ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2009 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 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--Charter Districts
+ 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
+ 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
+ High School--GED (General Education Development)
+ High School--Graduation Requirements
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ 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 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
+ 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
NYAdopted 12/2009P-12Amends rule to implement the No Child Left Behind differentiated accountability pilot program. One of the key components of this rule is the repeal of the current paragraph 100.2(p)(6), "School Requiring Academic Progress", and its replacement with a new paragraph 100.2(p)(6), "Differentiated Accountability for Schools," beginning with the 2009-10 school year. The new paragraph will:
(1) Integrate federal and state accountability systems
(2) Reduce the number of school accountability categories by eliminating dual Title I and non-Title I streams of improvement
(3) Collapse identifications for improvement into three simplified accountability phases--Improvement, Corrective Action and Restructuring--based on the number of years a school failed to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) on an accountability performance criterion and/or accountability indicator
(4) Further differentiate each phase into three categories of intervention: Basic, Focused and Comprehensive, based upon the number of accountability groups that failed to make AYP in an accountability performance criterion and/or accountability indicator for which a school has been identified
(5) Determine a school's accountability designation for the 2009-2010 school year based upon the school's accountability status for the 2008-09 school year and the school's AYP for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years
(6) Provide schools with diagnostic tools, planning strategies, and supports and interventions specific to that phase in the improvement process and the school's category of need
(7) Allow for differentiation in the accountability process, permitting schools and districts to prepare and implement two-year school improvement/corrective action/restructuring plans that best match a school's designation
(8) Better align the School Under Registration Review (SURR) and NCLB processes and ensure that schools with systemic and persistent failure fundamentally restructure or close
(9) Maximize the state education department's limited resources and utilize the resources of the University of the State of New York (USNY) to assign School Quality Review Teams, Joint Intervention Teams, and Distinguished Educators to schools in improvement; strengthen the capacity of districts to assist schools to improve
(10) Empower parents by increasing combined participation in Public School Choice (PSC) and Supplemental Educational Services (SES) by providing for SES in the first year of a school's identification for improvement and PSC only after an identified school has failed to make AYP.

In addition, Section 100.2p(10) is amended to set forth the action that is to be taken when a school has been designated as Improvement, Corrective Action or Restructuring and has been placed on registration review. More specifically, under the amended regulations, requires a school designated as Improvement (year 1) or Corrective Action (year 1) to modify its plan to meet the requirements of a restructuring plan for implementation no later than the beginning of the school year following the year identified for registration review. The amended regulations also provide that a school designated as Restructuring (advanced) may be warned of revocation of registration unless an acceptable plan for closure or phase out has been submitted. Also allows a school identified for registration review to be identified for phase out or closure if progress has not been demonstrated after two full academic years of implementing a restructuring plan.

Adopted as published in the July 1, 2009 issue of the Register (pages 10-14 of 28): http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2009/jul1/pdfs/rules.pdf
Title: Title 8 NYCRR 100.2(p), 120.2, 120.3, 120.4
Source: www.dos.state.ny.us

ILSigned into law 07/2009P-12Increases statewide charter school cap and charter school cap for Chicago. Above and beyond caps, permits five Chicago charters (and specified numbers of campuses and enrollment seats within those five charters) to be devoted to serving returning high school dropouts. Requires charter schools to submit to the state board of education a copy of their audit and Form 990. Increases time frame for state board to approve a charter school proposal. Adds procedures for a charter school to respond to a proposed revocation of its charter. Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, requires at least 75% of instructional staff in established charter schools to hold teacher certification; for charter schools established after these provisions are enacted, requires 75% of instructional staff to be certified by the beginning of the 4th school year in which students are enrolled in the school. Provides charter schools statewide are exempt from caps on the number of employees who may be enrolled in alternative certification programs. Requires state board to report findings of charter school evaluation every two years rather than annually. Establishes an Independent Charter School Authorizer Task Force to study the need for an independent charter school authorizer in the state. Directs the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature by January 2010.

Defines "contract school" as a Chicago attendance center run by a for- or not-for-profit private entity on contract to provide instructional and other services to a majority of the students enrolled in the attendance center. Defines "contract turnaround school" as an experimental Chicago contract school created to implement alternative governance in an attendance center subject to restructuring or similar intervention under NCLB that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for 5 consecutive years. Provides that a Chicago school placed on probation that fails to make adequate progress in correcting deficiencies after one year may be converted to a contract turnaround school. Specifies the Chicago school board may operate no more than 30 contract schools, plus up to 5 contract turnaround schools. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB0612lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 612
Source: www.ilga.gov

ILSigned into law 07/2009P-12Creates, in accordance with the goals outlined in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force to develop recommendations for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention as defined by the state's proposal for participation in the No Child Left Behind differentiated accountability pilot project. Directs the task force to compile data, study and report on the following:
(1) Ways in which the state can identify schools requiring more intensive intervention
(2) Strategies for strengthening leadership at struggling schools and otherwise strengthening school district capacity to effectively implement reforms and ensure continuous improvement
(3) Strategies that have been involved in successful turnaround efforts and a template for evaluating turnaround efforts
(4) The autonomies, resources, and support that need to be available to achieve and maintain over time a successful turnaround
(5) Mechanisms for model innovations to be captured and shared across the state
(6) The amount of funding necessary to accomplish any and all strategies included in the task force's recommendation
(7) The identification of any statutory or regulatory changes that would be necessary or helpful to promote successful innovation, intervention and restructuring.

Requires the task force to compile relevant data in developing its recommendations, and to seek input from various specified stakeholders. Directs the task force to submit a comprehensive report to the governor, the general assembly and the state superintendent of education by December 31, 2009. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB2119lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 2119
Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation

OHAdopted 06/2009P-12Rescinds and adopts new rules relating to school building and district improvement planning, parent notification and intervention. Requires districts and schools identified for improvement to be categorized as low support, medium support or high support based upon the aggregate percentage of students that do
not meet adequate yearly progress in reading and math. Establishes differentiated required actions for districts and buildings that have been identified as low, medium or high support. Establishes notification requirements for parents of students in low, medium and high support schools and districts. Adds that, in the case of a school or district that has failed to comply with specified accountability provisions, the department may withhold up to 10% of the school or district's Title I funds, and up to 5% of the school or district's annual foundation payment. Specifies funds may be withheld through the end of the current fiscal year or six months, whichever is longer, and may continue to be withheld each year until the school or district demonstrates compliance. Provides the the state superintendent of public instruction may require that districts and buildings provide documentation related to the implementation of the requirements of sections 3302.04 and 3302.041 of the Revised Code, including parent notifications and communications. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/56/3301-56-01_PH_FF_N_RU_20090615_1020.pdf
Title: OAC 3301-13-01, -02, -37-01 thru -12, -56-01
Source: www.registerofohio.state.oh.us

OKSigned into law 05/2009P-12Requires schools identified as not making Adequate Yearly Progress to utilize school support team assistance; provides that the support team shall assist the school in incorporating strategies that will strengthen the core academic subjects and address specific academic issues, incorporating strategies to promote high quality professional development, and training teachers to analyze classroom and school-level data.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10HB/HB1461_int.rtf
Title: H.B. 1461
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

OKSigned into law 05/2009P-12Requires district boards of education for schools identified for improvement for a specified number of consecutive years to implement alternative governance arrangements; provides that such arrangements include reopening the school as a public charter school, replacing the school staff, entering into a contract with a private management company, and other arrangements; provides that the state board of Education shall retain all funds that would have been allocated to the school upon failure to comply.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB268_ENR.RTF
Title: S.B. 268
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

+ 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--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics)
+ 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
+ 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
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ 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