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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 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 NJ Signed into law 12/2007 P-12 Notifying Division of Youth and Family Services of Certain Absences A.B. 868 Requires school districts to notify Division of Youth and Family Services of certain pupil absences; relates to abused and neglected children. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/AL07/248_.PDF... More... OH Signed into law 12/2007 P-12 Penalty for Inducing Panic; Calamity Days H.B. 142 Increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school or an institution of higher education is involved; permits school districts to make up calamity days caused other than by a bomb threat in excess of the total number of day... More... MI Enacted 11/2007 P-12 Student Expulsion/Suspension Policies S.B. 571 Relates to application of mandatory expulsion provisions for special education students; clarifies the relationship with federal law; provides for an immediate evaluation by the intermediate school district of which the school district is constituent; provides... More... CA Signed into law 10/2007 P-12 Proprietary security officers S.B. 666 Requires a proprietary private security officer to complete training in security officer skills within a specified period of time. Requires the Department of Consumer Affairs to develop a standard course and curriculum for such training to be administered by a... More... CA Signed into law 09/2007 Community College Emergency Preparedness S.B. 166 Makes legislative findings and declarations regarding emergency preparedness plans. Requires the Office of the Chancellor of the Community Colleges, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services and the Office of Homeland Security, to develop emergency... More... CA Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 safe schools S.B. 777 Revises the list of prohibited bases of discrimination and the kinds of prohibited instructions and activities in public or private elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary education institutions in the state. Adds any characteristic contained in the... More... CA Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 Safety/student discipline A.B. 394 Requires the Department of Education to monitor adherence to the antidiscrimination and antiharassment requirements as part of its regular monitoring and review of local educational agencies and to assess whether schools have done certain things, including, am... More... IL Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 Reckless Homicide in a Posted School Zone S.B. 363 Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that a person commits reckless homicide if he or she unintentionally kills an individual while driving in a posted school zone while children are present and was also either driving at a speed of more than 20 miles pe... More... OK Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Annual Lock Down Drills OAC 210:35-3-186 Added provision requiring all public schools to have a minimum of one lockdown drill each school year. All students and employees are required to participate in the drills, with the extent of student involvement to be determined by the district. Each school di... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Green Cleaning Schools Act H.B. 895 Creates the Green Cleaning Schools Act. Requires the Green Government Coordinating Council, in consultation with other agencies and interested stakeholders, to establish and amend on an annual basis guidelines and specifications for environmentally-sensitive c... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Training in CPR and Using a Defibrillator H.B. 258 Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Requires the state board of education, subject to appropriation, to establish and administer a matching grant program to pay for half of the cost a school district incurs in training t... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Safety Education H.B. 3327 Provides safety education in public schools includes instruction on the consequences of alcohol consumption and the operation of a motor vehicle. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB3327lv.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Gang Resistance Education and Training H.B. 438 Defines "gang resistance education and training" as instruction in conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity, personal goal setting and resisting peer pressure, when accompanied by a stated objective of reducing gang activity and educating K-12 students about ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Right-of-Way to a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk in a School Zone S.B. 441 Creates the offense of failure to stop for or yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk in a school zone. Provides that a first violation is a petty offense with a minimum fine . Provides that a second or subsequent violation is a petty offense wit... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Pre-service Safety Education Instruction S.B. 395 Requires the curriculum for preservice teachers to include instruction in safety education. Provides that this instruction must be appropriate to the grade level of the teaching certificate. Provides this instruction may be by specific courses in safety educat... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Sex Offenders' Polling Places H.B. 263 Provides that when a sex offender's precinct polling place is a school and the offender will be unable to enter the school to vote because the offender is a child sex offender, the offender may vote early or by absentee ballot. Requires that an election author... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Internet Safety Education Act S.B. 1472 Creates the Internet Safety Education Act. Provides that each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum for Internet safety instruction of students in grades K-12. Recommends a minimum of two hours of instruction each school year on: (1) Safe and respon... