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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 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 OH Signed into law 12/2009 P-12 Background Checks of School Bus/Van Drivers H.B. 19 - School Bus/Van Drivers Directs the department to amend rule 3301-83-23 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) that took effect August 27, 2009, and that specifies the offenses that disqualify a person for employment as a school bus or school van driver and establishes rehabilitation ... More... IL Adopted 11/2009 P-12 Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision 23 IAC 1.20, .30, .100, .240, .420, .465, .480, .510, .737 Partially from "Notice of Adopted Amendments" in Illinois Register (changes from this rulemaking but not listed below are technical in nature or echo recent changes in legislation): Section 1.20: Revised to distinguish among the appropriate levels of sign-of... More... IL To governor 11/2009 P-12 School Bus Safety S.B. 932 Directs the secretary of state to suspend a school bus driver permit for 3 years upon receiving notice from the employer that the holder failed to perform a post-trip inspection in accordance with applicable inspection policies. Requires that a school bus cont... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 Community College Postsec. Transportation Fees in Community College Districts A.B. 774 Amends existing law that authorizes the governing boards of specified community college districts to require that a transportation service fee be paid only by students and employees using those services. Extends the transportation fee authority to include any ... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Penalties for Schoolbus Idling S.B. 124 Amends existing law which establishes toxic control measures to limit schoolbus idling and idling at schools and regulates drivers of schoolbuses, transit buses, school pupil activity buses, youth buses, general public paratransit vehicles and specified transi... 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 Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Charter Schools Transportation S.B. 509 - Charter School Transportation Repeals provision that provides that charter schools are eligible for a transportation allowance to cover the costs of purchasing or renting vehicles, contracting and paying for the transportation of pupils to and from school by a common carrier or a municipal... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Student Transportation H.B. 3982 Removes a provision in the School Code that allows a school district to transport not more than 15 students to and from an interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic activity in a van. Provides instead that students may be transported only in a school b... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Transportation of Special Needs Students H.B. 2362 Adds contracts providing for the transportation of pupils with special needs or disabilities to the list of exceptions to the requirement that certain contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Provides that these contracts must be advertised in th... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Fees for School Bus Driver Courses S.B. 269 Amends provisions concerning the duty of the regional superintendent of schools to conduct courses of instruction for school bus drivers. Allows an increase in fees for providing such courses. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB0269lv.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Reporting School Bus Driver Performance H.B. 353 Amends text to appear on the rear of each school bus regarding reporting driver performance. Adds that the area code must precede the phone number of the owner of the school bus. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0353lv.pdf... More... NC Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Sex Offender Can't Drive School Bus With Children H.B. 1117 Provides that the Division of Motor Vehicles shall not issue or renew commercial drivers licenses with endorsements that qualify a person to drive a commercial passenger vehicle or school bus for anyone required to register under the sex offender and public pr... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Speeding Fine Funds S.B. 75 Amends provisions specifying which programs may receive funds realized from fines for violating special speed limit in school zone. Adds the Safe Routes to School Program and safety programs within the School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Prog... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 School Bus Drivers Called to Active Duty H.B. 3787 Provides that when a school bus driver permit holder who is a service member is called to active duty, the employer must notify the secretary of state thereof. Provides the permit must be considered inactive until the holder renews the permit. Provides if the ... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Privatization of Student Transportation Services H.B. 1 - Section 3319.0810 Repeals Section 3319.0810, which allowed local boards to terminate student transportation staff positions for reasons of economy and efficiency if the board entered into a contract with an independent agent to provide transportation services. Page 2725 of 3120... More... OR Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 School Transportation H.B. 2795 Requires all school buses with diesel engines to be retrofitted with 2007 equivalent engines and 2007 fine particulate matter capture technology by January 1, 2017 or replaced by recently manufactured school buses by 2025. Chapter 631 http://www.leg.state.or.u... More... UT Adopted 07/2009 P-12 Standards for School Buses and Operations R277-601 Amends rule to provide for use of electronic and telecommunication devices on school buses. Adds provision requiring school bus drivers to perform an end of bus route inspection to ensure that all students are off the bus. Removes antiquated language. http://w... More... UT Adopted 07/2009 P-12 Student Transportation Costs R277-600 Provides significant new and revised language throughout to reflect legislative audit findings and funding formula study committee recommendations regarding student transportation standards and procedures. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bulletin/2009/20090... More... HI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Safe Transit to and from School H.B. 983 Requires the director of transportation to award federal grants for school-based workshops and community planning that will reduce traffic congestion, encourage walking and bicycling, and increase health and safety. Requires the director of transportation to s... 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... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Transportation S.B. 610 Includes costs to retrofit or replace school buses for the purpose of reducing or eliminating diesel engine emissions in calculations of approved transportation costs for State School Fund distributions. Chapter 458 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0... More... TN Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Extends Use of Older Buses H.B. 92 Allows school buses to be used up to 20 years of service, subject to annual safety inspections, by extending permissible, yearly waiver limit for their service life after initial 12 years of service from current three years to eight years. http://www.capitol.t... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Seatbelts in School Passenger Vans H.B. 537 Relates to the transportation of children in passenger vans; creates an offense if a person allows a child younger than 17 years of age who is not required to be secured in a child passenger safety seat system to ride in a passenger van designed to transport 1... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Contracts for Transporting Private School Pupils A.B. 75 Adds new provision relating to transportation contracts for two or more private school pupils living in the same household. Page 479 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf... 