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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 IL Signed into law 11/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Election Judges and Election Day S.B. 662 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 Illinoi... More... LA Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Business Manager and Constitution Day LAC 28:CXV.503, 2305 Amends 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 educatio... More... MA To governor 11/2007 P-12 Commonwealth Corps S.B. 2301 Establishes 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... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Citizenship education A.B. 466 Authorizes 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 ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2007 P-12 Citizenship A.B. 183 Requires 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 newsl... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Civic Education Advancement H.B. 2787 Provides 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... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Student Voting S.B. 951 Directs 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 an... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Task Force on Civics and Financial Education H.B. 2584 Creates 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/hb258... More... CT Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Democracy Education in Elementary Schools H.B. 7017 Concerns 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... More... LA Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Legislative Youth Advisory Council S.B. 46 Establishes 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 is... More... NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Excused Absences for Pages H.B. 1464 Directs 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... More... KS Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Bullying Prevention and Character Education S.B. 68 (Section 4) Defines "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; requir... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum S.B. 247 Create 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 you... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Character Education, Charter Schools H.B. 2204 Concerns 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 g... More... CO Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Display of Flags in Education and Other Institutions H.B. 1050 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 ... More... IA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Students as Precinct Election Board Members H.F. 618 Allows 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... More... MD Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Commission on Civic Literacy S.B. 492 Establishes 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 Commiss... More... NH Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Civics and Economics Assessments H.B. 167 Adds 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/... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Legislative Yourth Advisory Council H.B. 1052 Adds 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 su... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Geography, Government Education S.B. 1172 Amends 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 a... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Veterans Day Commemoration H.B. 2601 Requires 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... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Commemoration of George Washington's Birthday H.B. 2837 Requires 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... More... WV Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Dec. 7, 1941 Day of Remembrance S.C.R. 51 Requests 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 ... More... 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 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