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From the ECS State Policy Database 2009 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 2009. 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--Accreditation Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results Accountability--Rewards 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--College Entrance Exams Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization) Assessment--Performance Based/Portfolio Assessment--Value Added At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Compulsory Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower) Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Cheating Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Cyber Charters Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Vouchers Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Core Curriculum Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Family Living Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Home Economics Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Education Research Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Litigation 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 IL Adopted 11/2009 P-12 Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision 23 IAC 1.20, .30, .100, .240, .420, .465, .480, .510, .737 Partially from "Notice of Adopted Amendments" in Illinois Register (changes from this rulemaking but not listed below are technical in nature or echo recent changes in legislation): Section 1.20: Revised to distinguish among the appropriate levels of sign-of... More... RI Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Formula for Calculating On-Time Graduation S.B. 728 Requires adoption and implementation of a formula to calculate information about on-time graduation from students in public high schools in the state. (Public Law No. 2009-204) http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law09/law09204.htm... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Military Uniforms at High School Graduations A.B. 1463 Provides that a pupil who has fulfilled the requirements to receive a diploma of graduation from a high school, is otherwise eligible to participate in a graduation ceremony, and has completed the basic training for, and is an active member of any branch of th... More... AZ Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Early Graduation Scholarship Program H.B. 2011--Section 15 Section 15-105 relates to the early graduation scholarship program. Removes the provisions on the amount of the scholarship award. A part-time student enrolled at least half-time for the academic year shall be prorated in accordance with the part-time status o... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Postsec. State Scholars H.B. 4039 Provides that an applicant for the State Scholar program is eligible to be designated a State Scholar if he or she is a resident attending a Department of Defense school. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB4039lv.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Awarding of Credit for Courses Taken in Middle Grades H.B. 4038 Relates to the authorization of students in grade 7 or 8 to enroll in a high school course. Allows a student to participate in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a certified high school teacher who teaches in a high ... More... NY Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 City-Wide Council on High Schools A.B. 8903 - City-Wide Council on High Schools Creates the City-Wide Council on High Schools for New York City. Provides the council has the power to: (1) Advise and comment on any educational or instructional policy involving high schools (2) Issue an annual report on the effectiveness of the city distri... More... AZ Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 High school diplomas H.B. 2450 Provides for the issuing of honorary high school diplomas to war veterans currently residing in the state. Chapter 19 http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/summary/s.2450vma.doc.htm... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Diplomas for Vietnam Veterans H.B. 3731 Allows school boards to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam Conflict. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB3731lv.pdf... More... NC Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Assist Students in Transition Between Middle School and High School H.B. 187 Employee Leave for Parent Conferences: - Requires local boards of education to work with business leaders to encourage local businesses to adopt personnel policies to permit parents to attend student conferences. Transitioning to High School: - Encourages loc... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Report Card Data on College and Work Readiness H.B. 1 - Section 105.01/3302.032 Repeals 3302.032, which directed the state board, by June 30, 2012, to select one or more methods of measuring high school graduates' preparedness for higher education and the workforce. Required district and building performance on each college-/work-ready me... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Governor's Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative H.B. 1 - Section 3306.31 and 265.70.80 Specifies that the following provisions apply to any district with a three-year average graduation rate at or below 80%. Requires each such district's local board to implement actions prescribed by the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative in each ... More... MO Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 School term S.B. 291- School Flex Program Attendance Allows a school term for students participating in a school flex program as established in section 160.539 to consist of a combination of actual pupil attendance and attendance at college or technical career education or approved employment aligned with the s... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Diploma H.B. 2507 Establishes standards for a modified diploma; creates an extended diploma and establishes standards for extended diplomas; prohibits a school district or public charter school from denying a student who qualifies for a modified diploma or extended diploma the ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Job Corps Diploma Programs Ratings H.B. 3 - Section 20 Authorizes the commissioner to develop a system of distinction designations consistent with those developed for purposes of accreditation sanctions to be used in assigning distinction designations to Job Corps diploma programs. Pages 22-23 of 180: http://www.l... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Revised K-12 Curriculum Requirements H.B. 3 - Section 25 Requires the state board to adopt rules requiring students in grades 6-8 to complete at least one fine arts course. Each time the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board revises the Internet database of the coordinating board's official statewide inventory ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Diplomas for Students Demonstrating Early Readiness for College H.B. 3 - Section 32 Requires any research university that chooses to participate in the pilot program to: (1) Post on its Web site the benchmarks students must meet (1) in subject areas for which the higher education coordinating board has adopted college readiness standards, (2)... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Special Accreditation Investigations H.B. 3 - Section 59 - Part II Adds to circumstances under which special accreditation investigations must be conducted. Directs the commissioner to authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted when: (1) A significant pattern of decreased academic performance has develope... More... FL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 High School Diplomas for Vietnam Veterans S.B. 316 Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award a high school diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam War veterans. