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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 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 AZ Adopted 10/2009 P-12 Exit Exams R7-2-302.06 thru 302.09 Existing rule, effective through the graduating Class of 2010, allows a student who fails to achieve a passing score on the AIMS assessment for high school graduation to graduate if the student meets alternative graduation requirements based on classroom perfo... More... LA Adopted 09/2009 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements LAC 28:CXV.2319 Amends rules relating to high school graduation requirements. Provides students the opportunity to complete requirements for the senior project to sit for the IBC exam, post graduation as an alternative to the required industry-based certification in the stude... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 State Assessment System H.B. 1 - Section 3301.079, 3301.0710, 3301.0711, 3301.0712 Replaces all references to "tests" to "assessments". Section 3301.079: Existing law requires the state board to inform all districts when any achievement test has been completed; new provision extends this notification requirement to community schools, STEM sc... More... TN Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Dates of Assessments H.B. 1393 Requires commissioner to establish dates for the administration of assessments required for graduation that provide the maximum number of instructional days possible prior to testing while maintaining compliance with federal law; requires the commissioner to e... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 College-Ready Indicators on End-of-Course Assessments H.B. 3 - Section 27 Eliminates provision that a student's performance on a college-ready question on an end-of-course assessment may not be used to determine the student's performance on the assessment. Pages 25-26 of 180: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB0... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 College Readiness Standards H.B. 3 - Section 53, Part I Defines "college-readiness" as the level of preparation a student must attain in English language arts and math to enroll and succeed, without remediation, in an entry-level general education course in that subject at a general academic teaching institution, a... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 State Assessments H.B. 3 - Section 50 through 52 Directs the state education agency, in developing state assessments for math, reading, writing, social studies and science for grades 3-8, to allow student scores to provide reliable information relating to a student's satisfactory performance for each perform... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Assessment Data Portal H.B. 3 - Section 48 and 49 Deletes provision that education Internet portal provides secure access to student assessment data. Amends 32.258 to direct the state education agency to create a student assessment data portal for use by school districts, teachers, parents, students and publi... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 End-of-Course Assessments and Exit Exam Transition H.B. 3 - Section 54 Repeals existing language on means to determine completion of end-of-course assessment requirements. Replaces with language requiring students to achieve a cumulative score that is at least equal to the product of the number of end-of-course assessment instrum... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Determining Performance Standards on State Assessments H.B. 3 - Section 53, Part II Transfers from the state board to the commissioner the duty of determining the performance level considered satisfactory on specified assessments. Directs the commissioner, in collaboration with the commissioner of higher education, to determine the level of p... More... GA Vetoed 05/2009 P-12 Career Test Substituting for Exit Exam S.B. 178, Section 11 Directs the state board to consider a passing score on an employer or industry certification exam or state board-approved state licensure exam when considering whether to grant a student a waiver from one or more sections of the graduation exam requirement. Pr... 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 State Assessment System H.F. 2 Aligns high school tests with required academic standards.  Strikes the requirement for constructed response questions.  Makes GRAD tests applicable in 2012-2013 to those few students who have not passed the Minnesota basic skills tests. Requires the state ass... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Removes Comprehensive Test Passage as Graduation Requirement S.B. 2312 Removes requirement of passage of the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests in order to receive a full diploma. (No impact of substance for end-of-course assessments.) http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB2312.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 End of Course Requirements H.B. 1959 Adds transcript requirements to provide evidence of end-of-course assessment credit for Algebra I and/or English II for specified future school years. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1307.pdf... More... NV Adopted 04/2009 P-12 Proficiency Examinations NAC 389 Revises various provisions governing proficiency examinations, include pass of proficiency examinations and an alternative method to demonstrate proficiency in science, social studies, and automobile technology . http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/CHAPTERS.HTMl... More... WA Adopted 03/2009 P-12 Alternative Assessment Method WAC 392-501-510 Complies with the legislative directive to implement an alternative assessment method that shall be an evaluation of a collection of work samples prepared and submitted by an applicant to demonstrate achievement of the state content areas in which the student ... More... MD Adopted 02/2009 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements COMAR 13A.03.02.09-1 Establishes rules relating to the graduation requirements in public high schools in the state. In particular, procedures for denial of high school diploma and appealing such decisions. http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/13a/13a.03.02.09-1.htm... More... NM Adopted 01/2009 P-12 High School Assessment System NMAC 6.19.7.1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, .10, .11 The objective of this rule is to establish procedures for implementing the high school readiness assessment system, including: (a) the process for identifying acceptable short-cycle diagnostic type assessment instruments for grades nine and ten; (b) identifica... More... 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