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Reckless Driving H.B. 508 Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Amends the Vehicle Code. Provides that, if a defendant commits reckless driving on a public thoroughfare where children pass going to and from school when a school crossing guard is performing official duties, the person who c... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Increase in Size of Safe Zones S.B. 8 Increases the safe zones near child care centers and school grounds regarding illegal drug sales from 300 feet to 1,000 feet. Expands the safe zone for public parks to include all public parks, not just those with playgrounds. Increases the distance of those s... More... NY Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Victims of False Bomb or Incident Reports S.B. 1869 Provides that the term victim for purposes of falsely reporting an bomb or incident shall include a municipality, school, fire district, fire company, or legal or public entity engaged in providing emergency services, which has expended funds for the purposes ... More... CT Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 School Security Grants S.B. 1110 Establishes a school security competitive grant program to reimburse towns for certain expenses for schools under the school district for the development or improvement of the security infrastructure of the school, including the installation of surveillance ca... More... LA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Student Expulsion S.B. 265 Changes mandatory expulsion periods for certain student offenses; provides for student participation in appropriate rehabilitation or counseling programs; provides for student admission to regular and alternative education programs; relates to compliance monit... More... MA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Housing for Sex Offenders H.B. 1441 Regulates housing for convicted sex offenders. Provides restrictions for offenders residing within a certain distance of school zones in the commonwealth.... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Restraint Systems on School Buses S.B. 812 Requires passenger safety restraint systems be installed and used on new school buses operated by public or private schools. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/HTML/S812v0.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Release of School Personnel Files H.B. 550 Modifies the law pertaining to the confidentiality of school personnel files. Provides that information contained in a personnel file that is relevant to possible criminal misconduct may be made available to law enforcement and the district attorney to assist ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 False Reporting of Violence Mass Violence H.B. 1347 Makes it a criminal offense to make a false report by any means of communication to any person or groups of persons, knowing or having reason to know the report is false, that an act of mass violence is going to occur on educational property or at a curricular... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Bus Drivers Using Cell Phones H.B. 183 Makes it unlawful to use additional technology or a mobile telephone to engage in a call while operating a public or private school bus, a school activity bus, or providing contracted transportation services for a public or private school in any vehicle. http:... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Homebound Instruction for Students With Disabilities H.B. 14 Authorizes homebound instruction for discipline purposes when it is the least restrictive alternative for students with disabilities. Requires a regular evaluation of the appropriateness of the homebound instruction. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/B... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Parental Notice of Suspension or Expulsion H.B. 1739 Ensures that parents receive actual notice of a student's expulsion or suspension from school. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/PDF/H1739v0.pdf... More... NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Out of District Placement H.B. 205 Requires the court to notify a school district anytime the court is considering an out-of-district placement to give the school district an opportunity to send a representative to the placement hearing. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB0205.h... More... NJ Adopted 07/2007 P-12 Programs to Support Student Services NJAC 6A:16-1.3 and 4.1; NJAC 6A:16-4.4 Amends rules regarding programs to support student development. Relates to voluntary policies for the random testing of student alcohol or other drug use, which is limited to students participating in extracurricular activities. Establishes requirements for vo... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Cyberbullying H.B. 2637 Defines cyberbullying as any electronic communication device to harass, intimidate or bully and requires school districts to adopt policy prohibiting cyberbullying as part of their harassment, intimidation and bullying policies. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07re... More... RI Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Sanctions for Use of Alcohol, Drugs, Weapons H.B. 5352 Provides that the discipline for any public school student who is in possession or use of alcohol, drugs or weapons, would be imposed on a case-by-case basis pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the school committee for that district; specifies that the guide... More... RI Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Evacuation and Lockdown Drills S.B. 1053 Requires 2 evacuation drills and 2 lockdown drills to be included among the 15 mandatory drills which schools must conduct each year. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law07/law07234.htm... More... RI Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Dating Violence Education Program H.B. 6166 Requires school districts to implement dating violence procedures; requires school districts to incorporate an age-appropriate dating violence education program for grades 7 through 12 into the district's health education curriculum. http://www.rilin.state.ri.... More... TN Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Protection from Sexual Offenders S.B. 2048 Concerns Sexual Offenders; requires contracts for labor or services on school grounds or child care center grounds to require clause in contract that the contractor will not permit a sex offender to go on premises when children present and violation is breach ... More... TN Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Schools Against Violence in Education Act S.B. 1910 Concerns education; enacts the Schools Against Violence in Education Act, also known as the S.A.V.E Act; provides for emergency response and emergency management. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0548.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Placement of Students Who Are Sex Offenders S.B. 6 From fiscal note: [Part of} this bill would also define policies and procedures for notfication and placement of students required to register as sex offenders in either Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs or Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Prog... More... CT Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Suspension/Expulsion Waivers H.B. 7273 Concerns suspensions and expulsions by local and regional boards of education; provides that pupils who are facing their first suspension or expulsion and who complete a program and other conditions shall have an opportunity to have the term of the suspension ... More... ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Automated External Defibrillator H.B. 1247 Requires every school administrative unit to place an automated external defibrillator in each of the unit's school buildings and make it available for secondary school athletic events inside and outside the building. The bill requires the school administrativ... More... NH Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Site-Specific Emergency Response Plan H.B. 556 Requires public and nonpublic schools to develop and implement a site-specific emergency response plan which is based on and conforms to the Incident Command System and the National Incident Management System. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/H... More... NH Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Criminal Threatening H.B. 446 Adds criminal threatening to the definition of an act of theft, destruction, or violence within the safe school zones statute. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB0446.html... More... NJ Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Bullying Through Electronic Communications S.B. 993 Includes electronic communication in definition of public school harassment, intimidation or bullying; defines electronic communication to mean a communication transmitted by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, cellular p... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Students Caught With Gun on Campus, Jurisdiction of School Police Officers S.B. 354 Requires children who are taken into custody for possession of a firearm while on school property to submit to an evaluation by a qualified professional and a drug test. Revises the jurisdiction of school police officers under certain circumstances. http://ww... More... OK Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Rights of Student Victims H.B. 1051 States the right of student victims to be separated from student offenders at school and during school transportation; requires the Office of Juvenile Affairs to notify school districts when a student is adjudicated for certain sex offenses; requires school di... More... SC Signed into law 06/2007 Postsec. Jessica Horton Campus Crime Act S.B. 459 Enacts the Jessica Horton Campus Crime Act; provides that campus police officers shall notify and work with local law enforcement agencies on investigations of a death or rape resulting from an incident occurring on the campus of an institution of higher learn... More... TN Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 School Resource Officers S.B. 938 Adds a new section of law that requires school resource officers to be sworn police officers; provides that training courses for school resource officers shall be designed specifically for school policing. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Cha... More... TN Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Adds Reason for Suspension S.B. 247 Adds as a good reason for suspension, two or more students initiating a physical attack on an individual student on school property or at a school activity, including travel to and from school. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0402.... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 School Notification of Paroled Student S.B. 230 Provides that when notification of the transfer of a student who is on probation or parole is required, a parole or probation office must notify the superintendent or a person designated by the superintendent of the school district to which the student is retu... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Zero Tolerance for Felonies H.B. 2532 Relates to the expulsion and placement in alternative settings of public school students who engage in conduct constituting certain felonies. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02532F.pdf... More... VA Issued 06/2007 Postsec. Community College Review Panel E.O. 56 Executive Order 2007-53 creates a review panel to study the massacre at Virginia Tech University and to make recommendations for improving laws procedures and operations and agency response. http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/ExecutiveOrders/pdf/EO_5... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Safety Alert Policies S.B. 197 Concerns the Safe-2-Tell program for persons in schools. Sets forth the duties and functions of the safe-2-tell program and telephone hotline ("program") to allow persons in schools a means to anonymously report dangerous, violent, or criminal activities. Requ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Immunity Under Safe Schools Plan S.B. 227 Expands and clarifies the immunity for persons acting in good faith under a safe school plan, with regard to civil prosecution and civil liability. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/C665CD5CBD7FC082872572910060901F?open&file=227_... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Security for Buildings H.B. 1059 Concerns the School Security Infrastructure Grant Program; provides that the program may be used to remodel or renovate the infrastructure of schools to prevent intruders from entering schools and endangering children. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics200... More... IN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Autism and Asperger's Syndrome Training H.B. 1428 Requires every school corporation police officer to complete training to enable the officer to appropriately deal with individuals with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Allows a governing body to adjourn its schools to allow teachers, school administrators, and... More... IN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Safety S.B. 192 Directs each school's safe school committee to submit a copy of the floor plans for each building located on the school's property to the law enforcement agency and the fire department that have jurisdiction over the school.Provides that the floor plans must c... More... MD Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Student Record Confidentiality in Harassment Cases H.B. 383 Requires that the information contained in a specified form relating to harassment or intimidation in schools be kept confidential with specified exceptions; provides that specified information is not a part of a student's permanent educational record. http://... More... MD Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Student Discipline Guidelines S.B. 132 Requires the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines governing student discipline; requires local school systems to adopt rules and regulations and implement programs and activities governing student discipline that are consistent with the guidelines esta... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Prohibiting Electronic Bullying S.B. 646 Requires locally adopted anti-bullying policies to address bullying in all forms, including electronic forms and forms involving Internet use. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0646.0.html&session=ls85... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Safe Schools Levy H.F. 2245 [Safe Schools] Amends laws concerning safe schools levy. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Parental Consent Prior to Reporting of Sexual Offense Victim S.B. 57 Requires the parent of a child who is the victim of a sexual offense to give written consent before the name of the child may provided to a school. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB57_EN.pdf... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Police Officers S.B. 534 Authorizes the superintendent of schools of a school district to extend the jurisdiction of school police officers to streets adjacent to school property, buildings and facilities for the purpose of issuing traffic citations during the times that school is in ... More... OK Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Lockdown Drills S.B. 103 Requires a minimum of three lockdown drills at public schools; states purpose; requires conformance to certain plans and procedures; requires all students and employees to participate; directs state board to adopt rules to implement the provision. http://webse... More... OR Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Safe Routes to Schools Under Construction S.B. 242 Requires school districts to consider including safety improvements that create safer routes to schools as part of large construction projects. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0242.en.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Open Disciplinary Hearings S.B. 26 Concerns students; exempts from Open Meetings Act student disciplinary hearings conducted by school board after appeal by student, principal, principal teacher, or assistant principal of decision of disciplinary hearing authority unless student, parent or guar... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School District Police Departments H.B. 1765, S.B. 1451 Requires the department of education to study allowing districts to create school district police departments. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB1765.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 Postsec. Campus Police Officer Powers S.B. 276, H.B. 309 Adds campus police officers to present law enforcement officers authorized to conduct certain seizures of property and related forfeiture sales of such property. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB0276.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Notification Made to School Officials H.B. 594, S.B. 579 Expands the requirements for notification of school officials of the attendance of certain delinquent juveniles by expanding the offenses for which notice must be provided, adding additional persons to be provided notice, making failure to provide the notice p... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Notice to Schools of Student Offenses H.B. 594 Revises the offenses for which notice is required to be those described under present law and voluntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape by an authority figure, a prohibited weapon offense, unla... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Reasons for Suspension, Expulsion or Alternative Placement H.B. 928 Amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-2-203(a)(7) by deleting the subdivision in its entirety and by substituting instead the following: (7) Suspend, dismiss or alternatively place pupils when the progress, safety, or efficiency of the school makes it ne... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Potentially Dangerous Students H.B. 665 Provides that if a child convicted of a felony or undergoing inpatient mental health treatment must attend school pursuant to a court order, the principal is to be notified; provides that the principal of the school must develop a plan to allow the student to ... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Health and Safety H.B. 337 Requires the department of education to consider, in reviewing the lifetime wellness curriculum, instruction in school safety issues. Encourages the department to collaborate with the University of Tennessee in developing school safety instructional materials ... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Guns in School Parking Areas or Buses H.B. 2112 Prohibits the possession of a firearm if a person intentionally exhibits, uses, or threatens to exhibit or use a firearm in a manner intended to cause alarm or personal injury to another person or to damage school property in or on any property, including a pa... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Postsec. Automated External Defibrillator S.B. 7 Requires that at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) be made available at every public school campus, and school athletic competitions and practices, and that someone who knows how to use the AED be present at each location where the device is ava... More... WI Issued 05/2007 Postsec. Task Force on Campus Safety Executive Order No. 196 Relates to the creation to the Governor's Task Force on Campus Safety which will address coordination between campus officials and local law enforcement, availability of innovative communications systems, assessment of appropriate campus security and threat as... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Safety H.B. 2045 Relates to the continuation of the School Safety Oversight Committee. (Chapter 62) ... More... DE Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Bullying Prevention Act H.B. 7 Creates the School Bullying Prevention Act. The goals of this Act is to provide a safer learning environment for students attending public schools, including charter schools, in the State of Delaware and for the staff members of those institutions. This Bill r... More... IA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Human Growth and Development Curriculum H.F. 611 Defines "age-appropriate" and "research-based." Directs the department of education to develop age-appropriate and research-based materials for districts about the dangers of sexual exploitation by means of the Internet, including specific strategies to help s... More... ID Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 School Safety/Security Study S.B. 1238 (Section 4) Authorizes up to $150,000 to be expended by the superintendent of public instruction to conduct a study and develop plans that address the issue of school safety and security. Such plans must include compiling an inventory of security features currently in pl... More... IN Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Student Interrogation and Convictions H.B. 1382 Requires a parent to be notified if a student is being interrogated by the police on school property regarding an investigation in which the student may be a suspect. Requires a law enforcement agency to notify the chief administrative officer of the school or... More... KS Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Speeding Fines in School Zones S.B. 8 Doubles speeding fines in school zones. Page 11 of 12: http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/8.pdf... More... MS Signed into law 04/2007 Postsec. Community College Law Enforcement Officers' Employed by Postsecondary Insititutions Jurisdiction S.B. 3015 Expands the jurisdiction of law enforcement officers employed by Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi and state junior and community colleges to an area within 500 feet of university or college property. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us... More... MT Issued 04/2007 P-12 "Be Safe" Firearms Safety S.J.R. 16 Urges the office of hat the office of public instruction to encourage all public and private schools in the state to deliver the "Be Safe" Firearms Safety program to all students in grades 1 through 3 each school year. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billht... More... ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Prohibits Sexual Offenders Near Schools H.B. 1472 Prohibits sexual offenders from being near public and nonpublic schools and establishes penalties. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HBIU0500.pdf... More... OK Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Sex Offenders Barred from School Property S.B. 109 Relates to sex offenders; removes exception for certain person to be on school property. The deleted provision made an exception for a person who is a custodial parent or legal guardian of a child that is participating in a school-sanctioned or child-care-fac... More... OK Issued 04/2007 Postsec. CLASS Task Force Executive Order 2007-17 Establishes the Governor's CLASS Task Force otherwise known as the Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force. http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Executive/565.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Standards for School Resource Officers H.B. 1942 Requires each local education agency (LEA) to annually report to the Commissioner of Education within 30 days of the beginning of the school term, the employment standards the LEA has adopted for school resource officers and the methods of enforcing such stand... More... VA Vetoed, but veto overridden 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Fire Code Inspection Permit Fee Waiver H.B. 2048 Prohibits the State Fire Marshal from charging a fee for permits issued for the inspection of schools operated or conducted under the auspices of a religious institution. The bill has a two year sunset provision. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Cyber Bulling S.B. 5288 Provides that, by August 1, 2008, each school district shall amend its harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention policy to include a section addressing acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation that are conducted via electronic means by a student ... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Safe School Plans and Task Force on Gangs S.B. 5097 Schools and school districts are required to adopt, by September 1, 2008, and implement a safe school plan, consistent with the school mapping information system. Each plan must include required school safety policies and procedures; address emergency mitigati... More... MS Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Sex Offenders in School Zones S.B. 2825 Restricts the presence of sex offenders in school zones. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2007/html/SB/2800-2899/SB2825SG.htm... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. College Dormitory Concealed Firearms Restriction S.B. 251 Authorizes higher education institutions in the state to make a rule that allows a dormitory resident to request only roommates who are not licensed to carry a concealed firearm under law. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/sbillint/sb0251s02.htm... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Discipline and Conduct Amendments H.B. 286 Clarifies that school discipline and conduct provisions relate to all public schools, including charter schools; provides that it is unlawful to engage in disruptive student behavior; provides for standards, procedures, and administrative penalties to address ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Sex Offenders Prohibited On Schools, Pre-schools & Day Care Facilities H.B. 375 Prohibits sex offenders from being in specified protected areas, which include a public or private primary or secondary school that is not on the grounds of a correctional facility and any licensed day care or preschool facility; provides limited exceptions fo... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Criminal Background Checks H.B. 196 Directs the state Board of Regents to adopt a policy requiring an applicant for a position in a higher education institution that involves significant contact with a minor or a position that is security sensitive to submit to a criminal background check as a c... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Requires School Contractors Verify Employee Sex Offender Status H.B. 1707, S.B. 1346 Provides that as a condition of awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours, the school board must require the contractor to ... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Bus Safety Hotline Decals H.B. 1920 Provides that local school boards may display decals relating to local school division bus safety hotlines on school buses; local school divisions must bear the cost of such decals. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB1920ER... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Bus Interstate/Hwy. Max Speed Limit H.B. 1729 Increases the maximum speed limit to 60 miles per hour for school buses traveling on interstates and highways where the speed limit is greater than 55 miles per hour. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB1729ER... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Sex Offenders Prohibited On School Property H.B. 2344, S.B. 927 Provides that an adult who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense is guilty of a Class 6 felony if he enters or is present on, during school hours, any property he knows or has reason to know is a public or private elementary or secondary school or c... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Bus Warning Devices H.B. 3084 Requires that any new bus placed into service on or after July 1, 2007, shall be equipped with warning devices that, at a minimum, include a nonsequential system of red traffic warning lights, a warning sign with flashing lights, and a crossing control arm suc... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Sex Offenses Prohibiting Entry onto School Property H.B. 2344 Chapter No. 284: Prohibits entry of offenders onto school property or day care centers but allows for exemption by petition. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+CHAP0284... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Contractors Must Certify Employees Conviction-Free S.B. 1346, H.B. 1707 Provides that as a condition of awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours, the school board must require the contractor to ... More... WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Access Safety Act S.B. 67 Authorizes the School Building Authority to facilitate and provide funding for enhancement of school access safety; requires county school boards to develop and submit to the authority school access safety plans; establishes certain guidelines and procedures f... More... AR Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Safety H.B. 1041 Improves safety in Arkansas schools; provides schools with information regarding the arrest, detention, and punishment of students; requires that when a court orders that a juvenile have a safety plan that restricts or requires supervised contact with another ... More... AR Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Parental notification of suspension H.B. 1145 Relates to Webb's law; provides that upon the suspension of a student, the school shall immediately contact the student's parent or legal guardian to notify that person of the suspension; provides that each parent or legal guardian shall provide the school a p... More... AR Signed into law 02/2007 Postsec. Disclosure of sex offender information H.B. 1274 Requires the state Higher Education Coordinating Board to promulgate guidelines for the disclosure to students of information regarding a sex offenders when information regarding such offenders is released to an institution of higher education by a local law e... More... VA Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 School Crisis & Emergency Management Plan Evaluation H.B. 2271 Requires that each local school board annually review the written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans of all schools under its supervisory control, and that the local division certify that review in writing to the Virginia... More... VA Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Information Disclosure H.B. 2631 Provides that school personnel are authorized to disclose identifying information from a student's education records for the purpose of furthering the ability of the juvenile justice system to effectively serve the student prior to adjudication.  Identifying i... More... 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