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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 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 CO Adopted 12/2009 P-12 Student Restraints Policy 1 CCR 301-45 Outlines the procedures to be followed in the administration of restraint of students, staff training, documentation requirements, and the review of the use of restraint. Restraints shall only be used in an emergency and with extreme caution and is limited to... More... OH Signed into law 12/2009 P-12 Dating Violence Prevention H.B. 19 - Dating Violence Prevention Enacts the Tina Croucher Act to require school districts to adopt a dating violence prevention policy as part of its policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and to include age-appropriate dating violence prevention education in the health edu... More... IL Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Interference with a Public Institution of Education H.B. 557 Expands the statute concerning interference with a public institution of higher education to also include interference with public elementary and secondary schools. Provides that if the interference with the public institution of education is accompanied by a ... More... IL Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Postsec. Civil Rights H.B. 2547 Provides that the exercise of free speech, free expression, free exercise of religion or expression of religiously based views by any individual or group of individuals that is protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and that occurs in a ... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Razors and Box Cutters on School Grounds A.B. 870 Makes it a misdemeanor or felony to bring or possess razors with unguarded blades or box cutters upon school grounds of any public or private school providing instruction in grades K-12. Provides an exception for those providing instruction in such schools. ht... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 Community College Postsec. Community College Enrollment for Previously Expelled Students A.B. 1400 Authorizes the governing board of a community college district to either deny enrollment, permit enrollment or permit conditional enrollment to any individual who has been expelled from a community college within the preceding 10 years for certain offenses, or... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Walking Schoolbus S.B. 315 Authorizes the governing board of any school district to establish and maintain a walking schoolbus, defined as a group of pupils walking to and from school with one or more supervising adults, for the purpose of ensuring the safe passage of pupils to and from... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Alcoholic Beverages or Containers Near School Property A.B. 888 Prohibits, as an infraction, the possession of an alcoholic beverage container, or consumption of an alcoholic beverage, on a public street, alley or sidewalk within 600 feet of the property line of a public or private school. Provides exceptions. Bill: http:/... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Reporting Possession of Firearm or Explosive to Authorities A.B. 1390 Requires a school principal or the principal's designee to report any act involving either the possession, sale, or furnishment of a firearm, or the possession of an explosive committed by a pupil or nonpupil on a schoolsite to the city police or county sherif... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Postsec. Restraining Orders to Protect Threatened Students S.B. 188 Authorizes a chief administrative officer of a private postsecondary educational institution, or a person designated to maintain order on the school campus or facility, whose student has suffered a credible threat of violence made off the school campus or faci... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Loitering Around a School or Other Locale S.B. 492 Relates to the crime of loitering, after being asked to leave, near any school or public place at which children attend or normally congregate. Provides enhanced penalties for this crime if the person is required to register with the chief of police of sheriff... More... UT Adopted 09/2009 P-12 Local Board Assurances R277-108-5 Requires each local school board and charter school governing board to provide written assurance assurances that the board has: (1) Implemented an electronic device (cell phones and pagers) policy consistent with state board rule (2) Posted collective bargain... More... CA Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Nooses on School Property A.B. 412 Provides that any person who hangs a noose, knowing it to be a symbol representing a threat to life, on property of a K-12 educational facility or college campus must be punished by up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both for the first c... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Bomb Threats to Schools H.B. 4049 Provides that a person who makes a false or terrorist threat that a bomb or explosive device has been placed in a school must be required by the court, in addition to any other sentence imposed, to reimburse the unit of government that employs the emergency re... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Day/Temporary Labor Service Agencies H.B. 866 Bars any day and temporary labor service agency in Chicago from operating or transacting business at a location within 1,000 feet of a school building, a building in which a Boys and Girls Club is located, or real property comprising a school or a Boys and Gir... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 Community College Postsec. Community College Officers of the Peace H.B. 2253 Repeals and rewrites provisions related to the appointment, duties and training of law enforcement officer and non-law enforcement officer members of the community college district police department or department of public safety. http://www.ilga.gov/legislati... