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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 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 CA Signed into law 10/2007 P-12 Teacher credentials S.B. 52 Renames the designated subjects vocational education teaching credential the designated subjects preliminary career technical education teaching credential. Repeals authority for issuance and renewal of designated subjects teaching credentials for part-time se... More... MA Issued 08/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College The Readiness Project Executive Order No. 489 Establishes the Readiness Project to develop a plan to implement fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next ten years. The project will have three chairs appointed by the Governor.  The plan will include recommenda... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Teacher Assistant Scholarship Fund H.B. 851 Clarifies the educational requirement for the teacher assistant scholarship fund. Requires that an applicant for a scholarship from the fund be enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education pursuing teacher licensure. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Se... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Pilot Alternative Teacher Salary Plans H.B. 966 Requires the State Board of Education to establish a pilot program authorizing the implementation of alternative teacher salary plans to enable local school administrative units to develop and implement plans that will improve student performance by financiall... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Background Checks H.B. 1659 Authorizes criminal history record checks of employees of and applicants for employment with the department of public instruction. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1659v4.html... More... NC Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Teacher Leave Time S.B. 914 Gives teachers credit for the excess personal leave time that they earn. Ensures that teachers can take personal leave with five days' notice. Authorizes the conversion of personal leave time to sick leave for retirement purposes. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/S... More... NJ Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Professional Licensure Standards NJAC 6A:9 Amends rules pertaining to professional licensure and standards. Strengthens the State licensure system based on professional standards for pre-service preparation, certification and professional development. Increases selected licensing fees. Establishes new ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Lateral Entry Requirements H.B. 583 Modifies the requirements for participation in a community college lateral entry program for teacher training. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H583v0.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 Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Pilot Program. S.B. 1030 The purpose of the ROPE Scholars Pilot Program is to strengthen middle grades education in order to provide students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with the core academic skills needed for postsecondary education and high-skilled employment,... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Preparation of Special Education Teachers H.B. 26 Directs the board of governors of the state university to report on the efficacy of the preparation of teachers to teach students with disabilities. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H26v0.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Compensation of Teachers Who Served in the Uniformed Services H.B. 1414 Revises the law providing for creditable service in the teachers' retirement system for members who served in the uniformed services. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1414v4.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Charter School Teacher Participation in State Retirement System H.B. 1471 Allows an existing charter school to participate in the teachers' and state employees' retirement system and the state teachers' and state employees' comprehensive major medical plan. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1471v0.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 High Needs Schools S.B. 1479 Allows National Board Certified Teachers who serve as mentors, literacy coaches, or in other instructional leadership positions at high needs schools to retain the salary increment for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Allows Na... More... NC Issued 07/2007 P-12 Programs for At-Risk Children Executive Order No. 120 Accelerates teacher and other personnel recruitment and the implementation of needed academic support programs for at-risk children in light of Judicial mandates, budget developments and impending school openings. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/news/executive... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Teacher Absence Due to Military Service H.B. 1415 Provides that a member of the teachers' and state employees' retirement system may not be denied short-term disability benefits due to an absence for military service. Relates to long-term disability benefits for members of the teachers' and state employees' r... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Lifetime Teacher Certification H.B. 1308 Provides for lifetime certification for teachers after 50 years of teaching. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1308v2.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Teacher Licensure Renewal Requirements S.B. 1292 Directs the state board to adopt a policy requiring teachers to take credits in their academic subject area as part of the licensure renewal process. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/HTML/S1292v3.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Pilot Program for Lateral Entry Teachers S.B. 1115 Directs the state board to establish a pilot program for lateral entry teachers in up to eight local school administrative units. Establishes that under the pilot program, participating local school administrative units shall review the college transcripts of ... More... AK Adopted 06/2007 P-12 HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS & OBJECTIVE UNIFORM STANDARDS 4 AAC 04.210(d), .212(h) Affects which schools' 7-12 teachers are eligible to use the multiple-subject objective uniform standards for the purpose of being designated highly qualified. Clarifies which teachers are eligible to use the multi-subject HOUSSE for the purpose of being desig... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Pilot Performance Pay Program A.B. 3A; (NEW BILL) Appropriates money to provide for pilot programs of performance pay and enhanced compensation for the recruitment and retention of licensed teachers. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/23rdSpecial/Bills/AB/AB3_EN.pdf... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Evaluation of Probationary Teachers A.B. 460 Relates to probationary teacher evaluation. Requires an administrator who is responsible for evaluating a teacher to personally observe that teacher in the classroom for not less than 60 minutes during each evaluation period. If a deficiency is discovered duri... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Teacher Center Duties H.F. 2245 [Mathematics and Science Teachers] Amends duties of teacher centers, requires teacher centers to provide a professional development program to train interested and highly qualified elementary, middle and secondary teachers to assist other teachers in with mathematics and science curriculum, sta... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Coursework and Training H.F. 2245 [Dual Enrollment Teachers] Authorizes districts to offer grants to teachers to pay for coursework and training leading to certification as a college in the schools or concurrent enrollment teacher. In order to receive a grant, the teacher must be enrolled in a program that includes cour... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Grant Program to Promote Professional Teaching Standards H.F. 2245 [Professional Teaching Standards] Establishes grant program to promote professional teaching standards through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Establishes teacher eligibility criteria, application process and amount of grant awards for accepted teachers. http://www.revi... More... MO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Teaching Fellows Program S.B. 389 [Teaching Fellows] Creates the teaching fellows program. For each of the first four years that an applicant teaches in a qualifying district, up to one-fourth of the applicant's educational loans, not to exceed $5,000 per year, will be repaid. For students without educational lo... More... MT Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program S.B. 2A (Teacher Recruitment) Creates a quality educator loan assistance program administered by the board of regents through the office of the commissioner of higher education. The program must provide for the direct repayment of educational loans of eligible quality educators in accordan... More... NE Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 School Employees Retirement Act L.B. 508 Changes provisions of the school employees retirement act. Relates to retirement and payment of death benefits. Allows for a disability retirement application any time prior to the date of normal retirement eligibility.Gives a surviving spouse 12 months to ele... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Employment of Teachers with Expired License. A.B. 432 Amends current law to require districts to maintain an employee in a position of employment rather than suspend employment for failure to maintain a valid license if the lapse of the employee's license occurs during a time that school is in session. Requires t... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Special Qualifications License to Teach S.B. 264 Provides that a special qualifications license to teach may be issued to a person who holds a Passport to Teaching certification from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, passes certain examinations required by this State and agrees to p... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Student Teachers at At-Risk Schools and Subject Areas A.B. 512 Requires a school district which has entered into an agreement for the assignment of student teachers within the district for training purposes to employ certain student teachers as substitutes in at-risk schools and in hard to fill subject areas when licensed... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 H.B. 1622 From bill analysis: Currently, a school district employee who needs to report a grievance against a supervisor must report the grievance to their supervisor if the school district to which the employee belongs does not have a provision in its grievance policy ... More... WV Proposed Rule COMMENT DEADLINE: 06/01/2007 08/20/2007 Rule Adoption 05/2007 Postsec. Community College FACULTY Title 133, Series 9 Amends rules regarding academic freedom and responsibility, appointment, promotion, tenure, non- reappointment or dismissal of faculty, and grievance procedures for matters pertaining to faculty. WEST VIRGINIA 5002... More... MT Passed 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Study of Public Employee Retirement Systems H.J.R. 59 Requests that the legislative council designate an appropriate interim committee or assign sufficient staff resources to study public employee retirements systems and produce a legislator's guide on the state's public employee retirement plans that includes c... More... NM Vetoed 04/2007 P-12 Returning Retiree Teachers H.B. 313 Amends provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Act and the Educational Retirement Act concerning retirees who return to employment. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB0313.pdf... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Unlicensed Content Area Experts S.B. 211 Directs the department of education to adopt rules rule for training and other requirements to support the use of unlicensed content area experts as resources in classrooms, team teaching, on-line instruction, curriculum development and other purposes. http://... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Teacher Mentoring Programs S.B. 211 Directs the department of education to distribute available funds for mentorship programs to school districts annually on a per-teacher basis according to the number of beginning teachers on the 40th day of the school year. Also directs the department to requi... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Teacher Education Accountability Reporting System S.B. 211 Directs the state board to design a uniform statewide teacher education accountability reporting system to measure and track teacher education candidates from pre-entry to post-graduation in order to benchmark the productivity and accountability of New Mexico'... More... 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