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
+ 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
+ Curriculum--Speech Education
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Demographics
+ 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
+ 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
OHSigned into law 11/2007P-12Permits school districts that are not eligible for state payments for all-day kindergarten to charge tuition on a sliding scale for all-day kindergarten classes. Requires the Department of Education to issue an annual report on tuition charged by school districts for all-day kindergarten. Requires the Department of Education, by April 30, 2008, to issue a report on fees charged by school districts for (1) classes or programs that are offered during the regular school day or after school and for which students earn credit or are assigned grades, (2) instructional materials, and (3) summer school.
Analysis and summary: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses127/h0190-rs-127.pdf
Title: H.B. 190 -- Multiple Components
Source: http://www.lsc.state.oh.us

MAIssued 08/2007P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Establishes the Readiness Project to develop a plan to implement fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next ten years. The project will have three chairs appointed by the Governor. 

The plan will include recommendations to:
(1) Deliver universal and high quality early education for three- and four-year-olds as well as Full-Day kindergarten;
(2) Expand time for teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools;
(3) Extend education an additional two years beyond secondary school to better prepare students for higher education, work and citizenship;
(4) Align curricula from pre-Kindergarten through high school, higher education and work force development, including with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math as well as other subjects and methods that enhance creativity and problem-solving skills;
(5) Structure and support a reasonable degree of school choice, including charter and pilot schools, so that all serve as complementary components of a comprehensive system; (6) Recruit, retain and develop strong educators and administrators at all levels;
(7) Streamline and strengthen teacher certification and licensing;
(8) Improve the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and introduce additional appropriate standards and assessments to measure other aspects of students' academic development;
(9) Fund the education system adequately, equitably and reliably, including for students with special educational needs;
(10) Facilitate collaboration between and among the Commonwealth's public and private institutions of higher education;
(11) Strengthen the structure and clarify the mission of the institutions that comprise the University of Massachusetts system and all public higher education institutions in the Commonwealth;
(12) Implement an effective and efficient accountability system for students, instructors and administrators from pre-Kindergarten through higher education that enables authorities both to review performance and to target assistance where it is most needed; and
(13) Leverage information technology throughout the system to improve instruction, student acquisition of skills, administrative processes, and the quality of and access to data. implements fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years.
http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/Executive%20Orders/executive_order_489.pdf
Title: Executive Order No. 489
Source: http://www.mass.gov

INSigned into law 05/2007P-12From Center for Evaluation & Education Policy: Appropriates money for state agencies and makes other distributions. Specifies a school funding formula. Requires a study of the efficiency and effectiveness of charter schools. Changes references from vocational education to career and technical education. Creates a prekindergarten pilot program. Increases tuition support by approximately 3.7% in FY2008 and 3.6% in FY2009. Funds the Early Literacy Intervention Grant and the Reading Diagnostic Assessment programs at the continued level of $3.7 million/year and $1 million/year, respectively. Increases textbook reimbursement from $19.9 million to $39.9 million. Funds Full-Day Kindergarten at $33.5 million in FY2008 and $58.5 million in FY2009 with a cap of $2,500 per FDK student. Non-English Speaking Program funds were increased by $6.2 million to $6.9 million/year. Gifted and Talented Program funds were increased by $7.18 million to a level of $12.78 million/year. Testing and Remediation monies were increased by $10 million to a total of $41 million/year, while GQE Remediation funds remained level at $4.9 million/year. Creates funding of up to $100,000/year for school consolidation studies that school corporations can apply directly to the IDOE to use in order to assess the feasibility of consolidation or merging services with another corporation. Funds the school finance studies conducted by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University at $140,000/year. Requires a comprehensive study of the efficiency and effectiveness of charter schools in Indiana and commissions the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy to complete the study. Keeps funding for summer school constant at $18.36 million/year. Funds education service centers at $2.32 million/year. Funds the Principals' Leadership Academy at $462,832/year. The Technology Grant Program was funded at $5 million for the biennium. Funds the School
Business Officials Academy at $150,000/year.
Title: H.B. 1001
Source: Center for Evaluation & Education Policy

