ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2007 State Policies / Activities

Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies enacted in 2007. This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. To view all, press the button located at the top labeled "Expand All."

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

State Status/Date Level Summary
+ 21st Century Skills
+ Accountability
+ Accountability--Accreditation
+ Accountability--Measures/Indicators
+ Accountability--Reporting Results
+ Accountability--Rewards
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers
+ Accountability--School Improvement
+ Adult Basic Education
+ Assessment
+ Assessment--Accommodations
+ Assessment--Computer Based
+ Assessment--End-of-Course
+ Assessment--Formative/Interim
+ Assessment--High Stakes/Competency
+ Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization)
+ Assessment--Value Added
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol
+ Attendance
+ Attendance--Compulsory
+ Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower)
+ Attendance--Truancy
+ Background Checks
+ Bilingual/ESL
+ Business Involvement
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research
+ Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment
+ Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Tax Credits
+ Choice of Schools--Vouchers
+ Civic Education
+ Civic Education--Character Education
+ Class Size
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Censorship
+ Curriculum--Core Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Environmental Education
+ Curriculum--Excusal
+ Curriculum--Family Living Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Geography Education
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ Curriculum--Language Arts
+ Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling
+ Curriculum--Mathematics
+ Curriculum--Physical Education
+ Curriculum--Science
+ Curriculum--Sex Education
+ Curriculum--Social Studies/History
+ Curriculum--Speech Education
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Demographics
+ Desegregation
+ Economic/Workforce Development
+ Education Research
+ Equity
+ Federal
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--Aid to Private Schools
+ Finance--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Equity
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ Finance--Private Giving
+ Finance--Resource Efficiency
+ Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures
+ Finance--Student Fees
+ Finance--Taxes/Revenues
+ Finance--Taxes/Revenues--Alternative Revenues
+ Governance
+ Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule
+ Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest
+ Governance--Mandates
+ Governance--School Boards
+ Governance--Site-Based Management
+ Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies
+ Health
+ Health--Child Abuse
+ Health--Mental Health
+ Health--Nutrition
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ Health--Suicide Prevention
+ Health--Teen Pregnancy
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--College Readiness
+ High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates
+ High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment
+ High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges
+ High School--Exit Exams
+ High School--GED (General Education Development)
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Constructivism
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Official English
+ Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ International Benchmarking
+ Leadership
+ Leadership--District Superintendent
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Certification and Licensure
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Compensation and Diversified Pay
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Recruitment and Retention
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--African American
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ No Child Left Behind
+ No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress
+ No Child Left Behind--Assessment
+ No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer
+ No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools
+ No Child Left Behind--Finance
+ No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement
+ No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers
+ No Child Left Behind--Report Cards
+ No Child Left Behind--School Support
+ No Child Left Behind--Special Populations
+ No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services
+ Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning
+ Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses
+ P-16 or P-20
+ P-3
+ P-3 Child Care
+ P-3 Content Standards and Assessment
+ P-3 Early Intervention (0-3)
+ P-3 Ensuring Quality
+ P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits
+ P-3 Family Involvement
+ P-3 Finance
+ P-3 Governance
+ P-3 Grades 1-3
+ P-3 Health and Mental Health
+ P-3 Kindergarten
+ P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten
+ P-3 Preschool
+ P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Partnerships--University/School
+ Postsecondary
+ Postsecondary Accountability
+ Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation
+ Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans
+ Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants
+ Postsecondary Faculty
+ Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation
+ Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property
+ Postsecondary Finance
+ Postsecondary Governance and Structures
+ Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges
+ Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary
+ Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent
+ Postsecondary Online Instruction
+ Postsecondary Participation--Access
+ Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth
+ Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional
+ Postsecondary Students--Military
+ Postsecondary Students--Minority
+ Postsecondary Success--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics)
+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Rural
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year
+ School Safety
+ School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution
+ School Safety--Code of Conduct
+ School Safety--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness
+ School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension
+ School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools
+ School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault
+ School Safety--Special Education
+ School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes
+ School/District Structure/Operations
+ School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation
+ School/District Structure/Operations--District Size
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching)
+ School/District Structure/Operations--School Size
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation
+ Service-Learning
+ Special Education
+ Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations
+ Special Education--Finance
+ Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming)
+ Special Education--Placement
+ Special Education--Transition
+ Special Populations--Corrections Education
+ Special Populations--Foster Care
+ Special Populations--Gifted and Talented
+ Special Populations--Homeless Education
+ Special Populations--Migrant Education
+ Special Populations--Military
+ Standards
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Ballot Questions
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ STEM
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ Students
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ Students--Incentives
+ Students--Mobility
+ Students--Records/Rights
+ Teaching Quality
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Assignment
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds.
- Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education
ILSigned into law 08/2007P-12Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Adds school counselor and school counselor intern to the list of professions included in the definition of a professional worker. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB0122lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 122
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

CASigned into law 07/2007P-12Relates to existing law which authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by any school district to provide classroom instruction to pupils with mild and moderate disabilities in special education classes. Deletes the January 1, 2008, termination date, thereby authorizing the commission to issue district intern credentials indefinitely. Chapter No. 73
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
Title: S.B. 196
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

HIBecame law without governor's signature 07/2007P-12Establishes the Felix stipend revolving fund, to be used by the department of education to deposit moneys received as repayment from students who have broken their contractual Felix stipend, which offers tuition waivers for qualified candidates who enroll at the University of Hawaii in special education teacher programs at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate levels in exchange for their agreement to work for the department for a period of three to five years immediately following completion of their teacher preparation program.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/HB15_CD1_.htm
Title: H.B. 15
Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov

IAAdopted 07/2007P-12Expands the ability of a paraeducator holding a substitute authorization to work in K-6 special education classrooms. IOWA 5764
Title: IAC 282-14.143(272)
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

LASigned into law 07/2007P-12Directs the state board, by the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, to implement a pilot program to provide for universal screening of K-3 students for characteristics of dyslexia and related disorders. The program must also provide for periodic progress monitoring of every student identified with dyslexia or a related disorder to assess progress toward established educational goals; appropriate remediation or intervention strategies to address any academic need or deficiency identified through the screening process or periodic progress monitoring; and training and professional development to provide teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement specialized instructional interventions and strategies for students with dyslexia and related disorders.

Requires each district participating in the pilot to arrange for an external performance evaluation at the end of the 2007-2008 school year to assess the effectiveness of the program in the early identification of students with dyslexia and related disorders and in meeting the educational needs of such children. Directs the department, based on the results of the periodic process monitoring and the external performance evaluations, to make an interim report by March 2008 to the house and senate education committees on the progress made by each participating school system in implementing the pilot program, and a final report by August 15, 2008, that must include a determination of whether the program should be implemented on a statewide basis. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=449550
Title: S.B. 160
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

NCSigned into law 07/2007P-12
Postsec.
Community College
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
Title: H.B. 26
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us

KSSigned into law 05/2007P-12Establishes the Autism Task Force. Directs the task force to study and conduct hearings on the issues relating to, the needs of and services available for persons with autism including:
(1) The re-alignment of state agencies that provide services for children with autism;
(2) the availability or accessibility of services for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of children with autism and the availability or accessibility of services for the parents of children with autism;
(3) the need to increase the number of qualified professionals and paraprofessionals who are able to provide evidence-based intervention and other services to children with autism and incentives which may be offered to meet that need;
(4) the benefits currently available for services provided to children with autism;
(5) study and discussion of an autism registry which would (A) provide accurate numbers of children with autism, (B) improve the understanding of the spectrum of autism disorders and (C) allow for more complete epidemiologic surveys of the autism disorder;
(6) the establishment of a hotline that the parents of children with autism may use to locate services for children with autism;
(7) the creation and design of a financial assistance program for children with autism;
(8) additional funding sources to support programs that provide evidence-based intervention or treatment of autism, including funding for the development of regional centers of excellence for the diagnosis and treatment of autism; and
(9) develop recommendations for the best practices for early evidence-based intervention for children with autism.

Directs the task force to submit a preliminary report with recommendations for legislative changes by November 15, 2007, and the final report by November 15, 2008.

Establishes December 31, 2008 sunset for these provisions.

Bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/138.pdf
Fiscal note: http://www.kslegislature.org/fiscalnotes/2008/138.pdf
Supplementary note: http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2008/SN0138.pdf
Title: S.B. 138
Source: www.kslegislature.org

INSigned into law 04/2007P-12Eliminates reference to professional standards board. Establishes the divisions of professional standards within the department of education. Allows the department of education to issue an emergency communication disorder permit to an individual to serve the needs of students who are eligible for speech and language services. Establishes eligibility requirements for an emergency communication disorder permit. Specifies that an individual with an emergency communication disorder permit must have access to a licensed
speech-language pathologist but may not use a title that states or implies that the individual is a licensed speech-language pathologist. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/PDF/SE/SE0451.1.pdf
Title: S.B. 451
Source: www.in.gov/legislative

+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds.
+ Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Substitute Teachers
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Pay-for-Performance
+ Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits
+ Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness
+ Teaching Quality--Induction Programs and Mentoring
+ Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals
+ Teaching Quality--Preparation
+ Teaching Quality--Professional Development
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools
+ Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects
+ Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Teaching Quality--Working Conditions
+ Technology
+ Technology--Computer Skills
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban
+ Whole Child