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From the ECS State Policy Database 2006 State Policies / Activities

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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--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 Counseling/Guidance 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--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 Instructional Approaches Instructional Approaches--Constructivism Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning 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--Recruitment and Retention Mentoring/Tutoring 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) 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--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 OH Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Access to Personally Identifiable Student Information H.B. 276 -- Section 3301.0716 Sec. 3301.0716 allows the state department of education to have access to personally identifiable student information under certain circumstances, including to respond to an appeal from a school district or school for verification of the accuracy of the studen... More... UT Adopted 12/2006 P-12 Postsec. Public Education Job Enhancement Program Eligibility R690-100 Provides eligibility and award distribution requirements for the Public Education Job Enhancement Program (PEJEP), which offers funding to cover the tuition costs for a teaching endorsement, master's degree or graduate education to selected public school teach... More... OR Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Special Education Teachers OAR 584-017-0120 through 584-100-0006 non seq Expands special education elementary authorization to allow special edteachers to be properly assigned in middle and junior high school. Clarifies experience and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Clarifies requirements for Standard Teachi... More... OR Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Physical Restraint and Seclusion OAR 581-021-0061, -0061 Requires public schools to develop policies and procedures on the useof physical restraint and seclusion in schools. Requires schools to developbehavior support plans with specific content requirements and with parentparticipation. ... More... AK Rule Adoption 10/2006 P-12 Subgroups for Determining Adequate Yearly Progress 4 AAC 06.830(b) Implements federal flexibility guidelines in the calculation of adequate yearly progress for the subgroup of students with disabilities. http://www.eed.state.ak.us/regs/filed/4AAC_06.830_and_4AAC_06.830(b).pdf... More... CA Signed into law 09/2006 P-12 Special Education Student's Parental Rights A.B. 2871 Amends existing law that requires all procedural safeguards under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act to be established by each non educational and educational agency that provides education, related services, or both, to children who are individuals... More... CA Signed into law 09/2006 P-12 Services for Autistic Children A.B. 2513 Declares that the recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's advisory committee concerning means that public and private schools, including charter schools, may serve children with autism, are not to be construed as binding on an individuali... More... CA Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Assistance for Students w/ Disabilities A.B. 1667 Provides that any individual with exceptional needs, any pupil with a disability and any other pupil who requires specialized physical health care services, during the regular schoolday, may be assisted by designated school personnel. Declares the intent of th... More... NH Rule Adoption 08/2006 P-12 Specialist in the Assessment of Intellectural Functioning (SAIF) Ed 507.19; Ed 614.08 Relates to the education and experience requirements for certificationas a SAIF, as well as the skills, competencies, and knowledge requirements.Clarifies the various types of certification that can qualify a person for SAIFcertification. Requires the program ... More... UT Adopted 08/2006 P-12 Special Needs Scholarships Funding & Procedures R277-602 Provides new definitions and makes changes within the Parents/Guardian Responsibilities section of rule concerning funding and procedures for Special Needs Scholarships involving private schools serving students with disabilities; requires documentation that m... More... CA Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Special Education Reporting Requirements S.B. 1327 Relates to a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities, children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school. Makes reporting requirement regarding a severance of attendance or denial of admission applicable to a... More... MA Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Students w/ Disabilities and High School Graduation Ceremonies H.B. 4710 Allows students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies. A school age child with a disability who is completing the twelfth grade year but who has not yet earned the competency determination will be allowed to participate fully in high school... More... MO Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Optional Resolution Conferences and Evaluations of Private School Students S.B. 834 Removes a section of law that allows for an optional resolution conference to occur as the first step of due process in special education disputes. Provides that evaluations of private school students suspected of having a disability will be conducted by the s... More... NC Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Special Education Laws H.B. 1908 Revises special education laws. Enables the state board of education and local educational agencies to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Relates to early intervention, homeless children, public hearings, educational funding, the depart... More... NY Vetoed 07/2006 P-12 Burden of Proof in Impartial Hearings S.B. 8354 States that the board of education or trustees of the school district or the state agency responsible for providing education to students with disabilities will have the burden of proof, including the burden of persuasion and burden of production, in any impar... More... NY Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 IDEA Implementation S.B. 8355 Enacts temporary transitional legislation to implement the federal individuals with disabilities education improvement act of 2004.... More... RI Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Transportation of Special Education Students H.B. 7841; S.B. 2489 Requires that the state department of administration and the Rhode Island public transit authority develop a plan for the creation and implementation of a statewide system of transportation of students with special needs and for all students including those wi... More... RI Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Transportation for Students w/ Disabilities S.B. 2489 Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to plan, develop, create and implement a statewide system of transportation of students with special needs. http://dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStatus/WebClass1.ASP?WCI=Bills&WCE=BillEvent&WCU=S2489A... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Scholarships for Students with Disabilities H.B. 2676 Establishes a funded state program of scholarships for pupils with disabilities; provides such students with the option of attending or receiving a scholarship to any qualified school of the pupil's choice; provides that notwithstanding prescribed enrollment p... More... IA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Services to Special Education Students in Nonpublic Schools S.B. 2272 - Section 19 Requires service activities to students enrolled in nonpublic schools to be similar to those undertaken for public school students. Allows health services, special education support, and related services provided by area education agencies for the purpose of ... More... MI Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Cost of Due Process Hearings S.B. 1184 Specifies that, beginning July 1, 2006, the board of a local school district or other public agency responsible for providing programs or services to a child with a disability would be responsible for 75% of the costs of providing a due process hearing. http:/... More... MI Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2006 P-12 Due Process Procedures Special Education Hearings R 340.1883 - 1885 Amends Department of Education rules by establishing emergency rules for conducting special education hearings. http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=34001881&Dpt=&RngHigh=39900102... More... NJ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Special education adult services and staff liaison S.B. 1220 Requires the Department of Education to include in its parental rights in special education booklet, information describing services available through, and contact information for, state agencies serving adults with disabilities and to require all school distr... More... NY Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Needs of Autistic Children S.B. 8340 Requires special education teachers and special education administrators to be trained in the needs of autistic children. Authorizes the commissioner of education to create special certification for teachers and administrators in the area of children with auti... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Assessment of Students w/ Disabilities S.B. 1380 All students with disabilities in grades 2-12 will ge included in all state and district assessments, with appropriate accommodations and alternate assessments when necessary, as designated by IEP. Also addresses evaluation of students with disabilities and pa... More... CO Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Educational Materials for Visually Impaired Students H.B. 1004 Creates the educational materials for the blind and dyslexic grant program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that provide school districts with accessible educational materials for students who, because of a learning disability, visual impairment, o... More... CT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Special Education Due Process and Evaluation S.B. 380 Concerns special education; makes the state statutes concerning the provision of special education, special education due process hearings and evaluations, the State Special Education Advisory Council, and surrogates in schools comply with the federal Individu... More... FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities H.B. 7087 - Section 23 (3) - (8) Requires local boards to modify basic courses, as necessary, to to assure exceptional students the opportunity to meet the graduation requirements for a standard diploma, using one of the following strategies: 1. Assignment of the exceptional student to an exc... More... FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Electronic Individual Eduation Plans H.B. 7087 (Section 31) Individual education plans for exceptional students.--The Department of Education must develop and have an operating electronic IEP system in place for potential statewide use no later than July 1, 2007. The statewide system shall be developed collaboratively ... More... KS Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Special Education Teacher Service Scholarship H.B. 2578 Section 1-8 Establishes the special education teacher service scholarship to award up to 50 scholarships a year of $3,000 a semester to Kansas residents with teacher certification who are accepted for admission to or enrolled in a program leading to licensure/endorsement ... More... ME Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Special Education Services S.B. 689; LD 1772 Relates to children with disabilities; consolidates and reorganizes the delivery of early childhood special education services; includes the child development services system to achieve efficiencies of cost and effectiveness of childhood special education prog... More... NY Vetoed 05/2006 P-12 Postsec. Community College Interagency Council A.B. 9234 Creates a New York state interagency council for services to persons who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing to promote a comprehensive service system for the deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing; directs council to submit a report to the governor, legisla... More... OK Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Student Transfer H.B. 1646 Modifies student transfer application limitation for students who are deaf or hard of hearing who wish to transfer to a school district with a specialized deaf education program. Deaf or hearing impaired students who wish to transfer to a school district with ... More... VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Students with Life-Threatening Allergies and Chronic Illnesses H.B. 611 Directs the commissioner of education, with the commissioner of health to annually inform superintendents and principals of appropriate practices regarding students with life-threatening allergies and chronic illnesses; and prepare and distribute policies, tra... More... CO Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Special Education Policy Changes and Implementation S.B. 118 Concerns amendments to the exceptional children's educational act to conform with the federal individuals with disabilities education improvement act of 2004; revises the list of recommendations by the