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
+ 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
ILSigned into law 08/2008P-12Commission on the Elimination of Poverty
H.B. 4369
Creates the Commission on the Elimination of Poverty to develop a poverty elimination strategic plan to reduce extreme poverty in Illinois by 50% or more by 2015. In developing the overall strategic plan, and in working toward the goal of reducing extreme pove...

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OHSigned into law 08/2008P-12Appropriations
H.B. 496 (Am. Sub. H.B. 562)
Permits chartered nonpublic schools to purchase goods and services through group purchasing contracts negotiated and arranged by the Department of Administrative Services. Permits an educational service center (ESC) to authorize the conversion of a building un...

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LAVetoed 07/2008P-12Statewide Educational Facilities Authority
S.B. 632
Creates the Statewide Educational Facilities Authority in the department of education to provide funding, coordination, assistance and oversight for the repair, renovation and construction of public school facilities. Directs the authority to conduct a statewi...

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NYSigned into law 07/2008P-12Drivers Education
S.B. 6985
Creates a temporary special advisory panel on driver education availability and curriculum enhancement to examine, assess and make recommendations to improve drivers education instruction and make such instruction more available. Directs the panel to consider,...

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KYSigned into law 06/2008P-12Teacher Retirement System Trustees and Teacher Sick Leave
H.B. 1A
Establishes new retirement requirements and benefit multipliers for Kentucky Employees' Retirement System retirement plans. Requires the establishment of a formal education program for members of the board of trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of the ...

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LASigned into law 06/2008P-12Department of Education
H.B. 576
Re-creates the department of education; changes the termination date unless the department is again re-created; provides for the general re-creation of the department of education and its statutory entities in accordance with the sunset law; supersedes provisi...

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NJSigned into law 06/2008P-12Appeals Arising From Disputes Under State Laws
A.B. 45
Eliminates role of the Board of Education in the appeal of Commissioner of Education decisions in disputes arising under the State school laws; provides that an appeal of a commissioner's decision would go directly to the Appellate Division of the Superior Cou...

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NJSigned into law 06/2008P-12Commissioner of Education Authority
A.B. 2965
Establishes Commissioner of Education as the rule- making authority under several school district accountability statutes relating to early termination agreements and revocation of certificates; requires public hearings on proposed regulations.
http://www.njle...

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ALVetoed 05/2008P-12Posting Notices of Vacant Positions
H.B. 222
Requires the posting of notices of vacancies in the offices of State Superintendent of Education, county superintendent of education, city superintendent of education, Chancellor of Postsecondary Education, and the chief executive officer of any two-year schoo...

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DESigned into law 05/2008P-12State Board Oversight of School Buses
H.B. 231
Removes State Board of Education oversight over the design and operation of school buses.
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+231/$file/legis.html?open...

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GASigned into law 05/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Transparency in Government Act
S.B. 300
Provides for audits and the examination of books and records. Provides for the creation and maintenance of a searchable Web site that provides public access to certain state expenditure information. Relates to the Department of Audits and Accounts and the Depa...

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NYAdopted 05/2008P-12
Postsec.
Reorganization of Board of Regents Committees
Title 8 NYCRR Sections 3.2 and 4-1.5
Amends rules to reflect a recent reorganization of the committee structure of the Board of Regents. Pages 12-14 of 31: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2008/may14/pdfs/rules.pdf...

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OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA)
H.B. 2205
Recreates the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) and modifies the termination date from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2012.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/hb2205_enr.rtf...

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LAAdopted 03/2008P-12Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
LAC 28:I.Chapters 1-13
Makes various revisions to the code of conduct for the board of elementary and secondary education.
Pages 409-427: http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0803/0803.doc...

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UTSigned into law 03/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
State Agency and Higher Education Compensation
H.B. 4
From the bill synopsis:
--Provides budget increases and decreases for the compensation of state and higher education employees not including school district personnel
--Provides for a 3% cost of living allowance for state and higher education employees not in...

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WASigned into law 03/2008P-12Powers of Exec. Dir. of State Board
H.B. 3097
Allows the state board of education to delegate to the executive director, by resolution, such duties as deemed necessary to efficiently carry on the business of the board including, but not limited to, the authority to employ necessary personnel and the autho...

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WVSigned into law 03/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Vision 2020: Education Blueprint
S.B. 595
Establishes Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty; requires the State Board of Education to create a plan that includes goals, objectives, strategies, indicators and benchmarks and specifies certain public education goals and objectives t...

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MAAdopted 01/2008P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Reorganizing Certain Education Agencies
Executive Order /H.B. 4488
Submits from the governor to the legislature a reorganization plan number 1 of 2008. Relates to reorganizing certain education agencies. Creates an executive office of education, headed by a cabinet secretary. Provides for the executive office to contain three...

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+ 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
+ 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