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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 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 IL Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Streamlining Illinois' Educational Delivery Systems Task Force S.B. 1882 Establishes a Streamlining Illinois' Educational Delivery Systems Task Force. Directs the task force to explore and examine the duties of the state board of education and all regional support systems for school districts (including regional offices of educatio... More... IL Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force H.B. 363 Requires the establishment of a Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force in order to ensure that school facility-related decisions are made with the input of the parents, teachers and community residents, and reflect educationally sound and fiscally responsib... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 School Finance Working Group A.B. 8 Expresses legislative findings and declarations regarding the state's school funding system. Requires a working group to be convened to make findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor by December 2010 regarding restructuring the state's s... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Education Technology Task Force A.B. 836 Adds Article 15.1., "Education Technology Task Force" to the education code. Defines "technology literacy". Establishes a task force for education technology to make preliminary recommendations on technology literacy model standards for grades 7-12. Specifies ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 "Twice-Exceptional" Students H.B. 900 Requires the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to research and discuss best practices for addressing the needs of children who are gifted and talented and h... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Ensuring Success in School Task Force H.B. 605 Requires the Ensuring Success in School Task Force, created to address the educational and related needs of elementary and secondary education students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence to ensure their ability to sta... 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... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Charter Schools S.B. 612 Increases statewide charter school cap and charter school cap for Chicago. Above and beyond caps, permits five Chicago charters (and specified numbers of campuses and enrollment seats within those five charters) to be devoted to serving returning high school d... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force S.B. 2119 Creates, 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, ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Financial Literacy Council S.B. 1019 Establishes a Financial Literacy Council to coordinate and expand the statewide delivery of financial education for all North Carolinians; the council will consider and make recommendations to address (among other things) the current personal financial literac... More... NC Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Postsec. Joining Our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Study Commission S.B. 1069 Establishes the joint legislative Joining Our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Study Commission to study issues related to economic development through instructional program frameworks that aid in the transition to postsecondary education and future careers, incl... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Early Childhood Advisory Council and Early Childhood Financing Workgroup H.B. 1 - Section 3301.90 and 265.70.20 Section 3301.90:Creates the Early Childhood Advisory Council to serve as the federally mandated state advisory council for early childhood education and care, and to advise the state regarding the creation and duties of the Center for Early Childhood Developme... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Early Childhood Cabinet Appointment H.B. 1 - Section 265.10.23 Directs the governor to appoint to the early childhood cabinet a representative of a board of health of a city or general health district or an authority having the duties of a board of health Pages 2801-2802 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillTex... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Committee to Study Publicly Funded Child Care Services H.B. 1 - Section 309.40.70 Creates a committee to study publicly funded child care services, including the Early Learning Initiative as re-established by H.B. 1. Requires that the study include the following: (1) The effects of changing the definitions of full-time and part-time care o... More... RI Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Study on Education of Children with Autism H.B. 5691 Creates a special Joint Commission to make a comprehensive study of the education of children with autism and to report back to the General Assembly. (Resolution No. 2009-334)... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Legislative Reports S.B. 323 Requires the executive summary of a written report to the Legislative Assembly to include explanation of how to obtain copy of report, including, if the report is available on Internet, the online location of report; requires distribution of a physical copy of... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 School for the Blind H.B. 2834 Directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to close the State School for the Blind by a specified date; abolishes the school's Board of Directors; requires the development of individual comprehensive transition plans for students attending the school; re... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Child Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse H.B. 1041 Requires districts to adopt policies regarding sexual abuse of children. Specifies that policies must address methods of increasing parent, student and teacher awareness of sexual abuse of children, including warning signs that a child may be a victim of sexua... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Driver's Education H.B. 2730 - Sections 12.02 through -.04, 12.08, 12.13 Requires districts to consider offering a driver's education course each school year. Authorizes districts to charge fees for courses or contract with a driver education school. Establishes requirements for minimum hours of behind-the-wheel and observation ins... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Comprehensive Review of School Finance Weights, Allotments and Adjustments H.B. 3646 - Section 65 Adds new Subchapter I in Chapter 42 of Education Code. Establishes the Select Committee on Public School Finance Weights, Allotments, and Adjustments to conduct a comprehensive review of weights, allotments and adjustments under the public school finance syste... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Dual Credit Study H.B. 3646 - Section 91 Directs the commissioner of education, in collaboration with the commissioner of higher education, to conduct a study of dual credit programs and courses. Provides the study must focus on the costs to the state, school district, community college and student. ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Distance Learning Studies H.B. 3646 - Sections 92 and 98 Section 92: Directs the state education agency to evaluate whether providers of different types of electronic courses offered through the state virtual school network should receive varying amounts of state funding based on the type of course provided. Require... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Interagency Farm-to-School Coordination Task Force S.B. 1027 Establishes an interagency farm-to-school coordination task force to promote a healthy diet for schoolchildren and the business of small to mid-sized local farms and ranches. Directs the task force to develop and implement a plan to facilitate the availability... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Interagency Task Force for Children with Special Needs S.B. 1824 Defines "children with special needs" as children younger than 22 diagnosed with a chronic illness, intellectual or other developmental disability, or serious mental illness. Creates the Interagency Task Force for Children with Special Needs to improve the coo... More... AL Pocket veto by governor 05/2009 Community College Postsec. Joint Interim Legislative Study Committee to Assess the Two-year College System H.J.R. 878 Creates the Joint Interim Legislative Study Committee to Assess the Two-year College System. Directs the committee to make an assessment of the two-year college system and all entities within the purview of the department of postsecondary education, its govern... More... CO Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Early Childhood School Readiness Commission H.B. 1343 Creates the early childhood and school readiness legislative oversight commission. Sets forth membership requirements and administrative functions for the commission. Outlines the scope of issues the commission is charged with studying. Grants the commission p... More... MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 College and Career-Readiness Workgroup H.F. 2 Establishes a college and career-readiness workgroup headed jointly by MDE and the U of M to evaluate and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on the design of the state high school assessment system, levels of and mechanisms for accoun... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Task Force on Internet-Based Instruction S.B. 604 Creates the Task Force on Internet-Based Instruction to conduct a comprehensive review of Internet-based instruction in this state and make recommendations regarding necessary changes to ensure accountability for such programs in public schools. http://webserv... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Legislative Task Force on Achieving Classroom Excellence S.B. 1168 Creates until November 30, 2009, the Legislative Task Force on Achieving Classroom Excellence. Requires the task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005 and subsequent amendments. Requires the task force to st... More... AL Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Alabama Select Commission on High School Graduation and Student Dropouts S.J.R. 24 Establishes the Alabama Select Commission on High School Graduation and Student Dropouts. Directs the commission to study the problems and patterns of high school dropouts in the state and their educational and economic impact on the state and local communitie... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Legislative Task Force on Autism S.B. 938 Creates the Legislative Task Force on Autism to examine how the State responds to autism and autism spectrum disorders, determine and recommend the best practices and methods for treatment of those disorders, recommend how to obtain more federal funds for such... 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... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Task Force on Athletic Training H.B. 2129 Creates the Legislative Task Force on Athletic Training in Public Schools to study health care issues concerning secondary school student athletes, evaluate the current athletic training curriculum and recommend changes to the athletic training curriculum, mon... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Improving History Education S.B. 452 Creates the State Legislative Task Force on the assessment and improvement of state history education in public schools. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1462.pdf... More... MS Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Task Force on Failing Schools Districts S.B. 2288 Continues the task force to study and report on the status of failing schools and school districts, effectiveness measures for improvement of those schools and school districts, and enhancement of accountability and sanctions; creates the teen pregnancy task f... More... WA Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Postsecondary Online Technology H.B. 1946 Encourages all institutions of higher education to use common online learning technologies including existing learning management and web conferencing systems currently managed and governed by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and to share p... More... WV Signed into law 04/2009 Postsec. Creation of the Science and Research Council H.B. 3229 Creates the Science and Research Council to increase the capacity of the state and higher education institutions to attract, implement and use cutting- edge, competitive research funds and infrastructure through the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitiv... More... MS Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 After-School Initiative Task Force H.B. 488 Creates the After-School Initiative Task Force to develop a plan to ensure quality after-school programs for every school-age child in the state; establishes a task force to study and report on the graduation rates in the state institutions of higher learning ... More... MO Issued 01/2009 Community College Economic Development E.O. 3 (Executive Order 2009-01) Creates and establishes the Automotive Jobs Task Force; identifies state economic polices and legislative enactments that help or hinder the development of high tech automobile production facilities within the state; evaluates the eff... More... 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