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 Postsec. Campus Violence Prevention Plans H.B. 336 Amends the Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008. Requires the inter-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional campus violence prevention plan to include coordination and communication with governmental agencies and school districts contiguous to the higher educ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 Postsec. Private College Campus Police H.B. 2507 Relates to the peace officer powers granted to members of a private college or university campus police department. Provides that such powers are extended to the protection of branches and interests of the college or university in the county where the college ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Cell Phone Use in School Speed Zones H.B. 72 Provides that a person, regardless of age, may not use a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone, except for a person engaged in a highway construction or maintenance project when the person is using a wireless te... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Threat of Destruction or Violence at School H.B. 1105 Provides that a person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly transmits or causes to be transmitted a threat of destruction of a school building or school property, or a threat of violence, death or bodily harm directed against persons at a school... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Traffic Fines in School Zones S.B. 2024 Provides that $50 of the additional fine charged for (1) speeding in a school zone or (2) failure to yield to a pedestrian in a school zone must be disbursed for school safety purposes to the school district or districts in which the offense occurred. http://w... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Safety Education and Driver Education S.B. 1977 - Safety Education and Driver Education Clarifies that Internet safety component must be taught at least once a school year to students in grades 3-12. Requires one class period a week in grades 1-8 to be devoted to safety education. Specifies content that must be included in driver education course... More... NC Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Violence in School - Reporting Requirements H.B. 1078 Ensures that acts of violence in schools are reported to the local superintendent or the superintendent's designee; requires local boards of education to adopt a policy on notification to the parents or legal guardians of students alleged to be victims of any ... More... NC Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Taking Indecent Liberties With a Student Requires Registration as Sex Offender H.B. 209 Adds the offense of taking indecent liberties with a student to the list of sex offenses that require registration under the Sex Offender and Public Protection Registration Program, as recommended by the House Select Committee on Sex Offender Issues. http://ww... More... ND Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 School Procedures to Help in Identification and Location of Missing Children S.B. 2161 Relates to school enrollment procedures to aid in the identification and location of missing children. When a child enrolls in a public or nonpublic school, licensed day care facility, home education, licensed day care center, licensed child care facility, hea... More... NH Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Commission to Study School Discipline H.B. 332 Establishes a commission to study school discipline. Defines membership and provides for duties of commission. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HB0332.html... More... OR Signed into law 08/2009 Postsec. Safety S.B. 658 Grants to the university police of the Health and Science University the powers and authority of peace officers and police officers; requires such police to be trained; specifies that such police are not authority to carry firearms; declares the university to ... More... AZ Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Background checks H.B. 2031 Requires contractors, subcontractors, vendors, or any of their employees to have a valid fingerprint clearance card if they provide services on a regular basis on school property; exempts persons who are completing their student teaching in another state from ... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Aggravated Battery with a Firearm H.B. 867 Provides that aggravated battery with a firearm is also committed if the firearm is discharged on school grounds at a person known to be a student and causes injury to that student. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0867lv.pdf... More... LA Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 School Safety Policies H.B. 688 Creates the crime of unlawful disruption of the operation of a school; provides that the crime includes the commission of intimidation or harassment of any student or teacher by threat of force or force, placement of teachers or students in sustained fear for ... More... LA Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Assault on Teachers and Faculty H.B. 274 Relates to the crime of assault on a school teacher; provides that the definition of school means any public or nonpublic elementary, secondary, high school, vocational-technical school, college, special, or postsecondary school or institution, or university; ... More... MO Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Student Discipline S.B. 291--Seclusion Rooms Requires school district discipline policies to prohibit confining a student in an unattended, locked space except for an emergency situation while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement personnel. By July 1, 2011, each school district must adopt a written p... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Parental Notification Procedures for Responding to Threats and Emergencies H.B. 1 - Section 3313.536 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Requires school districts, community schools, STEM schools and chartered nonpublic schools to inform, prior to opening day each school year, each enrolled student and the student's parent of the parental notification procedures in t... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 In-Service Training on Violence Prevention H.B. 1 - Section 3319.073 Partially from DOE summary of H.B. 1: Extends to public middle and high schools a requirement that under existing law applies to public elementary schools, which requires a school nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist or administrator to complete fou... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 School Health and Safety Inspections H.B. 1 - Sections 3313.473, 3313.86, 3701.93 through 3701.936 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Section 3313.86: Creates new Section 3313.86. Requires school districts, community schools, STEM schools and chartered nonpublic schools to periodically review their policies and procedures to ensure (1) the safety of persons using... More... TN Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Sexual Offenders H.B. 1120 Relates to sexual offenders; prohibits sexual offender from being upon the premises of or loitering within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, park, playground, or recreation center when child under 18 likely to be present. Defines "loitering" as remainin... More... TN Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 School Safety Summit H.B. 687 Requires board of education to convene a summit of various education stakeholders to discuss school safety issues. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB0687.pdf... More... CT Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Readmitting Expelled Students H.B. 6567 Requires boards of education to readmit students to the district if such student has been in an out-of-district placement in lieu of expulsion for committing an expellable offense and to prohibit such boards from then expelling such students for such offenses.... More... DE Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Amending Zero Tolerance Policies H.B. 120 Amends the zero tolerance provision in the Delaware Code to give discretion to school boards to modify the terms of expulsions when a school board determines that it is appropriate to do so. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+120/$file/l... More... FL Signed into law 06/2009 Postsec. Jurisdiction of Campus Police S.B. 554 Relates to the legal jurisdiction of campus police; redefines the term mutual aid agreement to authorize state university police officers to enforce laws within a specified jurisdictional area as agreed upon in a mutual aid agreement; authorizes university pol... More... HI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Postsec. Fire Inspections S.B. 564 Makes discretionary, rather than mandatory, fire inspections conducted by the county fire chiefs. Provides that frequency of inspections of buildings other than public schools will be at least once every 5 years rather than every 2 years. http://www.capitol.ha... More... LA Adopted 06/2009 P-12 Guidelines for Expelled Students and their Parents LAC 28:CXV.1309 Specifies the offenses for which expelled students and their parents or guardians shall have enrolled in and participate in an appropriate rehabilitation counseling program. http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/lac/28v115/28v115.doc... More... LA Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Discipline S.B. 223 Provides relative to the removal of students from the classroom for certain inappropriate behavior and for parental notification and involvement. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=665714... More... ME Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Dating Violence Policies H.B. 760 Requires school administrative units, with the help of the Department of Education's model dating violence policy, to implement dating violence policies and provide dating violence training to school personnel and dating violence education to students from the... More... NC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Science Safety Measures in Schools H.B. 42 Provides that prior to July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, each local board of education shall certify to the State Board of Education (SBE) that its high school and middle school science laboratories are equipped with appropriate personal protective equipm... More... NC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Schools Notified of Criminal Intelligence Information H.B. 1327 Authorizes law enforcement agencies to disseminate an assessment of criminal intelligence information to a school principal when necessary to avoid imminent danger to the life of a student or employee of the school or to the public school property. http://www.... More... NC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 School Bus Safety/Detection and Prosecution of Individuals Who Pass Stopped School Buses H.B. 440 Provides for the use of automated camera or video recording systems to detect and prosecute individuals who pass stopped school buses; increases the penalty for striking and causing the death of a person when passing a stopped school bus. http://www.ncga.state... More... NC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Reproductive Health and Safety Education H.B. 88 Removes the requirement that local school administrative units (LEAs) provide only abstinence until marriage education and requires LEAs to provide reproductive health and safety education in grades seven through nine; requires such education to include instru... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Cell Phones H.B. 2377 Prohibits person of any age from operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device except under certain circumstances. http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2300.dir/hb2377.en.pdf... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Records S.B. 512 Requires notice to a school administrator when a youth is within jurisdiction of the juvenile court, is charged with or convicted of certain offenses, or is excused by reason of insanity; requires notice when a petition is set aside or dismissed or the youth i... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Postsec. Hazing S.B. 444 Defines terms for the purpose of the prohibition on hazing; punishes student organizations and their members by a maximum fine. Chapter 493 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0400.dir/sb0444.en.pdf... More... SC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Postsec. Relates to Prohibition on Carrying Weapons on School Property S.B. 593 Provides that the prohibition on the carrying of weapons on school property does not apply to a person who is authorized to carry a concealed weapon when the weapon is inside a motor vehicle and secured; extends this exemption to any premises or property owned... More... TN Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Revised Bully Policies Go to Commissioner S.B. 681 As introduced, requires an LEA revising its policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, which was filed with the commissioner of education, to transmit the revised policy to the commissioner. - Amends TCA Title 49. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bill... More... TN Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Allegations Against Employees H.B. 1210 Prohibits the issuance of an arrest warrant or criminal summons without written approval of the appropriate district attorney general to the parents or legal guardians of a child who allege that an employee of a local education agency (LEA), who had supervisor... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Firearm Possession while Not on School Campus H.B. 1020 Provides that a student may not be expelled solely on the basis of the student's use, exhibition or possession of a firearm at an approved target range facility not on a school campus, or while participating in or preparing for a school-sponsored shooting spor... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Leave Time for Assaulted Staff H.B. 1470 Requires school districts to notify employees that they are entitled to leave time if physically assaulted during the performance of their regular duties. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB01470F.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Disclosure of Child Misdemeanor Information S.B. 1056 Bars criminal justice agencies from publicly disclosing criminal history information related to a child's conviction for a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only. Provides an exception allowing such information to be disclosed to specified agencies and en... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 School Safety Plans A.B. 75 Provides that if a school district is created or a public or private school opens after the effective date of this paragraph, the school board or governing body of the private school must have in effect a school safety plan for each public or private school wi... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 School Safety Plans A.B. 75 Repeals 120.12(26), which required the school board of a common or union high school district to have a school safety plan for each school in the district. Renumbers as 118.07 (4) (a) 1., and requires all local boards and the governing board of every private s... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Funding Adjustments for School Safety Plans, School Nurses, Transportation, and Energy Efficiency A.B. 75 Adds 121.91 (4) (L). Defines "local law enforcement agency". Provides additional funding if a local board and local law enforcement agency (1) jointly develop a school safety plan that specifies the purposes of the additional revenue, (2) the school safety pla... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Student Harassment (Bullying) and Suicide Prevention H.B. 216 Effective October 1, 2009. Establishes the Student Harassment Prevention Act. Requires local boards to adopt policies by July 2010 to prevent student harassment and suicide. Includes written and electronic acts motivated by a student characteristic in the defi... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 School Safety Plans and Drills H.B. 199 Becomes effective July 1, 2010. Requires local boards of education to adopt school safety plans and protocols. Requires principals to instruct students on procedures to be used for drills and evacuations, and precautions to be taken case of a severe weather wa... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Behavior/Driver's License Eligibility H.B. 464 Creates a system for increasing the age at which a person is eligible to apply for a learner's permit or driver's license if the person, over the age of 12 years and a student in a public or private school, was subject to habitual school punishment for an infr... More... MN Vetoed 05/2009 P-12 Establishment of Model Policies on Bullying S.B. 971 Relates to education; provides for harassment, bullying, intimidation, and violence policies by school boards; revises provisions requiring the establishment of a model policy for use by such boards; provides that the policy shall address all forms of harassme... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Assessing School Safety and Students' Engagement and Connection at School H.F. 2 Establishes a process for the commissioner and qualified experts and other stakeholders including parents and teachers to (1) identify highly reliable variables of student engagement and connection and (2) determine how to report student safety to comply with ... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Suspension of Children with Disabilities H.F. 2 Consistent with federal law and state suspension procedures, allows school personnel to suspend children with disabilities. Establishes parameters and procedures for suspensions of children with disabilities who have been suspended for more than five consecuti... More... NH Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Teen Dating Violence H.C.R. 7 This concurrent resolution urges the development of teen dating violence education policies in all schools in the state. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0007.html... More... NV Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Gang Activity A.B. 154 Amends existing law which authorizes the boards of trustees of school districts to establish policies prohibiting the activities of criminal gangs on school property; makes the establishment of such policy mandatory. Chapter 282 http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th... More... NY Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Public Schools Emergency Alert Act A.B. 1245 Enacts the public schools emergency alert act. Requires the New York City Schools chancellor to implement an emergency alert notification system to convey to parents timely information concerning emergency incidents or occurrences, as defined by such chancello... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 Postsec. Campus Security Plans May Be Confidential S.B. 585 Allows public educational institutions may keep confidential campus security plans. An institution or agency may in its discretion release information contained in or related to the campus security plan in order to design or implement the plan. Defined "campu... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Notice to Schools Clarified/Broadened S.B. 680 Expands the offenses for which notice must be given to schools when an adjudicated delinquent juvenile offender is sent back into a regular school setting (to include an offense involving the use or attempted use of force, violence, or a deadly weapon). http:... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 No More Van Transportation S.B. 2327 Removes the authorization for an LEA to transport up to 15 students to and from an interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic or school sponsored activity in a van. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB2327.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Bullying Provisions Required Rather than Encouraged S.B. 283 Requires, rather than encourages, school districts to include certain criteria in policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB0283.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Discipline Referrals H.B. 374 Requires written referrals for student's behavior to be returned to faculty or staff member issuing the referral. The referral would be kept in a student discipline file and would not become a part of the student's permanent record. If a school district or sch... More... WA Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 School safety S.B. 5263 Prohibits the carrying onto, or possession on, public or private elementary and secondary school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used by such schools, any portable device commonly known as a stun gun; makes an excep... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Appeal of Suspension of Expulsion H.B. 1091 Allows a school district board of directors to meet in executive session on an appeal of the suspension or expulsion of a public school student. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1445.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Community College Campus Security Enhancement Act H.B. 2135 Enacts the Campus Security Enhancement Act to create a multidisciplinary advisory task force composed of leaders in education, mental health, and law enforcement which shall provide support for designing effective campus security policies and proactive measure... More... CO Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Discipline for Artificial Firearms at School Property S.B. 237 Permits, rather than requires, a school district to suspend or expel a student for brandishing an artificial firearm; permits a school district to suspend a student while determining whether the student's conduct could be grounds for suspension or expulsion. h... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Student Discipline H.B. 1419 Requires the governing body of a school corporation to develop an evidence-based plan for improving behavior and discipline in the school corporation, and a school within the school corporation to comply with the plan in developing the school's plan; requires ... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Background Checks, Student Discipline H.B. 1462 Exempts a postsecondary educational institution from paying a fee for a limited pre-employment criminal history record; requires school corporations, charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools to conduct an expanded criminal history background check for ... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 School Speed Zones H.B. 1123 Authorizes a city, county, or town to establish speed limits for schools located on streets or highways under the jurisdiction of the city, town, or county; requires that, after June 30, 2011, there must be a sign at or as near as practical to the point where ... More... MD Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Suspension/Expulsion -- not for Attendance Offenses only H.B. 660; S.B. 241 Prohibits a principal from suspending or expelling a student from school solely for attendance-related offenses. http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0660t.pdf... More... MD Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Student Dating Violence Prevention S.B. 1049 Requires the State Board of Education to develop and implement in the public schools a program to educate students about dating violence; requires the program to include education on services provided to victims of dating violence; alters the definition of vic... More... MT Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Two