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
+ 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
+ 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
KYIssued 12/2008P-12Commission on Philanthropy
E.O. 2008-1273
Establishes the state Commission on Philanthropy to explore new opportunities for creative solutions to the state's systemic challenges. Pro...

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ILVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 09/2008P-12Prevalent Student Chronic Health Conditions
S.B. 2685
Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, requires teachers' institutes to include instruction on prevalent student chronic health condition...

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ILSigned into law 08/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Commission on Children and Youth
H.B. 4456
Creates the Commission on Children and Youth Act. Provides for membership, appointments, goals, recommendations, and reports. Provides that ...

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WAAdopted 08/2008P-12SEX EDUCATION
WAC 392-410-140
Amends rules relating to sex education. Provides definition and requirements for providing sex education.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/...

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CASigned by Governor 07/2008P-12Environmental impact
A.B. 2720
Makes technical changes to the California Environmental Quality Act that prohibits an environmental impact report for any project involving ...

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ILSigned into law 07/2008P-12Health Exams for Students Entering Grade 6
H.B. 5717
Provides that any child who received a health examination within one year prior to entering the fifth grade for a certain school year is not...

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LAIssued 07/2008P-12Abstinence Education
Executive Order 22
(Executive Order No. BJ 08-21) Directs the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Governor's Program on Abstinence to promote abstinence...

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RISigned into law 07/2008P-12Standards-Based PE and Health Curricula
H.B. 7280
Requires that the physical education and health curricula in schools be based on standards set by the state Health Education Framework and t...

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DESigned into law 06/2008P-12Eligibility for Free or Reduced Health Insurance
H.B. 286
Requires local school districts, vocational or technical school districts, and the Department of Health and Social Services to take advantag...

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DESigned into law 06/2008P-12Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Directors
H.B. 416
Enables the Governor to assure terms of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Board of Directors are staggered by appoint...

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FLSigned into law 06/2008P-12School Breakfast Programs
H.B. 623
Requires expansion of the school district breakfast programs to middle and high schools; sets prices for school meals and for provision of t...

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ILSigned into law 06/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Heartsaver AED Fund
H.B. 1058
Makes nonpublic schools eligible for matching grants from the department of public health's Heartsaver AED Fund to help purchase Automated E...

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LABecame law without governor's signature 06/2008P-12Information on Human Papillomavirus
H.B. 359
Requires school boards to provide information on human papillomavirus and immunization against it to the parents of students in grades 6-12....

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LASigned into law 06/2008P-12Immunization Compliance Reports
H.B. 184
Requires the chief administrators of all public and private elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprie...

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LASigned into law 06/2008P-12Vaccinations
H.B. 178
Effective with the 2009-2010 school year, requires students to provide evidence of vaccination against meningococcal disease as a condition ...

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LASigned into law 06/2008P-12Immunization against Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
H.B. 581
Effective with the 2009-2010 school year, requires each person entering the sixth grade in any school in the state to present evidence of im...

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LASigned into law 06/2008Postsec.
Community College
Student Immunization Reports
H.B. 187
Requires all public and nonpublic postsecondary education institutions to electronically transmit immunization compliance reports to the dep...

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NHSigned into law 06/2008P-12
Postsec.
School Indoor Air Quality
H.B. 1171
Establishes a commission to study air quality issues in public school buildings; provides for membership and compensation and a report; prov...

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NHSigned into law 06/2008P-12Health Curriculum
S.B. 359
Updates the health education curriculum requirements to include instruction on the effects of alcohol and other drugs, child abuse, human im...

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OKSigned into law 06/2008P-12School Health Coordinators Pilot Program
H.B. 3395
Directs the State Department of Education to contract with a statewide school health program to establish a School Health Coordinators Pilot...

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RISigned into law 06/2008P-12Safe Environments for Students with Food Allergies
H.B. 7463
Directs public schools to develop a policy to provide a safe environment for students with peanut, tree nut, or other food allergies; provid...

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RISigned into law 06/2008P-12Posting of Student Allergy to Peanut
S.B. 2130
Requires boards to require schools to post a notice in a conspicuous place advising if there is a student in the school that has an allergy ...

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SCSigned into law 06/2008P-12Debrillators in High Schools
H.B. 3723
Requires each school district to develop and implement an external defibrillator program for each high school which requires that such a def...

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VTSigned into law 06/2008P-12Self-Medication
H.B. 748
Permits students with life-threatening food allergies or other life-threatening chronic illnesses to possess and self-administer life-saving...

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COSigned into law 05/2008Postsec.
Community College
TB Screening for Higher Education Students
S.B. 44
Concerns tuberculosis screening for higher education students; allows each college and university in the state to create a tuberculosis scre...

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GASigned into law 05/2008P-12Defibrillators in Schools
H.B. 1031
Requires each public high school with an interscholastic athletics program to have at least one functioning automated external defibrillator...

