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
ILSigned into law 11/2007P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Amends the Election Code. Allows high school juniors to serve as election judges. Allows an individual not entitled to vote in a precinct or county to serve as an election judge if the individual is a student at a community college or public or private Illinois university or college and meets other specified criteria. Provides that high school or college students appointed as election judges shall not be counted as absent from school on the day they serve as judges.

Deletes provision that no school board may designate or observe as a special holiday on which teachers or other school employees are not required to work the days on which general elections for members of the Illinois House of Representatives are held. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB0662lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 662
Source: www.ilga.gov

LAAdopted 11/2007P-12Amends sections of Bulletin 741 - Handbook for School Administrators.

503: Adds business manager to the list of certified personnel a district is required to hire. This addition was required by a new state statute.

2305: Requires schools to have an educational program commemorating Constitution Day. This addition to policy is based on federal law.
http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0711/0711.doc#_Toc183230287
Title: LAC 28:CXV.503, 2305
Source: doa.louisiana.gov

MATo governor 11/2007P-12Establishes the Commonwealth Corps; provides for volunteer community service; creates a pilot program for the Commonwealth Student Corps.
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02301.htm
Title: S.B. 2301
Source: http://www.mass.gov/

CAVetoed 10/2007P-12Authorizes service by a pupil as a member of a precinct board for an election to be independent study. Exempts that pupil from the requirement that the pupil participate in the activity for 5 or more consecutive schooldays if, among other things, the pupil is required to complete a report or written assignment on the subject of the activities engaged in by the pupil while serving as a member of the board.
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_466_bill_20070917_enrolled.pdf

Veto message: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_466_vt_20071012.html
Title: A.B. 466
Source: http://info.sen.ca.gov

CAVetoed 09/2007P-12Requires each school district with at least one high school to report the voter registration efforts described in provisions of existing law and to publish those efforts prominently and annually on the Internet Web sites of its high schools and in parent newsletters or other communication vehicles used within the school community.
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm

Veto message: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_183_vt_20071012.html
Title: A.B. 183
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

ILSigned into law 08/2007P-12Provides that funding for civic education professional development for high school teachers must be provided by line item appropriation made to the state board of education. Provides for funding based on high school enrollment as reported on the state board of education's most recent fall enrollment and housing report, although 20% of the total appropriation must be reserved for the Chicago Public Schools. Requires an application and civic audit, which must be designed to provide teachers and principals with a blueprint to better understand how current curriculum, service learning, and extracurricular activities are providing civic learning experiences for their students.

Provides that a district may not be awarded more than $3,000 in any year, unless additional funds remain available after all eligible applicants have received funding, and that a district may not use program funds in any school more than once every 2 years.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB2787lv.pdf
Title: H.B. 2787
Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation

ORSigned into law 07/2007P-12Directs community colleges and state institutions of higher education to adopt plans to encourage students to register to vote and to vote in elections; requires that students receive information about activities related to voting that are prohibited by law and penalties for those activities.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/sb0900.dir/sb0951.en.pdf
Title: S.B. 951
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

ORSigned into law 07/2007P-12Creates a Task Force on Civics and Financial Education to study and make recommendations about how to increase and improve civics and financial education in kindergarten through grade 12 public schools.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/hb2500.dir/hb2584.en.pdf
Title: H.B. 2584
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

CTSigned into law 06/2007P-12Concerns democracy education in elementary schools; requires students in the fourth or fifth grade to take part in a program of participatory democracy.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00138-R00HB-07017-PA.pdf
Title: H.B. 7017
Source: Connecticut Legislature

LASigned into law 06/2007P-12Establishes the Legislative Youth Advisory Council as an initiative under the administration of the state commission on civic education. Provides that the purpose of the council is to examine and facilitate communication between youth and the legislature on issues of importance to youth, including education, employment, strategies to increase youth participation in local and state government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, underage drinking, emotional and physical health, poverty, litter and environmental control, driver's licenses, and youth access to state and local services.

Provides that the council has the following duties:

(1) To identify the concerns and needs of youth, and to advise and make recommendations to members of the legislature on proposed legislation and on policy matters related to youth.
(2) To collect, analyze, and provide information to the senate and house committees on education and any other legislative committees, commissions and task forces on issues related to youth.
(3) To participate in an annual seminar prior to the school year for council members regarding leadership, government and the legislature.
(4) To hold at least one public hearing each year for the purpose of receiving youth comment on issues of importance to youth and such other meetings at the call of the council chair.
(5) To submit an annual report of its activities, including any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the governor, the senate and house committees on education, and the commission.

Provides for the membership of the council, including the youth voting members and the advisory (nonvoting) members, which must include a member of the senate, a member of the house of representatives, the chairman of the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education, and the state superintendent of education, or his designee.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=447419
Title: S.B. 46
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

NCSigned into law 06/2007P-12Directs the board of education to adopt rules providing for excused absences from school for legislative and governor's pages.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1464v0.html
Title: H.B. 1464
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us

KSSigned into law 05/2007P-12Defines "bullying." Directs each local board, by January 2008, to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-
sponsored activity or event. Also directs each local board to adopt a plan to address bullying; requires this plan to include provisions to train school staff and students.

Also requires the state board, upon request from a district, to assist in the development of a grade-appropriate curriculum for character development programs that stress character qualities. Defines ''character qualities'' as positive character qualities, including honesty, responsibility, attentiveness, patience, kindness, respect, self-control, tolerance, cooperation, initiative, patriotism and citizenship.

http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/68.pdf
Title: S.B. 68 (Section 4)
Source: www.kslegislature.org

NVSigned into law 05/2007P-12Create the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum, consisting of 21 members who are enrolled in grades 9-12. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Forum. The Forum must hold at least two public hearings each school year, review issues of importance to the youth in the state and submit an annual report of the activities of the Forum.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB247_EN.pdf
Title: S.B. 247
Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us

AZSigned into law 04/2007P-12Concerns the Character Education Office; makes an appropriation; relates to public and charter schools. Changes administration of the program from the Northern Arizona University to the Department of Education and stipulates procedure for disbursement of the grant monies. Deletes set funding of $1500 per year. (Chapter No. 86)

Title: H.B. 2204
Source: http://www.azleg.gov

COSigned into law 04/2007P-12
Postsec.
Concerns the display of flags. Allows display of flags from countries other than the U.S. or the state of Colorado under particular circumstances, including for educational, cultural or historical purposes with the prior permission of the chief administrative officer of the state, county, municipal or other public building or grounds.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/A5823CF3B65934EF87257251007B684B?open&file=1050_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1050
Source: Colorado Legislature

IASigned into law 04/2007P-12Allows a county commissioner of elections to appoint high school students in good standing to serve as precinct election board members. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=BillInfo&Service=Billbook&ga=82&hbill=HF618
Title: H.F. 618
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

MDSigned into law 04/2007P-12Establishes a Commission on Civic Literacy; requires the Commission to elect specified officers from among its members; requires the State Department of Education to provide staff and specified other support to the Commission; prohibits a member of the Commission from receiving specified compensation, but authorizing a member of the Commission to receive specified reimbursements.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/bills/sb/sb0492e.pdf
Title: S.B. 492
Source: Maryland Legislature

NHSigned into law 04/2007P-12Adds civics and economics to the required areas of assessment in the statewide improvement and assessment program. Specifies that the assessment will be conducted in grades 3rd-8th and one grade in high school.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/hb0167.html
Title: H.B. 167
Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us

WASigned into law 04/2007P-12Adds a new section acknowledging the importance of the legislative youth advisory council. Amends prior legislative appointment process to allow students to apply to be considered for participation in the program by completing an online application form and submitting the application to the legislative youth advisory council. Allows the council to develop selection criteria and an application review process. The council shall recommend candidates whose names will be submitted to the office of the lieutenant governor for final selection, and that office is to notify all applicants of the final selections.Requires the The office of the lieutenant governor to make the application available on the lieutenant governor's web site.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1052-S.PL.pdf
Title: H.B. 1052
Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov

NDSigned into law 03/2007P-12Amends several pieces of required instruction; changes from United States history, geography, and government to 1) geography; 2) government; and 3) North Dakota studies, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of this state, in the fourth and eighth grades. In addition to these requirements, each public and nonpublic high school
is required to make available to each student, at least once every two years, one-half unit of North Dakota studies, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of this state. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HARP0300.pdf
Title: S.B. 1172
Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov

VASigned into law 03/2007P-12Requires the Board of Education to make available to local school divisions information regarding the commemoration of Veterans Day in public schools. hhttp://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2601ER
Title: H.B. 2601
Source: http://legis.state.va.us/

VASigned into law 03/2007P-12Requires the Department of Education to make information available to local school divisions regarding the commemoration of George Washington's birthday in the public schools. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2837ER
Title: H.B. 2837
Source: http://legis.state.va.us/

WVAdopted 03/2007P-12Requests the Governor issue a proclamation on December 7th of each year declaring a State Day of Remembrance honoring all West Virginia patriots of World War II and encouraging all political subdivisions and state school districts to pay proper tribute in its recognition. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/rs/BILLS/scr51%20org.htm
Title: S.C.R. 51
Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/

+ 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
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+ Education Research
+ Equity
+ Federal
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+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
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+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
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+ Governance
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+ Health
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+ P-16 or P-20
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+ School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries
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+ School/District Structure/Operations--School Size
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+ Special Education
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+ Whole Child