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
+ 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
CASigned into law 10/2009P-12Revises and clarifies the definition of an action to reorganize a school district. Authorizes a county committee to approve a petition to form school districts if specified conditions are met, including the granting of approval authority by each county superintendent of schools with jurisdiction over an affected district that elects to grant approval authority. Relates to the annexation of a lapsing district into one or more other districts. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_174_bill_20091011_chaptered.pdf
Title: A.B. 174
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ORSigned into law 07/2009P-12Clarifies the distribution and expenditure of certain amounts of local revenues, including property tax revenues, received by component school districts of education service districts; allows certain elementary schools that merge to qualify as a remote small elementary school until a specified date. Chapter 705
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0001.dir/sb0064.en.pdf
Title: S.B. 64
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

TXSigned into law 06/2009P-12Section 69: Adds new section 45.0531. Authorizes the state board by rule to establish a percentage of the cost value of the permanent school fund to be reserved from use in guaranteeing bonds.
Section 70: Requires districts seeking state guarantee of eligible bonds to use a form adopted by the commissioner for this purpose.
Section 71: Adds reference to credit enhancement.
Section 72: Authorizes the commissioner to order a district to set an ad valorem tax rate capable of producing an amount of revenue sufficient to allow the district to provide reimbursement to the permanent school fund and pay the principal of and interest on district bonds as the principal and interest become due. Provides that if a district fails to comply with the commissioner's order, the commissioner may impose any sanctions ennumerated in "Accreditation Sanctions," Subchapter G, Chapter 39, including appointment of a board of managers or annexation to another district, regardless of the district's accreditation status or the duration of a particular accreditation status. Pages 69-72 of 108: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB03646F.pdf
Title: H.B. 3646 - Sections 69-72
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

WISigned into law 06/2009P-12Creates 121.91 (2m) (t) to provide exceptions to methods of determining the revenue limit of two or more districts that consolidate.
Page 481 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf
Title: A.B. 75
Source: www.legis.state.wi.us

KSSigned into law 05/2009P-12Relates to certain school districts involved in consolidation and disorganization. Concerns powers and duties. In situations where a school district disorganizes and the territory of the disorganized disrict is attached to more than one district, the state financial aid of the disorganized district is allocated to the districts to which the territory of the former district is attached. The state financial aid would be allocated on the same proportional basis that the assessed valuation of the territory attached to each district bears to the assessed valuation of the entire disorganized district. Chapter 2009-130
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/41.pdf
Title: S.B. 41
Source: http://www.kslegislature.org

OKSigned into law 05/2009P-12 Establishes a formula for awarding educational building grants to school districts that have struggled to maintain quality educational facilities. Allows building grants to be awarded to schools where local per pupil property values are less than the state average and the school district has taken on its allowable bonded indebtedness. The grants would be awarded through the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund. Establishes and sets parameters for using the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund, to aid school districts in acquiring buildings. Removed term "voluntary" from Oklahoma School Consolidation and Annexation Act. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB1169_ENR.RTF
Title: S.B. 1169
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

IDSigned into law 04/2009P-12Revises provisions relating to the correction or alteration of school district boundaries; revises provisions relating to school districts and the excision and annexation of territory; revises consolidation provisions; revises provisions relating to division of school districts; revises provisions relating to certain school elections and the revision of school district boundaries; requires notification of the tax commission, the county property tax assessor and the county recorder. Chapter 107
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2009/S1078.pdf
Title: S.B. 1078
Source: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov

MTSigned into law 03/2009P-12Clarifies District Consolidations and Annexations
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billpdf/HB0057.pdf
Title: H.B. 57
Source: http://data.opi.mt.gov

SDSigned into law 03/2009P-12Revises the funding of elementary and secondary education and to increase the required minimum size of a school district. Excludes any federal stimulus funds received under the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 when determining a school's allowable general fund balance.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2009/Bills/HB1254ENR.pdf
Title: H.B. 1254
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us

SDSigned into law 03/2009P-12Makes an appropriation to the Department of Education to reimburse certain school districts for consolidation incentives.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2009/Bills/SB39ENR.pdf
Title: S.B. 39
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us/


SDSigned into law 03/2009P-12Requires a school district to which a former contracting school district is annexed to assign certain resident students to a school district in a bordering state; temporarily exempts certain school districts from the requirement to reorganize due to low enrollment.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2009/Bills/SB174ENR.pdf
Title: S.B. 174
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us/

SDVetoed 02/2009P-12Exempts a school district from the minimum size requirement if it operates the only remaining public high school located within the boundaries of any county.
http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2009/Bill.aspx?File=HB1171ENR.htm
Title: H.B. 1171
Source: http://legis.state.sd.us

+ 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