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MDSigned into law 05/2008P-12Youth 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 Yout...

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OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12Physical Activity
S.B. 1186
Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the Board must require, as a condition of accreditation, that public elementary schools provide to...

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OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12Quality Afterschool Opportunities Act
S.B. 1612
Creates the Quality Afterschool Opportunities Act to Reduce Childhood Obesity and Improve Academic Performance; directs the State Department...

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OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12Self-Administration of Medication
H.B. 2239
Requires local boards to adopt a policy that permits the self administration of inhaled asthma medication by a student for treatment of asth...

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AZSigned into law 04/2008P-12Diabetic students
S.B. 1229
Relates to policies and procedures adopted by a school district or charter school for diabetes management and administration of glucagon to ...

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COSigned into law 04/2008P-12School District Wellness Policies
H.B. 1224
Encourages school districts to expand their local wellness policies to adopt goals for emphasizing healthy choices and lifestyles, including...

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IASigned into law 04/2008P-12Eye Examinations
S.F. 2251
Relates to student eye care; requires certification of the performance of an eye examination, and submission of the results of such examinat...

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KYSigned into law 04/2008P-12Dental Screenings
H.B. 186
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, requires a screening by a dentist, physician or registered nurse and a student dental health certi...

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KYSigned into law 04/2008P-12Health Services in a Family Resource or Youth Services Center
H.B. 640
As funding becomes available, authorizes a supplemental grant program to fund the employment of a licensed physician or nurse to provide hea...

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MDSigned into law 04/2008P-12Task Force on Student Physical Fitness
S.B. 955
Establishes a Task Force on Student Physical Fitness in State Public Schools; provides that the task force shall study the advisability of r...

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NESigned into law 04/2008P-12Funding for School-Based Health Clinics
L.B. 469
Allows funding from the Health Care Cash Fund to be used for school-based health clinics (formerly prohibited).
http://uniweb.legislature.n...

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NYSigned into law 04/2008P-12Administration of Nebulizers
S.B. 6641
Requires a school nurse or physician to administer nebulizers in accordance with a student's patient specific order. http://assembly.state.n...

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NYSigned into law 04/2008P-12Choking Risk in Children
A.B. 9471
Requires the department of health to establish criteria for determining which foods and food products may pose a significant choking risk in...

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OKSigned into law 04/2008P-12Defibrillators
S.B. 923
Mandates that automated external defibrillators be made available in schools if funding is available; authorizes such defibrillators availab...

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TNSigned into law 04/2008P-12Defibrillators in Schools
H.B. 2775
Encourages LEAs to place automatic external defibrillators in schools; placement of such devices shall be within LEA's existing fiscal resou...

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WASigned into law 04/2008P-12
Postsec.
Student Health Insurance Outreach Pilot Project
S.B. 5100
Requires the superintendent of public instruction to solicit six pilot districts to implement a project to inquire whther students attending...

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IASigned into law 03/2008P-12Dental and Lead Screenings
S.B. 2111
Requires local boards to annually submit evidence by June 30 that students attending schools in their jurisdictions (public or private) have...

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TNSigned into law 03/2008P-12Hearing Exams
S.B. 2583
Present law allows a local education agency (LEA) to use revenues from gifts, grants, and state and local appropriations to provide an eye e...

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UTSigned into law 03/2008P-12Epinephrine Auto-Injector
H.B. 101
Provides that a school, school board, or school official may not prohibit or dissuade a teacher or other school employee from possessing, st...

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VASigned into law 03/2008P-12Physical Fitness
H.B. 242
Requires local school boards to incorporate into their local wellness policy as a goal a minimum of an average of 150 minutes of physical fi...

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VASigned into law 03/2008P-12Administration of Prescription Medication
S.B. 271
Relates to administration of prescription drugs; allows a person employed in a school for students with disabilities to administer prescript...

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VASigned into law 03/2008P-12Mental Health Awareness
S.B. 640
Adds mental health education and awareness to the list of topics that shall be covered in family life education curricula.
http://leg1.state...

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WVSigned into law 03/2008P-12High School Health Ed. Curriculum
H.B. 4124
Adds education concerning CPR and first aid to the health education curriculum to students in grades six to 12.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us...

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AKAdopted 02/2008P-12IMMUNIZATIONS REQUIRED
4 AAC 06.055
Adds one new immunization and expands the age-range for another immunization required for entry into a state public school. Updates the name...

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NJSigned into law 01/2008P-12School Nurses
S.B. 2905
Clarifies that in nonpublic schools the school nurse would be required to recruit and train volunteer designees to administer epinephrine to...

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+ 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
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ 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
+ 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--Completion Rates (Statistics)
+ Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation
+ Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation
+ Private Schools
+ Privatization
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution)
+ 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
+ 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
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ 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
+ Whole Child