prongs: Discipline & Location of School Board Meetings H.B. 332 Allows school board trustees to meet outside district boundaries for purpose of collaboration with other boards, agencies or collaboratives; expands the disciplinary powers of school administrators; clarifies the laws governing student suspensions. Because sta... More... ND Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Consistent Disciplinary Policies S.B. 2289 Provides for consistent policies regarding corporal punishment. Prohibits a school board from expanding through policy the definition of corporal punishment beyond that provided by this subsection. (The subsection allows for reasonable force but prohibits corp... More... NY Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Domestic Violence and Stalking Prevention A.B. 2714 Requires college campuses to provide incoming students with information about domestic violence and stalking prevention. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02714&sh=t... More... AR Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Juvenile Safety Plan H.B. 1057 Provides for verbal notification of changes to a juvenile safety plan to school principals and assistant school principals. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act334.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Antony Hobbs III Act S.B. 312 Creates school- based automated external defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation programs. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Bills/SB312.pdf... More... ND Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Consistent Disciplinary Policies S.B. 2289 Provides for consistent policies regarding corporal punishment. Prohibits a school board from expanding through policy the definition of corporal punishment beyond that provided by this subsection. (The subsection allows for reasonable force but prohibits corp... More... UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Reporting Speeders in Reduced Speed School Zones H.B. 202 Authorizes a school crossing guard who observes a person speeding in a reduced speed school zone to report the incident to a law enforcement agency. Authorizes the law enforcement agency to send a notification letter to the last-known registered owner of the o... More... UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Disruption of School Activities H.B. 244 Provides a definition of school property to include areas where programs or activities are being conducted. Provides that it is a class A misdemeanor to enter onto school property in order to evade law enforcement. Provides that not knowing the property is sch... More... VA Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Alternative Education for Students Charged with an Offense H.B. 2341 Provides that pending the decision by the division superintendent as to whether to require that a student charged with an offense involving intentional injury to another student of the school division attend an alternative education program, a local school boa... More... VA Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Assistance in Event of an Emergency S.B. 1150 Requires all school emergency plans to include a provision that the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the State Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund shall be contacted immediately to deploy assistance in the event of an emergency as defined in the eme... More... VT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Comprehensive Statewide Approach to Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse S.B. 13 Intended to implement the November 2008 Report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary's 34-Point Comprehensive Plan for Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System. Puts an emphasis on prevention by implementing a comprehensive statewide approach to the prevention of... More... UT Adopted 02/2009 P-12 Electronic Devices in Public Schools R277-495 Directs all districts and charter schools, by April 2009, to adopt policies governing the possession and use of electronic devices while on public school premises. Sets forth multiple components that must be addressed in local policies, inlcuding prohibitions ... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Sufficient Cause for Suspension H.B. 1794 Provides that the sufficient cause necessary to suspend a student cannot rest solely on instances of tardiness or truancy. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1794ER... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 Postsec. Community College Emergency Planning H.B. 1664 Eliminates the requirement that the State Council of Higher Education must develop and revise, as it deems necessary, a model institutional crisis and emergency management plan for the purpose of assisting public and private two- and four-year institutions of ... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Reporting of Violent Acts H.B. 2513 Adds act of violence by a mob to the listing of offenses that are reported by a juvenile intake officer to a school division superintendent when committed by a student; removes two redundancies created when similar House and Senate bills passed and were merged... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Codes of Student Conduct H.B. 1624 Relates to Board of Education model policies for codes of student conduct; provides for the inclusion of electronic bullying, harassment, and intimidation in such policies; provides for the dissemination of information to students, parents and school personnel... More... VA Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Suspension of Driver's License Due to Truancy H.B. 1826 Provides for the suspension of the driver's license or learner's permit of any minor who has 10 or more unexcused absences from public school on consecutive school days. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1826ER... More... 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