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... FL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Not Stopping For a School Bus/Additional Penalities H.B. 481 Provides an additional penalty for violations of provisions that require traffic to stop for a school bus. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0481er.xml&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0481&Session=2009... More... ID Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Transportation Finance H.B. 256 Relates to public school transportation support; provides that the only miles for which costs may be reimbursed shall be miles for transporting students; revises the calculation of reimbursement; relates to qualifying as a hardship bus run; provides that the D... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postcrash Procedures H.B. 668 Provides for postcrash procedures by a police officer responding to an accident involving a school bus or head start bus. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0668.0.html&session=ls86... More... NE Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 K-12 Technical Bill for 2009 L.B. 549 Statement of intent: Legislative Bill 549 is the K-12 education technical bill for 2009. Substantive changes would include reducing the time a district would be allowed to contract for the instruction of all students from 3 years to 2 years, adding a requireme... More... NV Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Finance A.B. 563 Ensures sufficient funding for K-12 public education for the 2009-2011 biennium; makes appropriations for class size reduction; authorizes school district bonds for purchase of school buses. Chapter 389 http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/AB/AB563_EN.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Transportation of Homeless Students H.B. 2072 Relates to special needs transportation; establishes a work group to study special needs transportation and funding; provides for pilot projects to demonstrate cost sharing opportunities, including opportunities among public paratransit and Medicaid nonemergen... More... AL Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Biodiesel in School Buses S.J.R. 14 Urges the use of biodiesel in diesel-powered public school buses to reduce diesel emissions.... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 School Bus Safety Equipment Grant Pilot Program S.B. 500 Creates the School Bus Safety Equipment Grant Pilot Program to assist school districts in equipping school buses with video recording devices or other electronic warning devices to reduce the incidents of drivers who illegally pass a school bus. http://www.ark... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Checks for all Public School Employees and Bus Drivers H.B. 1450 Enhances the safety of children by requiring central registry checks for all public school employees and bus drivers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1173.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Bus Safety Plans S.B. 499 Requires the Superintendent and Director of Transportation of each school district, in consultation with the appropriate law enforcement agency and prosecuting authority, to develop a school bus safety plan to reduce the occurrence of a motor vehicle passing a... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 School Bus Drivers H.B. 1200 Relates to physicians allowed to certify that an individual is physically able to drive a school bus; allows a physician who is licensed in the state or a bordering state to certify that an individual is physically able to drive a school bus. Public Law 82.... More... IN Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Transportation S.B. 228 Requires the operator of a school bus or special purpose bus to visually inspect each seat within the bus at the end of each trip during which passengers are transported to determine that no passengers remain on the bus; requires the owner of a school bus or s... More... OK Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Safe Routes to School Program S.B. 399 Requires the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to establish and implement the Safe Routes to Schools program, a federally-funded program with the goal of increasing physical activity in school-aged children by increasing the number of children walking and ... More... WA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Alternate Transportation H.B. 1793 Addresses alternative student transportation; establishes a safe routes to school program within the department of transportation; requires the department of transportation to administer a competitive grant program for the safe routes to school program; create... More... GA Adopted 03/2009 P-12 School Bus Retrofit Grant Program GAC 391-3-21.10 Establishes guidelines for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program School Bus Retrofit Grant Program and the Diesel Engine Retrofit Act State Diesel Grant Program. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/391/3/21/10.pdf... More... IN Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Postsec. Energy H.B. 1193 Adds school corporations, colleges, and universities to the list of entities that are eligible to apply for a grant under the E85 fueling station grant program. Public Law 4. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/pdf/he/he1193.1.pdf... More... OR Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Transportation H.B. 2562 Exempts school buses and school activity vehicles from certain size limitations; declares emergency, effective on passage. Chapter 31 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2500.dir/hb2562.en.pdf... More... TX Adopted 02/2009 P-12 School Bus Safety Standards 37 TAC 1.14.D.14.51 -.54 Sets forth the vehicle equipment specifications for school buses, school activity buses and multifunction school activity buses. http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=37&pt=1&ch=14&sch=D&rl=Y... More... TX Adopted 02/2009 P-12 School Bus Safety Standards 37 TAC 1.14.A.14.1 Establishes definitions relating to school bus safety standards.... More... TX Adopted 02/2009 P-12 School Bus Drivers 37 TAC 1.14.B.14.11 -.14 Adopts rules concerning school bus driver eligibility and application procedures. http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=37&pt=1&ch=14&sch=B&rl=Y... More... TX Adopted 02/2009 P-12 School Bus Drivers 37 TAC 1.14.C.14.31 -.36 Sets forth the requirements of the driver safety training program for drivers of school buses, school activity buses and multifunction school activity buses. http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=37&pt=1&ch=14&sch=C&rl=Y... More... TX Adopted 02/2009 P-12 Advertising on School Buses 37 TAC 1.14.E.14.61 -.65 Sets forth the advertising display requirements for school buses (repeals and replaces earlier language). Establishes a traffic crash reporting requirement for school buses that are displaying exterior advertising. http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$e... More... CA Vetoed 01/2009 P-12 Postsec. Finance and Facilities A.B. 4A 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 as... More... Service-Learning Special Education Special Education--Finance Special Education--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Immigrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--Mobility Students--Records/Rights Teaching Quality Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Assignment Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Substitute Teachers Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Pay-for-Performance Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness Teaching Quality--Induction Programs and Mentoring Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals Teaching Quality--Preparation Teaching Quality--Professional Development Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force Teaching Quality--Teacher Attitudes Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Working Conditions Technology Technology--Computer Skills Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban Urban--Governance