---

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 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 ME Approved by voters 11/2007 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Institution Capital Improvements V. 3 Ballot Initiative (QUESTION 3; P.L. 39-2007) Authorizes issuance of bonds for interior and exterior building renovations, improvements and additions at all campuses of the Community College System, the Maritime Academy and the University of Maine System, to replenish the School... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Finance--Facilities A.B. 1450 Requires the State Allocation Board to provide a grant for 50% of the replacement cost of an existing building to be demolished if a school district proposes to demolish the existing building and replace it with a multistory building serving the same grade gro... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Facilities finance, surplus property S.B. 789 Authorizes the Chino Valley Unified School District to transfer specified surplus property owned by the school district to the City of Chino Hills, in the County of San Bernardino, upon payment to the district by the city and the execution of an agreement betw... More... IL Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 10/2007 P-12 School Facility Occupation Tax S.B. 835 Creates the "school facility occupation tax". This tax for up to 1% of the cost of business transactionsmust be voted on in a county wide referendum, and all revenue must be used to support the construction or maintenance of school facilities. Bill: http://ww... More... AL Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 Postsec. Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 H.B. 21 Act 2007-415, HB21, is the Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007. Authorizes the Alabama Public School and College Authority to sell and issue bonds for capital improvements for the support of public education in an amount of $1,070,585,022. The bulk of ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2007 Postsec. Teacher quality S.B. 280 Deletes the staff development requirement for certificate for instruction delivered in English to limited-English-proficient pupils. Requires the holder of a preliminary multiple subject teaching credential, preliminary single subject teaching credential, or p... More... CA To governor 09/2007 P-12 Facilities finance A.B. 1014 Relates to the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act, that provides a school district's eligibility for new construction funding is determined by making calculations related to certain factors. Authorizes the State Allocation Board to supplement a funding proj... More... MA Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Regional School Budget Process H.B. 586 Relates to streamlining the regional school budget process, capital outlay expenses and a city or town's apportioned share for expenditures.... More... NJ Adopted 07/2007 P-12 SCHOOL FACILITIES PROJECTS NJAC 19:32-1 thru -4 Amends rules establishing a grant program to fund the State share of the final eligible costs of school facilities projects undertaken by school districts whose district aid percentage is less than 55% and which elect not to have the Corporation construct the ... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Construction Taxes S.B. 1036 Restricts local government power to impose construction excise taxes; authorizes school districts to impose construction taxes; dedicates revenues from such taxes to school construction; authorizes a school district to pledge construction taxes to the payment ... More... HI Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Lease Payments for Schools Account S.B. 1820 Authorizes the department of education to enter into financing agreements with the agreement of the director and with the approval of the attorney general. Creates a separate account within the state education facilities improvement special fund to be called t... More... NJ Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Creates New Jersey Schools Development Authority A.B. 4336; S.B. 2796 Establishes the New Jersey Schools Development Authority and revises the school construction program established under the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A4500/4336_R2.PDF... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Financial Administration A.B. 615 If a municipality proposes to issue or incur general obligation bonds, the proposal must be submitted to the electors at an election. Provides that such a question may authorize the transfer of any excess revenue generated to the fund for capital projects of t... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Public School Facilities Equity Act S.B. 41 Concerns the creation of the Public School Facilities Equity Act to address the capital construction needs of public schools in the State. Creates the Public School Facilities Act; establishes an advisory committee within the Department of Education for public... More... ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 State Aid Provisions S.B. 2200 (finance provisions) Adds a new section that sets school district size weighting factors -- weighted student units. Another new section establishes minimum and maximum allowable increases for base rate funding. Also revises student unit funding levels for high schools and elementa... More... NM Vetoed 04/2007 Postsec. Community College Finance Board Capital Expendigure Threshold S.B. 264 Relates to higher education. Provides a threshold amount for capital expenditures. Requires state board of finance approval. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0264.pdf... More... ID Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Bond Guarantee Program S.B. 1053 From legislative analysis: Raises the cap for the School Bond Guarantee Program when school districts in Idaho access the state's AAA guarantee for voter approved school district bonds. The current cap is three times the amount of the $200 million dollar cash... More... MS Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. Community College Leasing Land for Private Construction H.B. 1208 Authorizes the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning to authorize universities to lease land at the univeersity for the construction of facilities by private financing for a term of 31 years. Contains requirements for building code complia... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Construction Project Approval H.B. 1248 Schools considering construction projects are required to get approval from the state superintendent. If the superintendent denies the request, the district may appeal to the state board. New provisions establish the requirements that the state board must cons... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 School Building Energy Efficiency Loan Fund H.B. 351 Creates a revolving loan fund for use by school districts to improve energy efficiency in school district buildings. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hb0351.htm... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Literary Fund Stipulations H.B. 2350 Provides that a school board's application to the Board of Education for a loan from the Literary Fund must be signed by the chairman of the governing body and the chairman of the school board; provides that such loans are considered general obligation debts o... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission Creation S.B. 756 Establishes the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission to review and advise responsible public entities that are agencies or institutions of the state on detailed proposals for qualifying projects under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infra... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Freedom of Information Act Exemptions for Schools Facilities Projects S.B. 1002 Allows memoranda, staff evaluations, or other records prepared by the responsible public entity, its staff, outside advisors, or consultants exclusively for the evaluation and negotiation of proposals filed under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Inf... More... WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Public School Finance S.B. 541 Relates to public school finances; requires local share to be calculated assuming properties are being assessed at sixty percent of market value; increases the limit on revenue generated by the regular school board levy; amends "growth county" definition and c... More... WY Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Facilities Funds Surplus S.B. 16 Allows unexpended amounts from major building and facility repair and replacement payments to be earmarked for use in subsequent school years, provided the unexpended amount during any school year does not exceed 10% of the amount of payments distributed to th... More... WY Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Facility Repair & Maintenance Bonds H.B. 38 Allows district school boards to propose bonds for the purpose of facility repair and maintenance; requires bonding propositions for facility or facility feature enhancements to include a reserve or sinking fund for maintenance. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/20... More... WY Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Facilities Payment Expansion S.B. 14 Expands major building and facility repair and replacement payments for school districts to include buildings or facilities that would otherwise be treated as a closed building or determined to be surplus if the building or facility is being used for the provi... More... 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