---

From the ECS State Policy Database 2008 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 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 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 CO Approved by voters 08/2008 Community College Postsec. Gaming Funds for Community Colleges Amendment 50 Proposes an amendment to the Constitution concerning limited gaming; allows voters in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek to vote on extending casino hours of operation, approved games and maximum single bets; provides for distributions from the Limite... More... PA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Budget Bill - H.B. 1067 Sets the school finance distribution formula based primarily on what it will take for students to meet the state's academic standards. The amount is based largely on the findings of the 2007 Costing-Out Study. Provides for a transferring pupil's disciplinary r... More... HI Signed into law 06/2008 Postsec. Incentive and Performance Funding H.B. 2978 Beginning in 2008, directs the University of Hawaii to annually prepare and provide to the legislature an annual incentive and performance report and plan, to assist the legislature in appropriating up to 2% of the university's annual budget to facilitate the ... More... LA Became law without governor's signature 06/2008 Postsec. Community College Special College and University License Plates H.B. 1240 Relates to special college and university license plates. Amends present law which requires a royalty fee for the use of an institution's design on a special license plate to be paid to such institution. Provides that the royalty fee is an annual fee. http://w... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 Postsec. Alumni Association Financial Statements H.B. 1184 Provides that any alumni association, alumni foundation, or other private, nonprofit alumni organization that supports a public institution of higher education and that raises $75,000 or less in a fiscal year is not required to have an audit. Requires such an ... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Postsec. Workforce Training Rapid Response Fund H.B. 1018 Establishes the Workforce Training Rapid Response Fund. Authorizes the board of supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to use such funds for various purposes, including for education directed at refining or developing literacy or o... More... MO Vetoed 06/2008 Postsec. postsecondary finance H.B. 2003 Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/hb2003.htm ... More... FL Rejected by voters 04/2008 Community College Postsec. Local Tax for Community Colleges Amend. 8 Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding. Requires voter approval to levy the tax. Provides that approved taxes will sunset after 5 yea... More... HI Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. University of Hawaii Expenditures H.B. 2163 Requires the University of Hawaii to preaudit all proposed payments of $10,000 or more to determine the propriety of expenditures and compliance with applicable laws, executive orders, and rules. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/HB2163_SD1_.htm... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. Community College Credit Card Marketing on College Campuses H.B. 1210 Requires institutions of higher education to develop certain policies regarding credit card marketing activities and merchandising conducted on the campus of an institution of higher education by credit card issuers; provides for certain exemptions from certai... More... MT Approved by voters 04/2008 Postsec. Mill Levy for State University System Ballot Initiative: V. 2 (LR-118) Submits a 6 Mill Levy for support of the Montana University System.... More... NE Signed into law 04/2008 Community College Postsec. Community College Funding L.B. 973 Changes provisions governing distribution of state aid among Nebraska's six community college areas. The total level of state aid appropriated for community college area aid would not be directly impacted. Such appropriations would remain at the discretion of ... More... TN Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. Internal Accounting Controls H.B. 4118 Concerns Public Funds and Financing; specifies that the present law requirement for each agency of state government to establish and maintain internal accounting and administrative controls applies to institutions of higher education; establishes guidelines fo... More... WV Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. West Virginia Research Trust Fund S.B. 287 Creates the West Virginia Research Trust Fund to match qualified private donations and pledges to Marshall University and West Virginia University. Seventy percent of the fund is to be used to match donations to West Virginia University and 30% of the funds ar... More... WV Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Higher Education Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Fund H.B. 4434 Creates the Higher Education Energy and Water Savings Revolving Loan Fund proposed by the Governor. Through an initial investment of $7 million, it is anticipated that the higher education institutions will propose, and if approved for a loan, initiate project... More... WY Signed into law 03/2008 Community College Postsec. Community College Capital Construction Projects H.B. 81 Increases the amount on new capital construction projects that the community college commission may approve from $50,000 to $100,000. The definition of "new capital construction project" was amended to include previously approved and uncompleted projects which... More... WY Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Loans to University of Wyoming H.B. 48 Authorizes the state loan and investment board to make loans to the University of Wyoming and increases the total loan amount authorized from $30 to $60 million. The board must establish interest rates according to current interest rates of similar securities ... More... SD Signed into law 02/2008 Postsec. postsecondary finance H.B. 1226 Provides funds to postsecondary technical institutes http://legis.state.sd.us/index.aspx.... More... SD Vetoed 02/2008 Postsec. Postsecondary finance H.B. 1016 Establishes a new system of funding for the postsecondary technical institutes; requires the Board of Education to evaluate the apportionment and distribution of state funds to the state's postsecondary technical institutes and report its findings and recommen... More... 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