ECS
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
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- Reading/Literacy
UTAdopted 11/2008P-12Updates and align state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to adult education programs. Adds provisions regarding the qualifications of adult education teachers. Deletes references to adult education diplomas. Specifies that adult education must provide a program that allows students to transition between sites in a seamless manner.

Directs the state superintendent of public instruction or designee to represent Adult Education programs on the Department of Workforce Services State Council as a voting member. Directs adult education programs to participate on or establish and maintain a local interagency advisory council consisting at a minimum of specified partner agencies. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-733.htm
Title: R277-733
Source: www.rules.utah.gov

CAVetoed 09/2008P-12Requires the State Board of Education to revise reading/language arts framework to include, as a core program, the English Language Development Literacy Program, a basic comprehensive English language literacy program for English learners, that would be aligned to both the reading/language arts and content standards and the English language development standards adopted by the state board.
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
Title: A.B. 2135
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

CAVetoed 09/2008P-12Relates to the State Board of Education and school curriculum content standards. Requires that prior to the adoption of a curriculum framework, a content standards review panel must be appointed for reading/language arts and history/social sciences. Requires the review panel to review content in its subject area and recommend changes to the state board. Requires hearings on recommended changes to content standards. Amends provisions regarding a repeal.
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
Title: S.B. 1097
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov

LASigned into law 07/2008P-12By January 30, 2009, requires the state board to implement a pilot program to provide universal screening of students in grades prekindergarten through 3 for dyslexia and related disorders. Provides that if no monies are appropriated in the 2008-2009 fiscal year for the pilot program, the board must begin development and implementation of the pilot program in any subsequent fiscal year in which monies are appropriated for such purpose. Provides that remediation and intervention strategies provided to address a need identified during the screening must, to the extent possible, utilize a multi-tiered model structured to provide research-based instruction in a general education setting. Requires an external evaluation of the pilot program to be conducted at the end of the first full year of the pilot program. Requires an interim report to be submitted to the house and senate education committees by August 15, 2009, and a final report, including a determination of whether the program should be implemented on a statewide basis, by March 15, 2010. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=501774
Title: S.B. 719
Source: www.legis.state.la.us

CTSigned into law 06/2008Postsec.
Community College
Establishes an adult literacy board as a standing committee of the state Employment and Training Commission to review and advise the commission on workforce investment and adult literacy services.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/Pa/pdf/2008PA-00163-R00SB-00465-PA.pdf
Title: S.B. 465
Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov/

COSigned into law 05/2008P-12Requires the Department of Education to make available to school districts, administrative units, and local education agencies technical assistance and training pertaining to students with literacy challenges, including dyslexia, and to base the training on a tiered continuum of intensity for intervention; encourages the department to coordinate the training with current best practices and teacher preparation at state higher education; requires an annual report.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/33DFFB3D4C82ADD78725736F0079DBBF?open&file=1223_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1223
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us/

MOAdopted 05/2008P-12Proposes to rescind rules regarding the standards for remedial reading classes.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/5csr/5c50-320.pdf
Title: 5 CSR 50-320.010
Source: http://www.sos.mo.gov

OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12Directs the state board to issue a license to teach to persons in the Teach for America Program; provides such licenses will not be subject to the requirements of the residency program; requires certain coursework; provides upon successful completion of the coursework and payment of fees, the teacher shall be issued a certificate to teach by the board. If funds are available, which may include but not be limited to grant, foundation, or other funds, they may be provided to train middle school teachers in reading education.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/HB3124_ENR.RTF
Title: H.B. 3124
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

MDSigned into law 04/2008P-12
Postsec.
Requires the State Department of Education each year by August 1 to compile a list by county of adult education and family literacy services offered to the public; requires the Department to distribute the list to specified local school officials and to post the list on its public website.
Title: S.B. 773
Source: http://mlis.state.md.us/

NJSigned into law 01/2008P-12Amends fiscal year 2008 annual appropriations act to allocate $ 250,000 from Governor's Literacy Initiative to Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey, Inc.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S3000/2889_R1.PDF
Title: S.B. 2889
Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us

UTAdopted 01/2008P-12Defines "adult basic education," "adult education," "GED," "measurable outcomes." Establishes clearer fiscal standards and practices for adult education programs. Adds a new section focusing adult education funds on student outcomes and student mastery. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-733.htm
Title: R277-733
Source: www.rules.utah.gov

+ Religion
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