MTSigned into law 05/2007P-12Provides full-time Average Number Belonging funding for school districts that enroll students in full-time kindergarten. Provides start-up funding for districts transitioning from half-day to full-day programs. A kindergarten program must meet the state minimum aggregate hour requirements. A kindergarten program that is designated as a full-time program must allow a parent, guardian or other person who is responsible for the enrollment of a child in school to enroll the child half-time.
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/specsess/0507/billhtml/SB0002.htm
Title: S.B. 2A (Kindergarten)
Source: http://data.opi.mt.gov

NDSigned into law 04/2007P-12Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, a full day of instruction consists of: (1) At least five and one-half hours for kindergarten and elementary students, during which time the students are required to be in attendance for the purpose of receiving curricular instruction. Previously, kindergarten not included in the full day definition.
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HAFK1400.pdf
Title: S.B. 2200 (kindergarten section)
Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov

NYSigned into law 04/2007P-12Authorizes the commissioner to award grants to districts that operated half-day kindergarten programs in the 2006-2007 school year, and that will continue to operate such half-day programs in the 2007-2008 school year, to plan for conversion to full-day kindergartens only in the school year next following the school year in which the planning grant is received, but no later than the 2010-2011 school year. Directs the commissioner to prescribe the procedures and criteria for the award of such grants, which are to be available to districts to defray the additional costs for planning time, the cost of classroom materials, equipment, furniture and supplies not eligible for aid in specified other sections of statute, where such additional costs are incurred in planning for the facilities and staffing that will be needed for such conversion. Provides no district may receive more than one such planning grant.

Directs that $8,500,000 must be paid to the Yonkers City School District on an annual basis to provide additional funding for the costs of educational improvement plans required as a result of a court-ordered settlement in a school desegregation case to which the state was a party. Provides grant funds must be used exclusively for services and expenses incurred by the district to implement such educational improvement plans.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2107
Title: S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 38
Source: assembly.state.ny.us

WASigned into law 04/2007P-12Provides that, beginning with the 2007-08 school year, funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten programs shall be phased-in beginning with schools with the highest poverty levels, defined as those schools with the highest percentages of students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch support in the prior school year. Once a school receives funding for the all-day kindergarten program, that school shall remain eligible for funding in subsequent school years regardless of changes in the school's percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches as long as other program requirements are fulfilled.

Provides that schools receiving all-day kindergarten program support shall agree to the following conditions: (1) Providing at least a one thousand-hour instructional program; (2) Providing a curriculum that offers a rich, varied set of experiences that assist students in: (a) developing initial skills in the academic areas of reading, mathematics, and writing; (b) developing a variety of communication skills; (c) providing experiences in science, social studies, arts, health and physical education, and a world language other than English; (d) acquiring large and small motor skills; (e) acquiring social and emotional skills including successful participation in learning activities as an individual and as part of a group; (f) establishing learning environments that are developmentally appropriate and promote creativity; and (g) learning through hands-on experiences; (3) Demonstrating strong connections and communication with early learning community providers; and (4) Participating in kindergarten program readiness activities with early learning providers and parents.

Authorizes four demonstration projects. Requires the Washington state institute for public policy to conduct an evaluation of the demonstration projects under this act. Student, staff, program, and parent data shall be collected using various instruments including surveys, program and activity descriptions, student performance measures, observations, and other processes.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5841-S2.SL.pdf
Title: S.B. 5841
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov/

UTSigned into law 03/2007P-12Establishes a program, administered by the State Board of Education, through which school districts and charter schools may provide voluntary extended-day kindergarten, with certain funding priorities. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/sbillint/sb0049s03.htm
Title: S.B. 49
Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us/

COSigned into law 02/2007P-12Authorizes a school district, upon voter approval, to impose an additional mill levy for purposes of funding the school district's excess full-day kindergarten costs. Allows the question submitted to the voters to also include a question of whether to impose an additional mill levy of a stated amount and limited duration to fund the capital construction needs associated with the school district's full-day kindergarten program.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/17AF271E6545AD6087257251007B9651?Open&file=026_enr.pdf
Title: S.B. 26
Source: Colorado Legislature

+ 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
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+ 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
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+ 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
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+ Rural
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+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
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+ School Safety
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+ School Safety--Code of Conduct
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+ School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension
+ School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools
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+ 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
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Ballot Questions
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ STEM
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ Students
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ Students--Incentives
+ 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
+ Whole Child