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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 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 IL Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 School Council Members, Law Enforcement Drills S.B. 2688 Amends Chicago School District Article of School Code. Provides if the child of a parent school council member dies during term in office, the member may continue to serve for the balance of term. Amends School Safety Drill Act. Requires schools to conduct a l... More... MA Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 Idling of Vehicles on School Grounds S.B. 2628 Improves school campus air quality; restricts idling of school buses and personal motor vehicles on school grounds. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02628.htm... More... MA Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 Bus Driver Training in First Aid H.B. 4396 Relates to the licensing of school bus drivers; requires such drivers to be trained in a basic course in first aid including the administration of an epinephrine auto injector; adds the term sex offender to sections governing in licensure of such drivers. http... More... UT Adopted 11/2008 P-12 Gang Prevention and Intervention Programs in Schools R277-436 Provides maximum funding for gang prevention programs that serve students.... More... IL Signed into law 10/2008 Community College Use of Community College Buildings During an Emergency S.B. 2690 Authorizes the board of trustees of a community college district to make the buildings of a community college available for emergency purposes, and to cooperate with the state emergency management agency, local emergency management agencies, state-certified, l... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 Postsec. safe schools A.B. 2470 Relates to existing law which makes it a crime for persons to possess specified weapons on the grounds of any University. Expands that prohibition on weapons to make it a misdemeanor to bring or possess a less lethal weapon or stun gun upon the grounds of or w... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Safe schools A.B. 3015 Requires the training for group home administrators, licensed foster parents and relative caretakers to also include basic instruction of the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety on foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and viole... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 Postsec. Postsecondary safety S.B. 361 Requires that reports submitted to the Legislature by the State Postsecondary Education Commission be submitted to specified committees and subcommittees, and other entities. Requires the commission to make reports regarding postsecondary institution regarding... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 School safety A.B. 352 Amends existing law that makes it an offense to openly display or expose a imitation firearm in a public place. Includes public schools within the definition of a public place for purposes of these provisions. Chapter 422 http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsfram... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 safe schools S.B. 1666 Defines and expands the distance of Safe School Zones. Specifies the term school includes any public or private school. Amends existing law the prohibits certain suspended or dismissed students or employees and certain persons who have been directed to leave a... More... NY Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Internet Safety and Cyber-Bullying S.B. 7051 Requires the commissioner of education to develop resources and technical assistance for schools to provide to students in grades 3-12 and their parents concerning safe and responsible use of the Internet. Requires the resources to include information regardin... More... NY Signed into law 09/2008 Postsec. Community College Campus Security Officers S.B. 6949 Expands the powers granted to appointed campus security officers; provides that such officers may issue appearance tickets and a navigation summons or complaint; provides that such officers may seize an alcoholic beverage in the possession of an individual und... More... IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Internet Safety Education S.B. 2512 Relates to Internet safety education curriculum. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, requires districts to incorporate an age-appropriate component on Internet safety into the school curriculum, to be taught at least once each school year to students in ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2008 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Emergency Response Plans S.B. 2691 Amends the Campus Security Enhancement Act. Requires each institution of higher education in the state to develop an emergency response plan and a campus violence prevention plan, and to conduct training and exercises for the plans at least annually. Requires ... More... DE Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Placement in Alternative Education H.B. 326 Establishes a presumption that students 16 years of age and younger who are expelled or suspended pending expulsion by a local school district or charter school are appropriate for placement in an alternative education program. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/li... More... DE Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Weapons in School Zone H.B. 277 Relates to possession of a weapon in a safe school and recreation zone; clarifies that the affirmative defense only applies to weapons which are possessed as part of an authorized course of school instruction or for the purpose of participating in a sporting o... More... IL Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Sexual Assault Awareness Education H.B. 3677 Provides that a comprehensive health education program must include sexual assault awareness in secondary schools. Requires universities and community colleges to provide some form of sexual assault awareness education to all incoming students, whether through... More... LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Body Armor on School Property H.B. 1153 Prohibits a student or nonstudent from wearing or possessing body armor on school property. Defines "school" as any elementary, secondary, high school, vocational-technical school, college, or university. Specifies that these provisions do not apply to a feder... More... RI Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Electronic Bullying H.B. 7213 Expands the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying within the student discipline codes to include harassment, intimidation or bullying through electronic communications, including any verbal, textual or graphic communication of any kind effected, c... More... RI Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Conflict Resolution H.B. 7569 Allows training programs in school districts or public schools to teach pupils to resolve conflict without violence, training school staff to promote conflict resolution, use mediation techniques and early detection to reduce incidents of violence and lastly t... More... RI Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 No Proximity for Sex Offenders S.B. 2328 Makes it a felony for any registered sex offender to be within five hundred feet of any public or private school; provides penalties. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law08/law08189.htm... More... CT Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Bullying and Student Discipline H.B. 5826 Relates to a school learning environment; provides for in-school suspensions; requires a policy to address bullying in schools; provides that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report; requires each school to notify paten... More... CT Signed into law 06/2008 Postsec. Community College Awareness/Intervention Related to College Students w/ Mental Illness S.B. 467 Requires each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and each independent college or university to submit a plan to the Department of Higher Education to identify procedures specifically designed to heighten awareness by all faculty and staff... More... FL Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Bullying Prevention and Policies H.B. 669 Relates to school safety; prohibits bullying and harassment; creates the Jeffrey Johnson Stand Up for All Students Act which prohibits bullying or harassment during education programs or activities, on school buses, or through use of data or computer software ... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Orientation on Disciplinary Rules and Student Conduct H.B. 754 Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, requires the governing authority of an elementary or secondary school to provide every student an orientation during the first five days of the school year regarding school disciplinary rules and student conduct. Provi... 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... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Battery of a School Teacher H.B. 757 For purposes of R.S. 14:34.3 and R.S. 38.2 relating to battery of a school teacher, extends definition of "school teacher" to include any teacher aide and paraprofessional, school bus driver, food service worker, and other clerical, custodial, or maintenance p... More... OH Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Employee Misconduct H.B. 428 Requires the state board or state superintendent to automatically revoke or deny an educator license, without an administrative hearing, for anyone convicted of, if found guilty of or has plead guilt to certain offenses. Requires prosecutors to notify the stat... More... OH Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Records of Students Identified as Missing Children H.B. 181 Requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and to notify law enforcement of requests for those records; provides the law enforcement agency involved shall integrate into the national crime information c... More... RI Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Bullying Via Electronic Communications S.B. 2012 Expands the definition of student discipline codes relating to harassment or bullying to include electronic communications. Defines as "Electronic" communications to include any verbal, textual or graphic communication of any kind effected, created or transmit... More... SC Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Ability to Transfer Without Penalty H.B. 4758 Provides that any high school student who is the victim of physical abuse, harassment, or stalking by a classmate during school hours or otherwise resulting in a restraining order being granted against the classmate by a court of competent jurisdiction, may tr... 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 Special Education Isolation and Restraint Modernization and Positive Behavioral Supports Act S.B. 2609 Enacts the Special Education Isolation and Restraint Modernization and Positive Behavioral Supports Act; ensures that every student receiving special education services is free from unreasonable, unsafe and unwarranted uses of isolation and restraint; promotes... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Postsec. Death Threats Made to Employees H.B. 583 Creates a Class B misdemeanor for communicating a death threat concerning a school employee if: (1) The person communicates to another a threat to cause the death of or serious bodily injury to a school employee and the threat is directly related to the employ... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Rules and Regulations to Prohibit Gang Activities S.B. 2554 Authorizes districts to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to prohibit gang activities on school property; requires each local education agency to annually evaluate the threat to and influence on school children by gangs in the community. - Amends TCA ... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 Postsec. Notification of Disciplinary Violations S.B. 4108 Requires a public institution of higher education to notify a parent or legal guardian of a student under 21 years of age who has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance that is in violation... More... CO Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 School Safety Resource Center S.B. 1 Creates the School Safety Resource Center to assist schools in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and crisis situations; sets forth the duties of the center and authorizes the center to employ staff and contract for servi... More... GA Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Internet Safety S.B. 474 Directs the department of education to develop a model program for educating students about safety while using the Internet, taking into consideration educational materials developed by other states and any other materials suggested by experts that promote chi... More... MD Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System S.B. 473 Requires the State Department of Education to require local school systems to utilize passive parental consent before administering the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey designed to identify and document certain behaviors and conditions including ... More... MD Adopted 05/2008 P-12 Kindergarten Age Eligibility COMAR 13A.08.01.01 Provides for transfers to public kindergarten of age- eligible kindergarten students attending nonpublic kindergarten programs. Unsafe School Transfer Policy. A. Each local school system shall allow a student attending a public elementary or secondary school... More... OK Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Lockdown Drills; Electronic Bullying, Threatening Behavior S.B. 1941 Adds provision for annual review of school district and higher education institution emergency plans; revises requirements for school district lockdown drills (from one per year to two per year). Prohibits any lockdown drill from being conducted at the same ti... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Surveillance Operations S.B. 3408 Gives Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) investigators the authority, at the request of local law enforcement, to conduct surveillance operations to detect criminal activity on the ground of a public K-12 school or within five miles of the school and then... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Instruction on Nonviolence H.B. 2790 Urges all public schools to provide instruction on nonviolence as means to conflict resolution as part of character education curriculum. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB2790.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Reporting of Disciplinary Actions H.B. 3321 Requires the commissioner of education to report on a semi-annual basis to the select oversight committee on education and the education committees of each house of the general assembly regarding disciplinary actions in Tennessee schools. - Amends TCA Title 37... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Parents Required to Notify School H.B. 2720 Expands the requirement that parents notify schools when a student is found delinquent involving certain crimes and details the procedure school officials must follow in response. - Amends TCA Section 49-6-3051. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/curren... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 School Notification Required H.B. 2719 Adds aggravated sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery of a child to the crimes of which a child's school must be notified when the child has been adjudicated delinquent involving such offenses. - Amends TCA Section 37-1-131. http://www.legislature.stat... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School safety S.B. 1401 Concerns school safety program; relates to reserve officers; provides the Department of Education shall cooperate with the county school superintendent, the county sheriff and the local chief of police to permit a law enforcement agency, with the consent of th... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School safety H.B. 2093 Relates to motor vehicle violations at school crossings; provides for civil penalties for such violations. Chapter No. 143. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2093h.pdf... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School safety S.B. 1230 Concerns school safety; provides a public school district may apply to participate in the school safety program by submitting to the school safety program oversight committee which will contain a detailed description of the school safety needs, a plan for impl... More... ID Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School safety S.B. 1361 Adds to existing law relating to rules of the road to provide for reduced speed limits in school zones; requires certain information on a school zone sign; specifies a fixed penalty for exceeding the posted speed limit in a school zone. Chapter 372 http://www... More... KS Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Cyberbullying H.B. 2758 Defines cyber-bullying. Requires cyberbullying to be addressed in district policies related to bullying. Specifies that district policies must prohibit bullying while using school property (even if a student is off school grounds). http://www.kslegislature.org... More... KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School Safety H.B. 91 Requires any school or local board employee who knows or has cause to believe that a student has been the victim of a violation of any felony offense committed by another student on school premises, on school-sponsored transportation, or at a school-sponsored ... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School Bullying Policies H.B. 199 Requires the State Board of Education to develop a certain model policy prohibiting bullying, harassment and intimidation in schools; requires that the model policy include certain information; requires certain county boards of education to establish certain p... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. Community College College Campus Diversity and Tolerance H.B. 905; S.B. 438 Requires private institutions of higher education eligible for state aid to submit a report on programs to promote and enhance cultural diversity on campus; requires public institutions of higher education to develop and implement a plan for a program of cultu... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Student Suspensions H.B. 139; S.B. 582 Provides a task force to study issues related to students with multiple suspensions; requires principals to report suspensions in writing to county superintendents within specified periods of time; requires principals to refer specified students to pupil servi... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 School Crossing Guard Authority H.B. 230 Authorizes a school crossing guard who meets specified qualifications to stop or otherwise direct vehicles and pedestrians on a highway or on school grounds under specified circumstances; requires drivers to obey the directions of a school crossing guard exerc... More... VA Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Exclusion of Persons Convicted of Sexually Violent Offenses H.B. 567 Provides that every adult who is convicted of a sexually violent offense is prohibited from entering and being present upon any property he knows or has reason to know is a public or private elementary or secondary school or child day center property during sc... More... WA Signed into law 04/2008 Postsec. Community College Campus Safety Needs Assessment H.B. 2507 Requires the state patrol and state association of sheriffs and police chiefs, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges, the council of presidents, state independent colleges and the department of information services to conduc... More... CO Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Community College Peace Officers on Higher Education Campuses H.B. 1106 Concerns peace officers employed by institutions of higher education; provides that state institutions of higher education are authorized to employ police officers to provide law enforcement and property protection; provides that the officers shall be under