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
+ 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
ILSigned into law 11/2007P-12
Community College
Postsec.
Requires the state community college board to create a 3-year college and career readiness pilot program, beginning with the high school class of 2008, to meet the following goals:
(1) To diagnose college readiness by developing a system to align ACT scores to specific community college courses in developmental and freshman curriculums.
(2) To reduce remediation by decreasing the need for remedial coursework in mathematics, reading, and writing at the college level by (i) increasing the number of students enrolled in a college-prep core curriculum, (ii) assisting students in improving college readiness skills, and (iii) increasing successful student transitions into postsecondary education.
(3) To align high school and college curriculums.
(4) To provide resources and academic support to students to enrich the senior year of high school through remedial or advanced coursework and other interventions.
(5) To develop an appropriate evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of readiness intervention strategies.

Directs the state board to select four community colleges to participate in the program, based on the number of students in developmental courses, student demographics, geographic diversity, the college's willingness to submit developmental and introductory courses to ACT for analysis of college placement, and the college's ability to partner with local high schools to develop college and career readiness strategies and college readiness teams. Directs the state board to work with ACT to analyze up to 10 courses at each college to determine student placement and college readiness. Directs each participating community college to establish an agreement with one or more high schools to:
(A) Create a data-sharing agreement.
(B) Create a Readiness Prescription for each student, showing all of the following:
(i) The readiness status for college-level work.
(ii) Course recommendations for remediation or for advanced coursework in Advanced Placement classes or dual credit and dual enrollment programs.
(iii) Additional academic support services, including tutoring, mentoring, and college application assistance.
(C) Create college and career readiness teams of faculty and counselors or advisers from the community college and high school, the college and career readiness coordinator from the community college, and other members as determined by the high school and community college. Provides the the teams may include
local business or civic leaders. Directs the teams to develop intervention strategies by:
(i) Using the Readiness Prescription to develop a contract with each student for remedial or advanced coursework to be taken during the senior
year.
(ii) Monitor student progress.
(iii) Provide readiness support services.
(D) Retest students in the spring of 2008 to assess progress and college readiness.

Directs the state board to work with participating community colleges and high schools to develop an evaluation process that includes specified criteria, including student enrollment in college in fall 2008, placement of college and career readiness students in developmental and regular courses in the fall of 2008, and retention of college and career readiness students in spring semester 2009. Directs the state board to work with participating community colleges and high schools to establish operational processes and a budget for college and career readiness pilot programs, including employment of a college and career readiness
coordinator at each community college site.

Provides that in year two of the program, beginning with the Class of 2009, the state board must additionally:
(1) Analyze courses at 3 new community college sites.
(2) Undertake intervention strategies through college and career readiness teams with students in the class of 2009.
(3) Monitor and assist college and career readiness graduates from the class of 2008 in college.

Provides that in year three of the program, beginning with the Class of 2010, the state board must:
(1) Analyze courses at 5 additional community college sites.
(2) Add college and career readiness teams at 3 new sites (from year 2 of the program).
(3) Undertake intervention strategies through college and career readiness teams with students of the class of 2010 at 7 sites.
(4) Monitor and assist students from the classes of 2008 and 2009 in college.

Adds an immediate effective date. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/95/PDF/095-0694.pdf
Title: S.B. 858
Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation

ORSigned into law 07/2007P-12
Postsec.
Abolishes Certificate of Initial Mastery and Certificate of Advanced Mastery. From the staff summary: The Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) were originally included in the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century in 1991, but the exact requirements and implementation dates were changed and/or delayed during several successive legislative sessions. The CIM represents standards of knowledge and skill proficiencies that students can demonstrate in English, mathematics, and science and are benchmarked to the 10th grade level. The CAM combines achievement of the CIM with additional academic proficiencies and career-related proficiencies achieved through a variety of hands-on, real-world learning experiences. HB 2263C abolishes the CIM and CAM but keeps the associated academic content standards and assessments. According to the Department of Education, many sections of the law removed by HB 2263C were never funded or implemented. Local school districts were required to make available components of the CIM but it was never required statewide for graduation (although some individual school districts did incorporate a modified CIM into local graduation requirements). The CAM is still not available to all students as the full implementation date is September 2008. The State Board of Education adopted new high school diploma requirements in January 2007.

