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From the ECS State Policy Database 2008 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 2008. 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 Accountability Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results 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 At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Innovation Schools Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Multicultural Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults Demographics--Enrollments 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--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries 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--School Boards Governance--School Boards--Training 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--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent 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 Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues 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--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 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 Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development Parent/Family MA Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 Authorizing a Designated Caregiver H.B. 4718 Provides the procedures by which a parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of a minor, by a caregiver authorization affidavit, may authorize a designated caregiver to exercise certain concurrent parental rights and responsibilities related to the designated... More... UT Adopted 11/2008 P-12 English Language Learner Family Literacy Centers R277-715 Provides a formula to allocate funds appropriated by the 2008 Legislature for school districts and charter schools to provide English Language Learner Family Literacy Centers. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-715.htm... More... MA Signed into law 10/2008 P-12 Develoment of Education Programs H.B. 391 Provides access to pupil information for parents and evaluators; provides that a school committee shall, upon request by parents, provide timely access to parents, independent evaluators and educational consultants for observation of a child's current and prop... More... MA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Placement of Twins in Classrooms H.B. 469 Relates to classroom placement of twins; provides that the parents of twins or higher order multiples may request that the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms when the children are in the same grade level at the same school; prov... More... NY Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Special Education Services Outside the School Setting S.B. 7981 Provides that members of committees on special education may provide parents of a child with a disability with a list of programs and services available outside the school setting. Provides that the list must clearly state that such services are in addition to... More... LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Habitual Truancy and Habitual Tardiness H.B. 1133 Revises provisions related to habitual truancy and habitual tardiness. Requires a student's parent to enforce the student's attendance at the school to which the student is assigned. Requires a school principal or designee to provide a parent with written noti... More... LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Parental Information Requests and Complaints S.B. 440 Requires public schools to provide parents or guardians with information regarding making complaints or requesting information; provides for the responsibilities of schools and school governing authorities to provide such information; relates to parental notif... More... NY Vetoed 07/2008 P-12 New York State Schools for the Deaf and Blind A.B. 9511 Requires school districts to provide information to parents of blind and deaf students regarding programs and institutions administered by the state. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A09511&sh=t... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Parent Participation in Rehabilitation or Counseling H.B. 361 Provides that no student who has been expelled from any school for possessing weapons or drugs shall be admitted or readmitted to any public school until the student provides written documentation that he and his parent or legal guardian have participated in r... More... NJ Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Classroom Placement of Twins A.B. 1671 Permits parent of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in public school to select shared or separate classroom placement of their children. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A2000/1671_I1.PDF... More... OK Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Placement of Multiple-Birth Siblings S.B. 2037 Allows a parent or guardian of multiple-birth siblings to request that the children attend the same school and be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are in the same grade level at the same school and meet the eligibility req... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Parent Notification H.B. 3162 Provides that if a student is a victim of child abuse or sexual abuse that occurred on school grounds or under the schools care, then the principal must verbally notify the parents and provide all school information and records relevant to the alleged abuse. h... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Parents Supporting Instruction S.B. 2162 Specifies that identifying opportunities for parents to participate in and support classroom instruction in the school includes the following: organizing fundraising activities; volunteering as a field trip chaperone; assisting in the library, computer lab, or... More... MN Vetoed 05/2008 P-12 Omnibus Education Policy Bill S.B. 3001 Authorized a parent or guardian of a student to designate an individual to participate in a school conference involving the child of the parent or guardian. Authorized the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education may each ... More... KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Family Resource and Youth Services Centers S.B. 192 Provides that family resource and youth services centers must provide services to enhance a student's ability to succeed in school. Provides that the most economically disadvantaged students and families must receive priority status for receiving services. Pro... More... UT Adopted 03/2008 P-12 Standards for School District Discipline Plans R277-609 Provides that all charter schools (and schools if district does not have districtwide plan) must develop a school-wide written model for prevention and intervention for student behavior management and discipline procedures for students who habitually disrupt s... More... UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 UPSTART Program S.B. 2 - Sections 3-9 Establishes UPSTART, a pilot project that uses a home-based educational technology program to develop the school readiness skills of children age 4-5 who have not entered kindergarten. Provides that UPSTART is created to evaluate the effectiveness of giving pr... More... UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 English Language Learner Family Literacy Centers S.B. 2 - Section 24 Establishes the English Language Learner Family Literacy Centers to: (1) Increase parent involvement (2) Communicate with parents who are not proficient in English concerning required and optional activities at the school, in the parents' preferred language to... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Students' Educational Records H.B. 1058 Requires the Board of Visitors or other governing body of every public institution of higher education in Virginia to establish policies and procedures requiring the release of the educational record of a dependent student, as defined by 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, to ... More... 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 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 Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Religion Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution) Remediation (K-12) Rural Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Week Scheduling/School Calendar--Year School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Code of Conduct School Safety--Corporal Punishment 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/District Structure/Operations School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation 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--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--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Military Standards State Comparisons/Statistics 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--Incentives Students--Mobility Students--Records/Rights Teaching Quality Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative 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 Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Internet Safety Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban Urban--Governance