state department of education to the state board of educat... More... ID Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 School for the Deaf and the Blind S.B. 1427 Amends existing law relating to the School for the Deaf and the Blind to allow for education services to be delivered to students residing outside the campus area in Gooding; revises the definition of eligible students. http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1427.html... More... IL Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Nonpublic Special Education Facilities 23 IAC 401.5, 10, 20, 30, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 210, 220, 230,240, 250, 260, 270, 280 Clarifies rules to acknowledge that facilities may be established not only by nonpublic entities but also public out-of-state schools and public authorities such as regional superintendents of schools. Clarifies rules to express the approach to be used in appr... More... LA Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Hospital/Homebound Instruction LAC 28:CXV.1103 Establishes procedures for hospital/homebound instruction for a student who is enrolled in regular or special education and who, as a result of health care treatment, physical illness, accident, or the treatment thereof, is temporarily unable to attend school.... More... MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Resources for Blind and Visually Impaired Students H.B. 710; S.B. 392 Relates to blind and visually impaired students. Requires the State Department of Education to establish a specified instructional resources center to develop procedures to coordinate the statewide availability of textbooks and supplementary instructional mate... More... PA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 High School Graduation Ceremonies for Students w/ Disabilities H.B. 1618 Amends the Public School Code of 1949. Provides for participation by students with disabilities in high school graduation ceremonies. Allows a student with a disability who satisfactorily completes an individualized education program, but whose program prescri... More... WI Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Students with Disabilities Act No. 258 Clarifies that an assistive technology device does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such a device; adds interpreting services to services provided; includes a child who is homeless, a ward of the state, county or ... More... WV Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Postsec. Disability History Week H.B. 4491 Establishes the third week of October as Disability History Week. Directs public schools to provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities and the disability rights movement. Provides that the instruction must be integrated into the exis... More... ID Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Interpreters for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students S.B. 1316 Creates minimum standards for K-12 educational interpreters serving deaf or hard-of-hearing students. http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1316.html... More... KY Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Telecommunications Equipment for the Deaf S.B. 88 Relates to telecommunications equipment for the deaf; relates to telecommunications devices for the deaf; changes the term telecommunications device for the deaf, or TDD, to specialized telecommunications equipment and defines the term; changes the term TDD di... More... MA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Students w/ Autism H.B. 1123 Relates to the special education needs of children with autism spectrum disorder. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01pdf/ht01123.pdf... More... UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Modifies Carson Smith Scholarship Program H.B. 351 Modifies the State System of Public Education Code by amending provisions of the Carson Smith Scholarship Program; modifies scholarship qualification provisions; requires notification to parents or guardians of the availability of scholarships; modifies eligib... More... WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Birth to 3 Early Intervention Services H.B. 1107 Finds an urgent and substantial need to enhance the development of all infants and toddlers with disabilities in Washington in order to minimize developmental delays and to maximize individual potential for learning and functioning. Requires that, by September... More... WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Standards for Educational Interpreters S.B. 6606 Requires standards for educational interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing be developed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202006/6606.SL.pdf... More... WI Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Clearinghouse on Special Education Transition Services A.B. 308 Establishes a clearinghouse for information about special education transition services and vocational opportunities that are available in each county; provides that the information shall be posted on the appropriate Web site. (Act 218) http://www.legis.state.... More... KY Adopted 02/2006 P-12 Awarding High School Diplomas to Students with Disabilities 704 KAR 3:305 (section 7) Clarifies provisions relating to awarding of high school diplomas to students with disabilities. States that if the severity of an exceptional student's disability precludes the student from completing the standard high school graduation requirements, the stu... More... MO Issued 02/2006 P-12 Assistive Technology Advisory Counci Executive Order 06-06 Transfers the Assistive Technology Advisory Council to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from the state Office of Administration. http://www.gov.mo.gov/eo/2006/eo06_006.htm... More... SD Signed into law 02/2006 P-12 Special Education Funding H.B. 1025 Revises state aid to special education; provides for a special education levy percentage per dollars of valuation. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/bills/HB1025enr.pdf... More... CA Signed into law 01/2006 P-12 One-year Exit Exam Exemptions for Students with Disabilities S.B. 517 Requires school districts or state special schools to grant a high school diploma to a pupil with a disability who is scheduled to graduate from high school in 2006, has not passed the high school exit examination, has not received a high school exit examinati... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2006 P-12 Special Education Review Commission S.B. 2417 Establishes the Special Education Review Commission. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2004/Bills/AL05/339_.PDF... More... 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 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