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
+ 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
OHSigned into law 12/2006P-12Sec. 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 student's score on a test; to determine whether the student satisfies the alternative conditions for a high school diploma; or if a testing contractor has notified the department that the student's written response to a question on such a test included threats or descriptions of harm to another person or the student's self and the information is necessary to enable the department to identify the student for purposes of notifying the school district or school in which the student is enrolled of the potential for harm. Allows the independent contractor engaged by the department of education to create and maintain for school districts and community schools the student data verification codes required by division (D)(2) of section 3301.0714 of the Revised Code to upon request of the director of health, assign a data verification code to a child who is receiving services under division (A)(2) of section 3701.61 of the Revised Code. The contractor is to provide that code to the director, who will submit it to the public school in which the child will be enrolled for special education and related services.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_276
Title: H.B. 276 -- Section 3301.0716
Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us

UTAdopted 11/2006P-12Allows exceptions to the minimum number of instructional hours and schools days per year for individual students and schools; requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to ensure that accurate records of daily student attendance and school entrance and completion are maintained in each school, as well student disability status; requires each school to contract with an independent auditor to review attendance/completion records; provides new eligibility standards for funding students, including electronic high school students; provides new guidelines for indicating the high school completion or exit status of each student who leaves the state's public education system; provides new guidelines for the student identification and tracking system. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2006/b20061001.pdf (see pg. 15)
Title: R277-419
Source: http://www.rules.utah.gov/main/

CAVetoed 09/2006P-12Requires a school district, that requires the parent or legal guardian of a secondary school pupil to provide current emergency information to the pupil's school of attendance, to include a notice in the emergency information request form that informs the parent or legal guardian, and pupil of his or her right under federal law to request that the pupil's name, address, and telephone number not be released to military recruiters or institutions of higher education with the prior written consent.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1751-1800/ab_1778_bill_20060915_enrolled.pdf
Title: A.B. 1778
Source: California Legislature

CASigned into law 08/2006Postsec.Relates to rules subjecting a student to sanction solely on the basis of conduct that is speech or other communication that is protected from governmental restriction by provisions of the Constitution. Prohibits any administrator of any campus of the University of California, the California State University, or a community college from making or enforcing any rule subjecting a student to disciplinary sanction solely on the basis of conduct that is speech or other communication covered by the Constitution.
Title: A.B. 2581
Source: California Legislature

MDAdopted 07/2006P-12Amends rules regarding the 2006 Maryland Student Record Systems Manual. Provides that 2006-2007 school year, serious bodily injury and in-school suspensions be reported for all students. Revises the definition of "days absent". MARYLAND 10567
Title: COMAR 13A.02.06.02, .08.01.01, .08.02.01, .07
Source: Maryland Rules

IASigned into law 06/2006P-12Requires each high school student's plan for completing the core curriculum to include career options and to identify the coursework needed in grades nine through twelve to support the student's postsecondary education and career options. Provides that if the pupil is under eighteen years of age, the pupil's parent or guardian must sign the core curriculum plan developed with the student and the signed plan must be included in the student's records. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=SF2272
Title: S.B. 2272 - Section 13
Source: coolice.legis.state.ia.us

IASigned into law 06/2006P-12Provides that personal information in state agency records regarding a child receiving home instruction must be kept confidential in the same manner as personal information in records for students in public schools. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=SF2272
Title: S.B. 2272 - Section 48
Source: coolice.legis.state.ia.us

VTSigned into law 05/2006P-12Directs the commissioner of education to send annually to each superintendent a list of information that schools must provide to the electorate, community members, parents and students under state and federal law. Directs school boards to inform high school students and students' parents or guardians of the right to opt out of the federal requirement that student contact information be provided to military recruiters or institutions of higher education. Directs school boards to permit parents to disallow provision of student contact information to military recruiters or institutions of higher learning, or both. Requires schools to provide information each year to parents and students regarding school choice options available to them.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT127.HTM
Title: H.B. 538
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us

COSigned into law 04/2006P-12
Postsec.
Concerns student data from the elementary to secondary education system through the postsecondary education system; requires a postsecondary institution that is eligible for the college opportunity fund program to begin using as the student's primary identifier the unique identification number assigned to the student while enrolled in the elementary to secondary education system.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/FCC11C40BEB13B3E872570B40068D462?Open&file=024_enr.pdf
Title: S.B. 24
Source: Colorado Legislature

MASigned into law 04/2006P-12Describes the requirements for providing student records to parents and the information that must be included academic and other indicators.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st02/st02206.htm
Title: S.B. 2206
Source: Massachusetts Legislature

MESigned into law 04/2006Postsec.
Community College
Amends the Notice of Risk to Personal Data Act; relates to a security breach; amends notification requirements regarding agencies of state government, university and community college systems, the maritime academy, private colleges and universities; requires notification to residents by information brokers and other persons; relates to third party entities. The Chief Information Officer shall establish written standards for the security of computerized data, including personal information, maintained by state agencies and departments, including standards for notification to a resident of this State when an agency or department becomes aware of a breach of security with regard to personal information and if a reasonable investigation reveals that personal information has been misused or a reasonable possibility exists that personal information will be misused.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/ld201701.asp
Title: H.B. 1417; LD 2017
Source: Maine Legislature

VASigned into law 03/2006P-12Allows local school divisions to electronically store and maintain student scholastic records (including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, video or audio tape, film, microfilm, and microfiche.)
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0047
Title: H.B. 20
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

VASigned into law 03/2006P-12Amends the requirement that principals or their designees receive notification from local law enforcement authorities when students in their school commit certain crimes to require that such notification be given, whether the student is released to the custody of his parent or, if 18 years of age or more, is released on bond.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0146
Title: H.B. 1279
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

VASigned into law 03/2006P-12Prohibits local school boards from administering questionnaires or surveys to public school students if such questionnaires or surveys seek disclosure the parents' political affiliations or beliefs; the social security numbers of the parents or student; the sexual behavior and attitudes of the student and his family members; or disparaging information about family members.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0145
Title: H.B. 1242
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

VASigned into law 03/2006P-12Requires a parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child of school age to provide to a public school information concerning certain criminal convictions or delinquency adjudications. When the registration results from foster care placement, the information shall be furnished by the relevant social services agency. Amends a prior provision that required a sworn statement or affirmation indicating whether the student has been expelled from school attendance at a private school or in a public school division of the Commonwealth or in another state for an offense in violation of school board policies relating to weapons, alcohol or drugs, or for the willful infliction of injury to another person. Amendment requires that such a document be maintained as a part of the student's scholastic record.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0183, http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0053
Title: S.B. 656, H.B. 95
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/

VASigned into law 02/2006P-12Requires a parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a child of school age to provide to a public school, upon registration of a student, information concerning certain criminal convictions or delinquency adjudications; provides that the registration results from foster care placement, the information shall be furnished by the local social services agency or licensed child placing agency that made the foster care placement.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0053
Title: H.B. 95
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

+ 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