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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 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 CA Signed into law 10/2007 P-12 Transportation A.B. 57 Authorizes state and local entities to secure and expend federal funds appropriated under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users for programs relating to highway safety improvements that can reduce the number ... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 biodiesel fuels S.B. 70 Specifies standards for biodiesel and biodiesel blends and for renewable diesel and renewable diesel blends. Requires notification of consumers by retailers of the fuel's biodiesel content. Authorizes school districts to use a biodiesel fuel blend to operate a... More... OR Adopted 10/2007 P-12 School Buses OAR 581-053-0002 Prohibits use of school buses manufactured before April 1977 beginning August 1, 2008. ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Reporting Erratic School Bus Driving H.B. 3624 Requires each school bus to display a readable sign indicating the telephone number of the owner of the school bus, and indicating that the number is to be called to report erratic driving by the school bus driver. Directs the owner of each school bus to estab... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Post-Trip Inspection Policy for School Buses S.B. 166 Requires each school district, by January 1, 2008, to have in place a policy to ensure that the school bus driver is the last person leaving every school bus and that no passenger is left behind or remains on the vehicle at the end of a route, a work shift, or... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Electronic Recordings in School Buses S.B. 665 Exempts from an eavesdropping violation an electronic recording, motion picture, videotape, digital, or other visual or audio recording, made of the interior of a school bus while the school bus is being used in the transportation of students to and from schoo... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Biodiesel S.B. 1452 Requires public school buses or other vehicles for student transportation that are capable of operating on diesel fuel to be capable of operating on diesel fuel with a minimum biodiesel concentration of b-20. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Sen... More... NY Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Idling of School Bus Engines S.B. 5973 Requires the commissioner of education to promulgate regulations requiring school districts with a significant number of children with asthma, and those other school districts deemed appropriate by the commissioner, to minimize the idling of school bus engines... More... LA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Reemployment of Retired School Bus Drivers S.B. 60 Provides for reemployment of retired school bus drivers; provides for contributions and employer reporting requirements. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=449533... More... LA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 School Bus Crossing Control Devices H.B. 157 Requires every school bus to be equipped with a crossing control device by January 1, 2008. Requires the state to reimburse local school boards that have expended funds for this purpose. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=449875... 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 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 School Bus Endorsements H.B. 1546 Requires a commercial drivers license that has a school bus endorsement to expire three years after it is issued. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1546v0.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Passing Stopped School Bus S.B. 924 Makes passing a stopped school bus and striking a person and causing serious bodily injury a felony. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/HTML/S924v0.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Pilot Reduction of Diesel Emissions H.B. 1912 Establishes a pilot program to provide funds for local school administrative units to retrofit school buses in order to reduce diesel emissions from certain diesel school buses registered in counties located in areas designated as nonattainment or maintenance ... More... NY Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Federal School Bus Safety Standards A.B. 3978 Provides no person may operate a school for which there are no applicable federal school bus safety standards unless all occupants are restrained by an approved safety belt. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A03978&sh=t... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Reduction in Diesel Emissions H.B. 2172 Requires the Environmental Quality Commission to establish a goal to reduce excess lifetime risk of cancer due to exposure to diesel engine emissions to no more than one case per million individuals by 2017. In setting the goal, the commission is required to i... More... RI Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Transportation of 8 or Fewer Students S.B. 556 Allows the use of school pupil transport vehicles for the transport of eight (8) or fewer pupils to and from school and school related services; this act would take effect on August 15, 2007. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law07/law07207.htm... More... DE Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Bus Drivers' Requirements H.B. 41 Recognizes that school bus drivers have to have an annual physical and for an intrastate CDL. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+41/$file/legis.html?open... More... NY Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 P.J.'s Law S.B. 3294 Enacts P.J.'s law; directs the commissioner of education to promulgate rules and regulations requiring school bus drivers and school bus attendants on a bus transporting a child or children with a disability to complete training, twice a year, on the special n... More... OR Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 No Pre-1977 School Buses H.B. 2456 Prohibits the use of school buses manufactured before April 1, 1977; provides that operation of a prohibited school bus is a Class B traffic violation, punishable by a maximum fine of $ 360.... More... RI Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Bus Emergency Brakes H.B. 5020 Requires that school bus emergency brakes, commencing with model year 2010, be equipped with an interlock brake system that, once applied, may only be released when the brake pedal is depressed and the key is in the ignition. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Publi... More... RI Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Transportation for Afterschool Programs H.B. 6313 Creates a sixteen member special legislative commission whose purpose it would be to study transportation for afterschool and childcare programs.... More... SC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2007 P-12 Maximum School Bus Ride Time, Driver Training, etc. H.B. 3161 Provides for the maximum school bus ride time, school bus driver certification training, provides that parents are responsible for the safety, conduct, and timely arrival of their children to, from, and at the school bus stop; and that the number of students o... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 School Bus Safety H.B. 3190 Prohibits persons who have committed offenses such as vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident from operating a school bus for 10 years after said offense. Defines "multifunction school activity bus" and prohibi... More... TX Vetoed 06/2007 P-12 No Diesel Engine Idling H.B. 3457 Prohibits school buses with diesel engines from idling at schools or school events. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB03457F.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Transportation Access S.B. 1713 Requires a county or school district to allow a parent to designate a grandparent's residence or child-care facility for the purpose of accessing transportation to and from the child's school if the location is on an approved route. http://www.capitol.state.tx... More... VT Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 School Bus Idling S.B. 13 Prohibits the operator of a school bus from idling the engine while waiting for children to board at a school. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/S-013.HTM ... More... IN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Bus Size and Speed Limits H.B. 1018 Extends the maximum permitted length of a conventional school bus from 38 to 42 feet. Increases the highway speed limit for a school bus to 60 miles an hour. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/PDF/HE/HE1018.1.pdf... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Transportation for ELL Program H.F. 2245 [High Needs ESL] Authorizes district to provide transportation to allow a student who attends a high-need English language learner program and who resides within the transportation attendance area of the program to continue in the program until the student completes the highe... More... OR Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Notification of Bus Driver Driving Status H.B. 2266 Directs Department of Transportation to notify Department of Education of suspension, cancellation or revocation of driving privileges of person who holds school bus endorsement. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/hb2200.dir/hb2266.en.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Bus Driver Requirements S.B. 51 Requires school bus drivers to deposit student at student's destination and makes failure to do so Class C misdemeanor punishable by fine only of up to $ 100; requires Local Education Agencies to assure school bus drivers understand their duties and responsibi... More... WA Signed into law (partial veto) 05/2007 P-12 Bus Replacement Incentive (Lower Emissions) H.B. 1303 Part of this bill requires the implementation of a new school bus replacement incentive program for vehicles with less emissions for the 2007 model year and provides funding therefor; requires all public agencies to satisfy their motor vehicle fuel usage from ... More... ID Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Hardship Bus Runs S.B. 1236 (Section 10) Clarifies uniquely difficult geographic circumstances under which a district may be reimbursed by the state board for transportation costs above the standard threshold. Session Law Chapter 352 http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1236.html... 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... KY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Use of Cell Phone by School Bus Driver H.B. 230 Defines the term cellular telephone; prohibits the use of cellular telephones by a school bus driver; establishes the fine for using cellular telephone while driving a school bus. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/07RS/HB230/bill.doc... More... ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Bus Drivers H.B. 1334 Relates to requirements for drivers of school vehicles. Specifies that if a school vehicle for which a commercial driver's license is not required, but which is designed to seat ten to fifteen passengers, the individual must: (1) Hold a North Dakota driver's l... More... NV Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Bus Displaying Flashing Red Signal A.B. 66 Requires drivers to stop at any location for a school bus displaying a flashing red light signal. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB66_EN.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Methodology for Transportation Funding S.B. 5114 The Office of Financial Management (OFM), in consultation with Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), will contract for the development of two options for a student transportation fun... 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 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 Nonpublic school student transportation H.B. 2302 Permits local school boards to enter into agreements with nonpublic schools in the school division to provide student transportation for a fee to and from the nonpublic schools. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2302ER... More... WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Maximum School Bus Length H.B. 2781 Modifies the statutory limitation on the length of school buses to not exceed forty-five feet, exclusive of front and rear bumpers. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb2781%20enr.htm... More... WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Board Personnel Mileage Reimbursement S.B. 100 Requires local school boards to reimburse school personnel for mileage costs when they are required to use a personal motor vehicle in the course of their employment at a minimum rate that is at least the same for state employees who are reimbursed for mileage... More... WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Education Code Amendments H.B. 2189 Amends Education Code in the following ways: 1) Prescribes authorities of county school boards. 2) Expands purposes for which schools may expend funds. 3) Establishes certain vehicle and driver safety requirements for transporting students to a school-sponso... More... AK Adopted 02/2007 P-12 PUPIL TRANSPORTATION 4 AAC 27 Amends rules to the Department of Education and Early Development.Adopts the national specifications and revisions into the Alaska MinimumStandards for School Buses, 2006 Revised Edition. ALASKA 3454 http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/AAC/Title04.htm... More... 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