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
MTRule Adoption 12/2006P-12Adopts and amends rules relating to quality educator payments, at-risk student payments - general fund, Indian education for all payments, American Indian achievement gap payments - general fund and school finance.
http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/legaldivision/10-7-115pro-arm.pdf
Title: ARM 10.7.106, .106A, .113 through .115,10.10.301 to .315, 10.15.101, 10.16.3804, .3811, .3812, .3816, 10.20.102 to 10.30.415
Source: http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/legaldivision/10-7-115pro-arm.pdf

ALApproved by voters 11/2006P-12Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to require at least 10 mills of property tax are levied for every school district in the state.
http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/dl3.cfm?trgturl=election/2006/general/statecert-constitutionalamendments-2006-08-31.pdf&trgtfile=statecert-constitutionalamendments-2006-08-31.pdf
Title: Statewide Amendment Number Two
Source: http://www.sos.state.al.us

NVApproved by voters 11/2006P-12Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to require the legislature to fund the operation of the public schools for K-12th grades before any other part of the state budget for the next biennium.
http://www.sos.state.nv.us/nvelection/2004_bq/bq1.htm
Title: Ballot Question # 1
Source: http://www.sos.state.nv.us/

WYEmergency Rule Adoption 10/2006P-12Establishes emergency rules regarding the criteria and standards for the School Foundation Program, which provides a guaranteed level of funding that is essentially a block grant to every public school district based on a number of factors--the most important of which is the number of students enrolled in the district in the prior year. http://soswy.state.wy.us/RULES/6384.pdf
Title: Chapter 8
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

CAVetoed 09/2006P-12Establishes the Flexible Funding for Pupil Achievement Program. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer the program. Permits a specified percentage of schools in the state to participate in the program at any one time. Requires the Superintendent to ensure a balance of elementary, middle, and high schools and urban, suburban and rural schools among participating schools. Requires the governing board of a district to adopt a participation agreement containing specified provisions.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_756_bill_20060914_enrolled.pdf
Title: A.B. 756
Source: California Legislature

MSSigned into law 09/2006P-12Establishes an emergency aid grants program for local governments, including public school districts.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/20061E/html/HB/0001-0099/HB0005SG.htm
Title: H.B. 5A
Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/

MIRejected by voters 08/2006P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Would require the state to provide annual funding increases equal to the rate of inflation for public schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges and higher education. Would require state to fund any deficiencies in the school aid fund from the general fund. Relates to base funding for school districts with declining enrollment. Reduces and caps retirement fund contributions (Ballot Number 06-5) .
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Statewide_Bal_Prop_Status_145801_7.pdf
Title: V. 6 (Prop. 5)
Source: http://www.michigan.gov/

CARejected by voters 07/2006P-12(1189. SA2005RF0126) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide public school funding by imposing a tax on real property that exempts certain senior homeowners, to provide for class size reduction, textbooks, school safety and violence prevention, academic success facility grants, and a data system to evaluate educational programs effectiveness. Provides facility grants exempt districts from current bond measure moneys unless that measure provides for such eligibility.
Title: V. 14 (Prop. 88)
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

NCSigned into law 07/2006P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Recodifies provisions of the executive budget act and the capital improvement planning act into a state budget act that revises and clarifies the procedures for preparing, enacting and administering the state buget. Requires all state agencies and non-state entities expending any state funds to expend them in accordance this policy.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2005/Bills/House/HTML/H914v4.html
Title: H.B. 914
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/

NYSigned into law 07/2006P-12Provides protection to any employee of a school district board of cooperative educational services or charter school who having reasonable cause to suspect that the fiscal practices or actions of an employee or officer of a school district, board of cooperative educational services, or charter school violates law, reports such information.
Title: A.B. 8925
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

RISigned into law 07/2006P-12Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, working with the Department of Administration, to establish a statewide purchasing system for products and services pertaining to public schools, which would include telecommunications, wireless services, general insurance products and services, and school transportation for children with special needs. Public Law No. 298
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText06/HouseText06/H6853.pdf
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText06/HouseText06/H6853A.pdf
Title: H.B. 6853; S.B. 2531
Source: Rhode Island Legislature

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

OKAdopted 05/2006P-12Changes the process school districts use to claim federal program funds. Implements an electronic reimbursement program which will allow school districts the ability to access their federal funds using a draw-down method.
http://www.oar.state.ok.us/register/Volume-23_Issue-24.htm
Title: OAC 210-25-3-7
Source: http://www.oar.state.ok.us/

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

ARSigned into law 04/2006P-12Requires detailed financial impact statements for administrative rules promulgated by the state board.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2006S1/public/HB1016.pdf
Title: H.B. 1016A
Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/

+ 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