th... More... ID Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Safety H.B. 382 Amends existing law relating to adult criminal sex offenders and access to children in schools to clarify restrictions on adult criminal sex offenders' access to children in school buildings, on school grounds and properties used by a school; to clarify except... More... IL Adopted 03/2008 P-12 Special Education Facilities 23 IAC 401.10, .30, .210 Emergency rule (expires 8-18-08) includes a new provision expressly prohibiting the "use of a behavioral intervention strategy relying upon pain as an intentional method of control" by any program operated at a facility serving students with disabilities. Requ... More... OR Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Records-Sharing for Safety Purposes S.B. 1092A Requires district attorney or other person filing juvenile delinquency petition to notify school when student of school is subject of petition alleging certain criminal acts; requires principal to notify necessary school personnel of petition; permits expungem... 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... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Prevention of Violence on Campus S.B. 539 Requires each public college or university to have in place policies and procedures for the prevention of violence on campus, including assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the campus community. The board ... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Parental Notice of Mental Health Treatment H.B. 1005 Amends and reenacts § 23-9.2:3, relating to providing notice to parents of dependent student's receipt of mental health treatment on the campus of a public institution of higher education. Requires the Board of Visitors or other governing board of any public i... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Safety/Emergency Management -- HIgher Education H.B. 1449 This bill requires that the following three actions be taken by each of the Commonwealth's public higher education institutions: • The board of visitors or other governing body will develop, adopt, and keep current a written crisis and emergency management pl... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Crisis and Emergency Plan S.B. 256 Requires the board of visitors or other governing body of each public higher education institution to develop, adopt, and keep current a written crisis and emergency management plan; with a comprehensive review conducted and necessary revisions made every four... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. First Warning System S.B. 538 Mandates that by January 1, 2009, each public institution of higher education establish a comprehensive, prompt, and reliable first warning and emergency notification system for students, staff, and faculty. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+ful... More... VA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Mental Health Records S.B. 636 Allows each public and private institution of higher education to request from its students complete student records, including any mental health records held by the originating school. These records shall be kept confidential as required by state and federal ... More... WA Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Campus Safety and Security Plans S.B. 6328 Each postsecondary institution must make available to all students, faculty and staff the campus safety plan. For the most recent academic year, the plan must include a description of services and programs offered by the institution and student organizaitons p... More... WA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Anaphylaxis Guidelines S.B. 6556 The superintendent of public instruction is directed to develop anaphylactic policy guidelines for schools to prevent anaphylaxis and deal with medical emergencies. This must be done with input for various stakeholder groups. By September 2009, every school di... More... WV Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Service Personnel and Authority H.B. 4478 Gives authority to certain aides to exercise control over students; expands the classifications of service personnel to include paraprofessionals, interpreters and aides providing one-on-one services to students with exceptionalities as required by the student... More... WV Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Student Discipline and Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and Personnel H.B. 4368 Provides that if the council believes that student discipline at the school is not enforced fairly or consistently, it shall transmit that determination in writing to the county superintendent. Finds that isolating students or placing them in alternative learn... More... CA Signed into law 02/2008 P-12 After School Programs A.B. 4C Delays the encumbrance of funds appropriated for the After School Education and Safety Program. Defers the entire amount of the July warrant for the County School Service Fund and a specified percentage of the amount of the July warrant for school district app... More... NE Signed into law 02/2008 P-12 L.B. 205 Requires schools to adopt a bullying policy by July 1, 2009; amends provisions regarding student discipline.Defines bullying as any ongoing pattern of physical, verbal, or electronic abuse on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a scho... More... SC Signed into law 02/2008 P-12 Gang Prevention Study Committee H.B. 4630 Creates a new gang prevention study committee to continue the work of the initial gang prevention study committee to assess and combat the state's ongoing gang problem by bringing together state agencies to coordinate gang reduction plans and make further reco... More... MI Signed into law 01/2008 P-12 Student Expulsion and Suspension Policies S.B. 703 (sec. 1311) Clarifies policies for student expulsion/suspensions with respect to infractions, students with disabilities, responsibilities of various parties, student records, etc. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/publicact/pdf/2008-PA-0001.pdf... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2008 P-12 Study of Megan's Law S.B. 2516 Requires the Violence Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to undertake a comprehensive study of Megan's Law; relates to registration by sex offenders and community notification. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/PL07/227_.... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Hate Crime and Bullying Laws S.B. 2975 Revises laws concerning hate crimes and bullying; relates to civil actions for for bias crime victims; adds bias crimes to the list with which a victim may receive compensation; requires police training in bias intimidation crimes; provides for additional pena... More... 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