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From the ECS State Policy Database 2007 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 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 Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Censorship Curriculum--Core Curriculum Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Excusal Curriculum--Family Living Education 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 Data-Driven Improvement Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development 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 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 AZ Adopted 12/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements R7-2-302.01, -302.02, -302.03 R7-2-302.01: Amends graduation requirements effective with the graduating class of 2012. Increases minimum number of math units from 2 to 3, and specifies that course content for at least two of the courses must include Number Sense and Operations; Data Analys... More... LA Adopted 12/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements LAC 28:CXV:2319, 2341, 2353, 2361, and 2363 Amends sections of Bulletin 741-Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators concerning curriculum and instruction. Makes the following changes: · Increases the Carnegie credits needed for a diploma from 23 to 24 by requiring a fourth year of math for high sch... More... LA Adopted 12/2007 P-12 Carnegie Credit for Middle School Students LAC 28:CXV.2321 Amends sections of Bulletin 741-Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators concerning the Carnegie Credit for Middle School Students. Provides students who are repeating the 8th grade because they have failed the mathematics and/or English language arts comp... More... LA Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Compulsory Attendance, Exit Exams LAC 28:CXV.1103, 2323, and 2324 Makes changes to Bulletin 741 - Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators: 1103: Allows students in danger of failing due to excessive absences to make up missed time in class sessions held outside the regular class time. The make-up sessions must be compl... More... MI Enacted 11/2007 P-12 High School Reform S.B. 403 Revises high school personal curriculum requirements for transfer pupils; relates to advanced placement, diplomas and merit standards requirements; includes nonpublic schools and out-of-state transfers; provides for the presence of counselors and a school psyc... More... GA Adopted 09/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements 160-4-2-.48 Amends graduation requirements for students enrolling in grade 9 for the first time in the 2008-2009 school year and subsequent years (graduating class of 2012). Replaces existing four curriculum pathways (college preparatory, college preparatory with distinct... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Waiver/Modification of Physical Education Mandate H.B. 1839 Provides that a state-board approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 2 school years and may be renewed no more than 2 times upon application by the eligible applicant. http://www.ilga.... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Students in Grades 7 and 8 Completing High School Courses S.B. 424 Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school dis... More... LA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Postsec. Minimum Scores on Specified Tests H.B. 634 Provides relative to minimum scores on specified tests that are required of certain home study students to be eligible for Tuition Opportunity Program for Students awards; provides relative to effectiveness; provides relative to the minimum cumulative high sch... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Early Exit from High School H.B. 2606 Allows school districts to award high school diploma to students who have satisfied graduation requirements in less than four years; allows students who have satisfied requirements for current grade level to advance to next grade level; establishes that the co... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Diploma Alternatives H.B. 2848 Requires students to meet standards set by the state board AND by the school district or charter school in order to receive a diploma. At or before grade 12, a school district or a public charter school is to award a high school diploma to a student who comple... More... ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 High School Graduation & Assessment Requirements H.B. 1295 Proposes changes in high school graduation requirements, assessments and overall high school program design to ensure that each student has an equitable opportunity to achieve the State's learning results and to graduate ready for college, career and citizensh... More... ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. College Application Requirement for High Schoolers H.P. 758; L.D. 1040 Resolves that the department of education implement methods to encourage districts to encourage secondary school students to complete at least one application to a college, university or other postsecondary educational institution. Provides these methods may i... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Dropout Reporting, Exit Exam Alternatives, Competency Based Credits S.B. 312 Expands the annual reports of accountability information to include the rate of pupils who drop out of school in grades 6, 7 and 8. Requires the State Board to prescribe alternative criteria that a pupil may satisfy to receive a standard high school diploma if... More... OK Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Passport to Financial Literacy Act H.B. 1476 Requires personal financial literacy education to be taught in public schools in the state; lists areas of instruction; directs school districts to provide personal financial literacy instruction; provides for integration of instruction into existing courses; ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements H.B. 1118 Concerns high school graduation requirements. Requires state board of education to set guidelines for high school graduation requirements for district school boards to use in developing local high school graduation requirements. The requirements must meet or e... More... GA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 American Sign Language S.B. 170 Provides that any student, not just a deaf student, may fulfill the foreign language requirements for a college preparatory curriculum seal of endorsement on a high school diploma by demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language. http://www.legis.state.g... More... IA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Sharing and Efficiency of Operations S.F. 447 Reinstates whole grade sharing incentives and reorganization incentives. Creates operational sharing incentives; Mandates a statewide study of efficiencies and sharing to be provided to the Legislature by January 2008. Provides additional weighting for distric... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 State Assessment System H.F. 2245 [High School Assessment] Amends state's high school assessment system. Phases out MCA II's and phases in Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD) exam. Establishes achievement levels necessary for passge of exam. (Sections 10 + 36) http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbi... More... NC Adopted 05/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements 16 NCAC 6D.0503 Effective with students entering grade 9 in the 2009-2010 school year, eliminates four courses of study leading to high school graduation. Replaces with Future Ready Core, which includes 4 units English, 4 units math, 3 units social studies, 3 units science, 1... