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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 UT Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Instructional Materials Commission Operating Procedures R277-469 2007 H.B. 364 prohibits a school district from purchasing certain instructional materials unless the materials have been evaluated by an independent party for alignment with the state core curriculum. Adopted rule requires that the mandated alignment evaluatio... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Curriculum A.B. 150 Establishes the Financial Literacy Initiative for improving financial literacy by offering instructional materials for teachers and schools to provide high-quality financial literacy education for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Authorize... More... OK Adopted 10/2007 P-12 Personal Financial Literacy Education OAC 210:35-9-31 Amends rules to require public schools to provide personal financial literacy education in grades 7-12. Outlines 14 areas of instruction that the student must demonstrate satisfactory completion in order to obtain a Passport to Financial Literacy, which will b... More... OR Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Health and Physical Education OAR 581-022-1210 Adds health and physical education to list of curriculum defined by state content standards. ... More... OK Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Physical Education OAC 210:25-5-31 Amends rules to require that public elementary schools provide instruction in physical education for full-day kindergarten through grade 5 students for an average of sixty (60) minutes each week. ... 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... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Physical Education H.B. 3141 Requires the state department to collect data on: (1) The number of minutes of physical education that are provided to K-8 students each school week in each public school within the district; (2) The physical capacity of public schools to provide K-5 students ... More... NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Instruction in Lawful Abandonment of Newborn Baby H.B. 485 Requires local boards of education to ensure that students in grades nine through twelve receive annual health instruction including information about the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person. http://www.ncga.s... More... NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College American Sign Language H.B. 915 Encourages the public schools, the community college system and the University of North Carolina to offer American Sign Language for credit as a modern foreign language. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H915v0.html... More... OK Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Physical Education H.B. 1601 Prohibits counting recess towards the physical education requirements; directs the state board to encourage school districts to provide physical activity options to students; requires school districts to provide a physical activity report to parents and guardi... More... OK Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Passport to Financial Literacy Act H.B. 1476 Requires personal financial literacy education to be taught in public schools in the state; lists areas of instruction; directs school districts to provide personal financial literacy instruction; provides for integration of instruction into existing courses; ... More... WV Adopted 06/2007 P-12 Foreign Language Standards Title 126, Series 44G Amends rules regarding foreign language content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Science-based Sex Education H.B. 1292 Concerns the adoption of science-based content standards for instruction regarding human sexuality. The standards are intended to help reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and abortion among teenagers, and for teen pregnancy preven... More... FL Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Physical Education Requirement H.B. 967 Relates to physical education; provides requirements for student participation in physical education; requires review and revision of the Sunshine State Standards for physical education; requires the Department of Education to develop and school districts to p... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 World Languages Pilot Program Grants H.F. 2245 [World Languages] Creates a pilot program to award five world languages grants to develop and implement sustainable, high-quality model world languages programs and to enhance existing world languages programs at various grade levels for students in kindergarten through grade 1... More... ND Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Career and Technical Education, Enrepreneurship Education H.B. 1019 Increases funding for for the Department of Career & Technical Education by $4.9 million, 29 percent over from the previous biennium. The $4.9 million in this legislation is part of a total $8 million increase in workforce training funds coordinated between K-... More... TN Eligible for GOVERNOR'S desk. 05/2007 P-12 Teaching Procedures re: "Safe Haven" Law S.B. 293, H.B. 0234 This bill requires that the course of instruction in all public schools in grades 9 through 12 include instruction regarding the procedure for voluntarily surrendering an infant in Tennessee. This bill requires the state board of education to develop guideline... More... TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 H.B. 1944 Removes the provision in the junior and senior high school curriculum that permits a course on personal finance to satisfy the instruction requirement on the free enterprise system. Present law requires the state board of education to establish a program of in... More... TX Became law without governor's signature 05/2007 P-12 Parenting and Paternity Awareness Curriculum H.B. 2176 To address an increase in births to unmarried parents in Texas from 1995 to 2002, the office of the Attorney General created the Parenting and Paternity Awareness (P.A.P.A.) program. The program involves engaging students in discussions regarding marriage, co... More... AR Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Character and citizenship S.B. 274 (Curriculum) Section 52 repeals code concerning requirements for social studies, civics education, character and citizenship. (Act No. 1573) http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2007/public/SB274.pdf... 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... IN Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Holocaust Education H.B. 1059 Directs each district to include a study of the Holocaust in each high school U.S. history course. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/PDF/HE/HE1059.1.pdf... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Physical Education in Grades K-6 H.B. 208/S.B. 156 Provides for physical education in grades kindergarten through six in elementary schools. Adds physical education program units and charter school student activities program units into the program cost calculation and makes an appropriation. (Slight variation ... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Uniform Curricula Aligned to State Standards H.B. 911 Directs each school district to align its curricula to meet the state standards for each grade level and subject area so that students who transfer between public schools within the school district receive the same educational opportunity within the same grade... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Financial Literacy Skills and Knowledge H.B. 1980 Provides that, to the extent funds are appropriated or are available for this purpose, the superintendent of public instruction and other members of the partnership created in RCW 28A.300.455 shall make available to school districts the list of identified fina... 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... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 North Dakota Studies H.B. 1172 From the fiscal note: This bill as amended requires that North Dakota Studies be taught in grades 4 and 8. It also requires that North Dakota's high schools must offer a semester course in North Dakota studies at least once every two years. Most schools will n... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Concept-Based Fitness Class S.B. 2354 Amends graduation requirement of one-half unit of physical education during each school year to include the following: Once every four years the unit must be a concept-based fitness class that includes instruction in the assessment, improvement, and maintenanc... More... VA Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Dating Violence & Abusive Relationship Instruction H.B. 1916 Requires the state Board of Education to incorporate instruction on dating violence and the characteristics of abusive relationships into its curriculum guidelines for family life education. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB1916ER... More... 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