ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2007 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 2007. 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
+ 21st Century Skills
+ Accountability
+ Accountability--Accreditation
+ Accountability--Measures/Indicators
+ Accountability--Reporting Results
+ Accountability--Rewards
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play
+ 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--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization)
+ 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--Charter Districts
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings
+ 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
+ Class Size
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Censorship
+ Curriculum--Core Curriculum
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+ Curriculum--Environmental Education
+ Curriculum--Excusal
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+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Geography Education
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ Curriculum--Language Arts
+ Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling
+ Curriculum--Mathematics
+ Curriculum--Physical Education
+ Curriculum--Science
+ Curriculum--Sex Education
+ Curriculum--Social Studies/History
+ Curriculum--Speech Education
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Demographics
+ Desegregation
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+ Education Research
+ Equity
+ Federal
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--Aid to Private Schools
+ Finance--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ 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--Mandates
+ 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
ILSigned into law 08/2007P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Deletes references to the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Committee and the Committee and replaces them with references to the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB1643lv.pdf
Title: H.B. 1643
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

HISigned into law 06/2007P-12
Postsec.
Authorizes the department of health to establish a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program that focused on young people ages 10-24 to:
(1)  Create public awareness for issues relating to youth suicide prevention;
(2)  Build community networks concerning youth suicide prevention; and
(3)  Carry out suicide prevention training programs for law enforcement personnel, health care providers, school and University of Hawaii employees, and other persons who have contact with individuals at risk of suicide.

Authorizes the department of health to provide appropriate research, training, and technical assistance to carry out the program, including:
(1)  Providing oversight of youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies;
(2)  Identifying and understanding causes and associated risk factors of youth suicide;
(3)  Analyzing the efficacy of new and existing youth suicide early intervention techniques and technologies;
(4)  Examining trends in youth suicidal behaviors and nonfatal suicide attempts;
(5)  Evaluating and disseminating outcomes and best practices of mental and behavioral health services at institutions of higher education; and
(6)  Other activities deemed appropriate by the director of health.

Authorizes the department of health to submit proposals for funding from federal agencies and private organizations to support the statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/HB55_CD1_.htm
Title: H.B. 55
Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov

FLSigned into law 05/2007P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Creates the statewide Office for Suicide Prevention as a unit of the drug control office in the office of the governor. Directs the office to:

(1) Develop a network of community-based programs to improve suicide prevention initiatives and work to eliminate barriers to providing suicide prevention services to individuals at risk of suicide. Provides that the network must include schools and universities and school personnel.
(2) Prepare and implement the statewide plan with the advice of the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
(3) Increase public awareness about suicide prevention.
(4) Coordinate education and training curricula in suicide prevention efforts for various role groups, including school employees.

Creates the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council within the statewide office. Directs the coordinating council to advise the statewide office on the development
of a statewide plan for suicide prevention, with the guiding principle that suicide is a preventable problem. Directs the council to make findings and recommendations on suicide prevention programs and activities, and submit an annual report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives. Provides that the council must include members representing the Florida Association of School Psychologists and the Florida School Board Association. Directs the state commissioner of education or his/her designee to serve on the council. Directs the council to meet at least quarterly and makes an appropriation to cover the costs of two full-time equivalent positions to implement this act during the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/laws/07laws/ch_2007-046.pdf
Title: H.B. 139
Source: election.dos.state.fl.us

TNSigned into law 04/2007P-12Creates the Jason Flatt Act of 2007 to require that in-service training for teachers and principals include at least two hours of instruction in suicide prevention each school year.
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB0057.pdf
Title: S.B. 57, H.B. 101
Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us

IDSigned into law 03/2007P-12Defines "teens at risk" as public school students in grades 7-12 who have been identified as expressing or exhibiting indications of depression, suicidal inclination, emotional trauma, substance abuse or other behaviors or symptoms that indicate the existence of, or that may lead to, the development of mental illness or substance abuse. Authorizes the department of health and welfare, the state department of education, the department of juvenile corrections, counties, courts and local school districts to collaborate in planning and developing mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and recovery support services and individual service plans for teens at risk.

Creates new section creating a 3-year pilot teen early intervention mental health and substance abuse specialist program. Provides that teen early intervention specialists are to work with individual at-risk teens to offer group counseling, recovery support, suicide prevention and other mental health and substance abuse counseling services to teens as needed, regardless of mental health diagnosis. Provides that districts wishing to have a teen early intervention mental health and substance abuse specialist placed in the district may apply may apply to the department of health and welfare for such placement.

For 3-year period beginning at the start of the 2008 school year, directs the department of health and welfare to work with districts where teen early intervention specialists have been placed to gather data on the effectiveness of this program. Session Law Chapter 309
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1147.html
Title: S.B. 1147
Source: www3.state.id.us

VASigned into law 03/2007Postsec.
Community College
Directs the governing boards of each public institution of higher education to develop and implement policies that advise students, faculty, and staff, including residence hall staff, of the proper procedures for identifying and addressing the needs of students that exhibit suicidal tendencies or behavior. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB3064ER
Title: H.B. 3064
Source: http://legis.state.va.us/

+ 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--Constructivism
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Official English
+ Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ International Benchmarking
+ 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
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--African American
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ 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--Finance
+ No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement
+ 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 Content Standards and Assessment
+ P-3 Early Intervention (0-3)
+ P-3 Ensuring Quality
+ P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits
+ P-3 Family Involvement
+ P-3 Finance
+ P-3 Governance
+ P-3 Grades 1-3
+ P-3 Health and Mental Health
+ P-3 Kindergarten
+ P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten
+ P-3 Preschool
+ P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Partnerships--University/School
+ 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 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 Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth
+ Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional
+ Postsecondary Students--Military
+ Postsecondary Students--Minority
+ Postsecondary Success--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics)
+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Rural
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ 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--District Size
+ 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
+ Special Populations--Migrant Education
+ Special Populations--Military
+ Standards
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
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+ Student Achievement
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+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
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+ Students
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+ Students--Incentives
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+ 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--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects
+ Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Teaching Quality--Working Conditions
+ Technology
+ Technology--Computer Skills
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+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban
+ Whole Child