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0316er.html&Directory=session/2009/Senate/bills/billtext/html/... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 High School Exit Exams H.F. 2 Ties course credits to state and local academic standards. Requires Minnesota students to successfully pass state graduation exams effective August 1, 2012, and applicable to 9th grade students beginning in the 2012-2013 school year and later. https://www.revi... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Alternative Learning Centers H.F. 2 Establishes parameters for alternative learning centers, alternative learning programs, and contract alternative programs. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Implementing Rigorous Course Work Measures Related to Student Performance H.F. 2 Establishes a process for the commissioner and qualified experts and other stakeholders including parents and teachers to develop a model that projects anticipated high school performance on preparation and rigorous coursework measures and compares schools wit... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 College and Career-Readiness Workgroup H.F. 2 Establishes a college and career-readiness workgroup headed jointly by MDE and the U of M to evaluate and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on the design of the state high school assessment system, levels of and mechanisms for accoun... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College High School-to-College Developmental Transition Programs S.B. 2083 Establishes a program to offer research-based high school-to-college programs to prepare students for college. Requires an evaluation for participating programs with a working group to develop methods and timelines for data collection and analysis of program e... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. High School-to-College Developmental Transition Programs S.F. 2083 Encourages all public higher education systems and other higher education institutions in Minnesota to offer research-based high school-to-college developmental transition programs to prepare students for college-level academic coursework. Defines program requ... More... MO Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Exceptional Students H.B. 236 Requires school districts to allow certain students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies after four years of high school attendance. http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/hb236.htm... More... ND Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Amends High School Course Offerings H.B. 1400 - Sec. 14, Course Offerings For high schools to be approved, they must make available certain courses to students. This amendment requires more specificity in courses offered: from four units of English language arts to units from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and spe... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Endorsements on High School Transcripts S.B. 497 Adds reporting of any business and industry-recognized endorsements attained by a student on a student's high school transcript. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB497_ENR.RTF... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Home School Diplomas Recognized S.B. 433 Requires a high school diploma awarded by any legal means including home school diplomas to be recognized as a regular public high school diploma. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB0433.pdf ... More... VT Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Strategies for Expanding Opportunities H.B. 405 Strategies to expand education opportunities for high school students and others. Requires the Vermont state colleges, in consultation with various persons and organizations, to study and recommend strategies for expanding educational opportunities to prepare ... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Smart Core Incentive Funding Program S.B. 918 Creates the Smart Core Incentive Funding Program to provide a financial incentive to assist with a public high school's efforts to encourage students to complete the Smart Core curriculum and promote programs that contribute to student success, including tutor... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Project Graduation Commission H.B. 1956 Creates the Arkansas project graduation commission to investigate high school dropout prevention strategies, analyze the relationship between high school graduation rates and the state's economy, and to recommend strategies that will increase the overall high ... More... MD Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College High School Enrollment Options S.B. 689 Establishes a Study Group on Expanding Enrollment Options for High School Students; establishes the membership and staffing of the Study Group; specifies the duties of the Study Group; requires the Study Group to make specified reports; terminates the Study Gr... More... UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 High School Emergency Medical Training Programs H.B. 447 Repeals the funding allocation for high school emergency medical training programs. http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/hbillenr/hb0447.pdf... More... LA Adopted 02/2009 P-12 Revisions to End of Course Tests LAC 28:CXI.1801, 1803, 1805, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1813, 1815, 1817 Amends rules relating to statewide assessment standards and practices, specifically, End of Course Tests (EOCT). http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/lac/28v111/28v111.doc#_Toc222644588... More... High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges High School--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements Instructional Approaches Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Instructional Approaches--Time/Time on Task Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate International Benchmarking Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership 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 Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic 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--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support 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 Content Standards and Assessment P-3 Early Intervention (0-3) P-3 Ensuring Quality P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 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--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans Postsecondary Faculty Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Teaching Assistants Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Finance--Facilities Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Reading/Literacy--Adult Literacy Religion Religion--Prayer/Meditation 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--School Size School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Special Education 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--Immigrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--Mobility Students--Records/Rights Teaching Quality Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Assignment 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 Attitudes Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Working Conditions Technology Technology--Computer Skills Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban Urban--Governance