CTIssued 02/2006P-12Establishes the Governor's Early Childhood Research and Policy Council and defines membership and duties. The Council will: (1) Advise the Early Childhood Education Cabinet on research findings, policy solutions and strategic financing opportunities related to investments in early childhood initiatives; (2) Recommend ways to build and support a network of early childhood researchers across Connecticut's education systems, including academic scholars at business and other professional schools; (3) Engage Connecticut's academic researchers in design of a longitudinal study of children's development and review existing research that evaluates early childhood programs; (4) Examine, from a business perspective, possible strategies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Connecticut's early care and education "industry"; (5) Propose additional "return on investment" (ROI) studies necessary to evaluate and support early childhood care and education, quality improvement and expansion proposals; (6) Consult with the Cabinet in its preparation of the Cabinet's Early Childhood Investment Plan, to be submitted to the Governor, regarding the expansion of high quality early childhood education services leading to the readiness for kindergarten of all Connecticut children upon entry into kindergarten; and (7) Consult with the Cabinet in monitoring the ongoing implementation of the Connecticut Early Childhood Investment Plan.
http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=1719&Q=309862
Title: EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13
Source: http://www.ct.gov/

MDIssued 02/2006P-12Establishes the Maryland Child Care Subsidy Coordinating Council, defines membership and duties. Purposes of council includes increasing access by low-income families receiving child care subsidies to quality early care and education programs, thereby increasing the probability that their children are entering school ready to learn.
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/executiveorders/2006/0602eo.html
Title: EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2006.02
Source: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/

+ 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