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
+ No Child Left Behind--Finance
+ No Child Left Behind--Report Cards
- No Child Left Behind--School Support
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-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

OHSigned into law 07/2009P-12By December 31, 2010, directs the department of education, in consultation with the educator standards board, to develop a model peer assistance and review program, and to develop recommendations to expand the use of peer assistance and review programs throughout the state. Requires the department, in developing the model program, to review existing peer assistance and review programs in the state and consult with districts about the operation of those programs. Requires the model program to include:
(1) Releasing experienced classroom teachers from instructional duties for up to 3 years to focus full-time on mentoring and evaluating new and underperforming veteran teachers through classroom observations and follow-up meetings
(2) Professional development for new and underperforming teachers targeted at areas of instructional weakness
(3) A committee comprised of representatives of teachers and the employer to review teacher evaluations and make recommendations regarding teachers' continued employment.

Requires recommendations to include:
(1) Identification of barriers to expansion of peer assistance and review programs, including financial constraints, labor-management relationships, and barriers unique to small districts
(2) Legislative changes that would eliminate barriers to expansion of programs
(3) Incentives to increase participation in the programs.

Requires the department to provide copies of its model program and recommendations to the governor and specified legislative leaders. Also requires the department to make the model program and recommendations available to districts and to post them to the department Web site.
Pages 2840-2841 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf
Title: H.B. 1 - Section 265.70.50
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

NVSigned into law 06/2009P-12Relates to public schools that are designated as demonstrating need for improvement; eliminates the requirement for the Department of Education to establish a support team for a school; requires a school district or charter school to conduct a comprehensive audit for a school designated as demonstrating need for improvement for 3 consecutive years, including an audit of the curriculum implemented at the school; requires the implementation of a restructuring plan under certain circumstances. Chapter 422
http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB389_EN.pdf

Title: S.B. 389
Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.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-12Authorizes the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to establish the Inner City Schools Rescue program; states purpose of the program; defines an inner city school; directs the Commission to take certain steps to fulfill the objectives of the program; provides for selection of teachers for the program; directs the Commission to promulgate rules.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/HB/HB1837_ENR.RTF
Title: H.B. 1837
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

WASigned into law 04/2009P-12Section 501-507 relates to shared accountability for school and district improvement. Legislature recognizes that comprehensive education finance reform and increased investment of public resources necessary to implement that reform must be accompanied by a new mechanism for clearly defining the relationships and expectations for the state, school districts and schools. This will be accomplished through the development of a proactive, collaborative accountability system that focuses on a school improvement system that engages and serves the local school board, parents, students, staff in the school and districts and the community. Improvement system is to be based on progressive levels of support, with a goal of continuous improvement in student achievement and alignment with the federal system of accountability. It is the state's responsibility to provide schools and districts with the tools and resources necessary to improve student achievement. These tools include the necessary accounting and data reporting systems, assessment systems to monitor student achievement, and a system of general support, targeted assistance, recognition and, if necessary state intervention. Legislature has already charged the state board of education with developing criteria to identify schools and districts that are successful, in need of assistance and those where students persistently fail, as well as to identify a range of intervention strategies and a performance incentive system. State board is to develop an accountability index to identify schools and districts for recognition and for additional state support. Index is to be based on criteria that are fair, consistent and transparent. Performance is to be measured using multiple outcomes and indicators including, but not limited to, graduation rates and results from statewide assessments. Proposed system is to outline a process for addressing performance challenges that will include the following features: 1) an academic performance audit using peer review teams of educators that considers school and community factors in addition to other factors in developing recommended specific correction actions that should be undertaken to improve student learning; 2) a requirement for the local school board plan to develop and be responsible for implementation of corrective action plan taking into account the audit findings; and 3) monitoring of local district progress by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Once the accountability index and state system of support is finalized, the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education will seek approval from the U.S. Department of Education for use of the system in place of the federal accountability system under the No Child Left Behind Act.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2261-S.PL.pdf
Title: H.B. 2261--Section 501-507, Accountability
Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov

CAVetoed 01/2009P-12
Postsec.
Relates to sufficient textbook requirements, county superintendent revenue limits, school district building maintenance funding, funding for school and community college districts, pupil retention block grants, charter school block grants, pupil oral health assessments, local agency program improvement under the No Child Left Behind program, the High Priority Schools Grant Program, funding for regional occupational centers and programs, school transportation funds, and local education agency budgets.
Title: A.B. 4A
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

+ 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