Allows school districts to prepare budgets annually or biennially. Allows assessments for a specific group of students to be waived or allows a student to request that a school district waive assessment. Allows a school district to award an alternative credential to a student who does not satisfy the requirements if the student, with additional services and accommodations, does not satisfy the requirements for a diploma. Directs department to contract with nonprofit entity to administer, with department, nationally-normed assessment to all grade 10 students to predict success of students on college entrance exams. Provides contractor selection criteria. Requires provision of assessment during 2008-2009 school year. The purpose of the assessment is to predict the success of students on, and provide practice for students taking, college entrance exams; to identify students with high potential to excel in advanced placement (AP) or other honors courses based on a research-based correlation of scores on the grade 10 assessment to advanced placement examinations; to examine students in mathematics, reading and writing; and to provide results that can be used by Oregon's higher education institutions to recruit students to attend college.

Also modifies Early Childhood Improvement Program. Eliminates Learning Centers, Oregon 21st Century Schools Program, School Improvement and Professional Development Program, and Statewide Literacy Hotline.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/hb2200.dir/hb2263.c.pdf
Title: H.B. 2263C - Certificates of Mastery and State Assessments
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

TXSigned into law 06/2007P-12
Postsec.
Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to adopt rules establishing a standard method for computing a student's high school grade point average in a certain manner. The bill also requires the annual report each general academic teaching institution (institution) is required to submit to THECB to include the high school grade point average in the demographic breakdown describing the composition of the institution's entering class of students. Also requires each institution to adopt a written policy to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer students to the institution.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB03851F.pdf
Title: H.B. 3851
Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

TXSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.Existing law requires general academic teaching institutions to automatically admit students who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class. New provision specifies that such students must have completed (1) the recommended or advanced high school program or its equivalent at a private high school, or (2) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment or earned at least 1,500 out of 2,400 (or the equivalent) on the SAT. Also lists administrative procedures a student graduating in the top 10% of his/her high school class must follow to qualify for automatic admission. Requires institutions of higher education to automatically admit any undergraduate applicant who is the child of a public servant killed in the line of duty and who meets the minimum requirements, if any, established for these purposes by the governing board of the institution relating to high school or prior college-level grade point average and performance on standardized tests.

Existing law requires general academic teaching institutions to determine whether to adopt a policy to automatically admit first-time freshman applicants graduating in the top 25% of the applicant's high school class. New provision specifies that such students graduating in the top 25% must have completed the recommended or advanced high school program (or equivalent) and other specified requirements.

Directs the higher education coordinating board to determine, for purposes of postsecondary admissions, (1) whether a private high school is accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization, and (2) whether a person completed a high school curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to the requirements for the recommended or advanced high school program.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB03826F.pdf
Title: H.B. 3826
Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

VASigned into law 03/2007Postsec.
Community College
Revises the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to clarify that qualified survivors and dependents shall be admitted to any public institution of higher education or other public accredited postsecondary institution of higher education or other public accredited postsecondary institution granting a degree, diploma, or certificate in the Commonwealth of Virginia, free of tuition and all required fees. Establishes the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Fund to provide financial assistance for board and room charges, books and supplies, and other expenses. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is responsible for disbursing funds appropriated or otherwise made available to support the Fund.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+CHAP0116
Title: H.B. 2179
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

IDAdopted 01/2007P-12
Postsec.
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, or COMPASS test in the 11th grade, and to complete a senior project. Requires all school districts to provide at least one Advanced Opportunity (AP, IB, dual credit or Tech Prep) for all students.
Page 117-122 of 647: http://adm.idaho.gov/adminrules/bulletin/bul/06oct.pdf

This measure was approved by the state board of education in 2006 and received approval from the House and Senate Education Committees in January 2007 (state policy does not require board policies to be approved by the full House and Senate).
Title: IDAPA 08.02.03
Source: adm.idaho.gov

+ 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
+ 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