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Alternate Paths to a High School Diploma H.B. 1546 Requires the state board of education to study alternative paths to high school diplomas for students who do not pass Gateway exams and to report to the house and senate education committees by January 1, 2008. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentg... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 End-of-Course Tests H.B. 2237 (End of Course Assessment Provisions) Requires development and implementation of college-prep courses and end-of-course assessments (mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts) in school districts beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, with implementation of the requirement... More... DE Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements H.B. 18 Extends the current requirements for receiving either a State of Delaware Distinguished diploma or traditional State of Delaware diploma for students graduating through and including the Class of 2009- 10. The delay is based on pending changes to the Delaware ... More... MS Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Mississippi Healthy Student Act S.B. 2369 Requires a minimum period of physical activity-based instruction for students in K-8 and requires one unit of physical education for high school graduation. Effective for 2008-09 school year, local school wellness plans must promote physical activity, healthy ... More... ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements S.B. 2309 This bill establishes high school graduation requirements effective 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2011-12. Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, the number of units required increases to twenty-two and beginning with the 2011-12 school year, the number of units requ... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. High School Redesign H.B. 584/S.B. 561 Provides for high school redesign. Directs the department of education to establish a readiness assessment system to measure the readiness of every New Mexico high school student for success in higher education or a career no later than the 2008-2009 school ye... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Financial Literacy as an Elective H.B. 1205 Requires that financial literacy be offered as a high school elective. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB1205.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Participation in Graduation Ceremony S.B. 673 This bill provides that a school district to issue a certificate of attendance to a student who receives special education services, and who has completed four years of high school but has not completed the student's individualized education program. The bill... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Alternative Pathways to a Diploma H.B. 1051 Finds that the state's commitment to providing a basic education for all public school students under the age of twenty-one should continue until a student earns a diploma. Therefore the legislature intends to expand high school completion programs at communit... More... LA Adopted 03/2007 P-12 High School Coursetaking LAC 28:CXV.2319 Adds Database Programming with PL/SQL, Java Programming, Database Design and Programming and Digital Media I/II to the computer/technology courses that may fulfill the 1 unit computer/technology requirement for an optional career area of concentration. Pages 8... More... LA Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Handbook for School Administrators LAC 28:CXV.337, 1121, 2301, 2319, 2321, 2357, 2363 Clarifies that grade 8 students wishing to take a course for high school credit must as a course prerequisite demonstrate mastery of the eighth grade grade-level expectations in that content area by passing an exam developed by the department of education. Pag... More... MA Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Competency Standards and Certificate of Mastery for High School Graduation 603 CMR 30.00, -31.00 Enhances the Competency Determination standard for high school graduation and revises the Certificate of Mastery to increase the proportion of public high school graduates prepared for college, careers and citizenship. Changes the criteria for Certificates of ... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Concept-Based Fitness Class S.B. 2354 Amends graduation requirement of one-half unit of physical education during each school year to include the following: Once every four years the unit must be a concept-based fitness class that includes instruction in the assessment, improvement, and maintenanc... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Career & Technical Education Diploma S.B. 1147, H.B. 2039 Directs the Board of Education to establish the requirements for a technical diploma, which must meet or exceed the requirements of a standard diploma and include a concentration in career and technical education. The bill is identical to HB 2039, which also p... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Standards, Assessment, Professional Development & Code of Conduct Updates S.B. 795 Provides for the phasing out of the eighth grade cumulative history test in the 2007-2008 school year, and the implementation of the United States History to 1877, United States History: 1877 to the Present, and Civics and Economics tests in the 2008-2009 scho... More... MD Adopted 02/2007 P-12 Alternative Ways to Earn a High School Diploma COMAR 13A.03.03.01 Ensures state alignment with national policies of the American Council on Education and consistency within the operations of the Maryland State Department of Education. Extends eligibility to students who obtained a Maryland High School Certificate of Program ... More... OH Adopted 02/2007 P-12 Diploma with Honors Criteria OAC 3301-13-07, -16-01, -02 Revises criteria for awarding the diploma with honors for both the college preparatory and career-technical curriculum options, effective with the Class of 2011. Reduces criteria eligible students must meet to 7 out of 8 for both curriculum options (through Cl... More... ID Adopted 01/2007 P-12 Postsec. Graduation Requirements and Advanced Opportunities IDAPA 08.02.03 Increases total number of credits required for high school graduation to 46 credits (23 Carnegie units) starting with the 2013 graduating class. Increases math requirements to 3 units and science requirements to 3 units. Requires students to take the ACT, SAT,... More... OR Adopted 01/2007 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements Memo #011-2006-07 Increases high school graduation requirements: Math: Eff. Class of 2014, the 3 units of math will be Algebra I level and above. Science: Eff. Class of 2012, science units increase from 2 to 3. Two of the 3 units must be lab sciences. Arts/Second Languages/Pro... More... 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 Baccalaureate 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 Mentoring/Tutoring 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 Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding 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 Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Religion Religion--Prayer/Meditation Remediation (K-12) 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 Social/Emotional Learning and Non-Cognitive Skills 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 State Policymaking State Policymaking--Ballot Questions State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Mobility 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--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 Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Internet Safety Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban