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--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
+ 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
CASigned into law 10/2009P-12Retirement Benefits for Returning Retirees
A.B. 506
Applies a limitation of $0 to the compensation for performance of specified activities as an employee of an employer, an employee of a third party, or as an independent contractor during the first 6 months after a member retired for service under this part, if...

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CASigned into law 10/2009P-12
Postsec.
Retired Public Employees Vision Care Program
A.B. 65
Existing law establishes the Vision Care Program for State Annuitants, administered by the Department of Personnel Administration. New provision establishes a vision care program for public agency,
school and the university system members of the Public Employe...

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AZSigned into law 08/2009P-12Teacher salary reductions
H.B. 2011--Section 21
Gives districts flexibility to select which teachers' salaries to reduce, rather than applying a general salary reduction.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/3s/bills/hb2011.pdf...

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ILSigned into law 08/2009P-12Sick Leave and Compulsory Schooling Exemptions
H.B. 645
Allows a school board to require a certificate from a licensed chiropractic physician as a basis for pay after an absence of 3 days for personal illness. Allows an exemption from compulsory schooling laws for a child whose incapacitating disability is certifie...

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ILSigned into law 08/2009P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Administrator and Teacher Salaries
H.B. 2235
Requires the governing board of each school district, public university, and community college to report to the state board of education or board of higher education the base salary and benefits, including vacation days, sick days, bonuses, annuities and retir...

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ILSigned into law 08/2009P-12
Postsec.
Leave and Pay for Reservists
S.B. 337
Requires that a full-time employee of the state, local government or a school district who is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces or state militia must be given a leave of absence for any required training or duty. Requires that during the leav...

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ILSigned into law 08/2009P-12Credit for Former Private School Teachers, Administrators
H.B. 1148
Allows a member to establish optional credit for up to 2 years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, provided that the teacher was certified under the law governing the certif...

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NYAdopted 08/2009P-12Teachers Performing Instructional Support Services
Title 8 NYCRR 30-1.1, 30-1.2, 30-1.9, 80-1.1, 80-5.21
Defines "instructional support services" as professional development, pedagogical support, technical assistance, consultation, and/or program coordination offered by teachers to other school personnel including, but not limited to: conducting workshops, study ...

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NYSigned into law 08/2009Postsec.Additional Service Credit for Unused Sick Leave for State University Construction Fund Employees
A.B. 8228
Implements a provision in a collective bargaining agreement between the State University Construction Fund and an employee organization relating to unused sick leave and retirement service credit; permits employees of the Fund who are members of the Retirement...

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ILSigned into law 07/2009P-12Sick Leave
S.B. 35 and H.B. 548
Provides that a school board may require a certificate from a physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant or spiritual adviser as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 30 days for birth. Provides that for paid sick leave for adoption or ...

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LASigned into law 07/2009P-12Foreign Teachers and Retirement System
H.B. 112
Relates to the State Teachers' Retirement System; provides that foreign teachers holding J-1 visas who are teaching in a public school in the state through a J-1 exchange visitor program shall be members of the system.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/str...

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MOSigned into law 07/2009P-12Retirement System
H.B. 265
Modifies provisions relating to teacher and school employee retirement systems; provides for an investment fund, recalculation of the cost of prior service credit, retirement system purchasing, disbursement of the guaranteed payment option upon member death, n...

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OHAdopted 07/2009P-12State Health Care Fund
OAC 3307:1-11-12
Establishes the "Health Care Fund" as a separate account within the Employers' Trust Fund. Provides that fund assets may be used only for the payment of health care benefits, qualified medical expenses, dental and vision coverage, if applicable, and to reimbur...

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OHSigned into law 07/2009P-12School Funding Advisory Council
H.B. 1 - Section 3306.29, 3306.291 and 3306.292
Section 3306.29: Establishes the Ohio school funding advisory council. Directs the council, by December 1, 2010 and every other year thereafter, to provide recommendations to the state board, the general assembly and the public for revisions to the adequacy co...

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ORSigned into law 07/2009P-12Health Benefits
S.B. 901
Allows certain education districts to provide an employee health benefit plan other than the plan provided by the Educators Benefit Board if the premiums of the plan are the same as or less than the premiums of the board's plan and the plan is comparable to th...

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MESigned into law 06/2009P-12Performance-based Pay Systems
S.B. 458
Requires the Department of Education to review models for performance-based pay and bonuses for teachers, principals and superintendents and to adopt rules authorizing school administrative units to use a performance-based pay model for the remuneration of tea...

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MESigned into law 06/2009P-12Teacher Salary Study Commission
H.B. 367
Establishes the Study Commission Regarding Teachers' Salaries; clarifies that the scope of the study commission review is teacher compensation, salaries and benefits; includes an examination of alternatives to the existing method of recognizing the costs of te...

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NCSigned into law 06/2009P-12
Postsec.
Community College
K-12 and Postsecondary Employee Benefits
H.B. 1221
Directs the Office of State Personnel, Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina Community Colleges, and the University of North Carolina to develop an employee benefits statement that reflects the current value of employee benefits provided to state, p...

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ORSigned into law 06/2009P-12Teacher compensation
H.B. 2518
Amends ethics laws; exempts from the definition of gift certain program material, expenses for attendance at a conference, and expenses paid to a public school employee for accompanying students on an educational trip; removes a requirement that a not-for-prof...

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TNSigned into law 06/2009P-12Bonuses and Performance Compensation Fall Outside Negotiations
S.B. 2002
Provides that employee bonuses and performance compensation are not conditions of employment that the board of education and professional employees' organization have to negotiate in good faith.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB2002.pdf...

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TXSigned into law 06/2009P-12Transfer of Service Record
H.B. 1365
Upon request by a teacher, librarian, nurse or counselor or by the district employing one of those individuals, requires a district that previously employed the individual to provide a copy of the individual's service record to the district employing the indiv...

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TXSigned into law 06/2009P-12Certain School Staff Salaries
H.B. 3646 - Sections 6-9
Sections 6 and 9: Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, requires each school district and each charter holder that operated an open-enrollment charter school as of January 1, 2009, to increase the monthly salary of each classroom teacher and specified non-in...

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TXSigned into law 06/2009P-12
Postsec.
Work During Natural Disaster or Other Extraordinary Circumstance
S.B. 2298
Provides that the requirement that 6 months elapse between a higher education state employee's merit salary increases does not apply to a one-time merit payment if the chief administrative officer of the institution of higher education determines in writing th...

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WISigned into law 06/2009P-12Limitations on Salary and Fringe Benefit Costs
A.B. 75
Repeals section 118.245, which established limitations on the salary and fringe benefit costs for professional employees. Page 469 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf ...

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AKSigned into law 05/2009P-12Teacher Compensation
H.B. 215
Provides for the temporary suspension of the operation of school experience factors applicable to salary scale provisions for teachers. Allows schools to use greater financial incentives to attract experienced, out-of-state teachers for hard-to-fill positions....

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HISigned into law 05/2009P-12Teacher Salary Ranges
S.B. 161
Repeals salary ranges for teachers of the department of education. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/SB161_HD1_.HTM...

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KYAdopted 05/2009P-12Compensation for Specified CTE Activities
780 KAR 3:020
Specifies dollar amounts to be paid certified or equivalent career/technical education staff for
(1) Administering the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute Performance Test
(2) Each lesson plan used as a model for other classes in area technolog...

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MNSigned into law 05/2009P-12Differential Pay for Deployed National Guard Members Who are Teachers
S.B. 1794
Relates to veterans; clarifies the circumstances under which pay differential applies for deployed National Guard and reserve members who are teachers.
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S1794.2.html&session=ls86...

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MNSigned into law 05/2009P-12Alternative Compensation Rural District Application Assistance
H.F. 2
Makes districts in the rural equity region eligible for assistance in developing Q-Comp applications with specific compensation program components.  Requires the commissioner to provide technical assistance to rural districts or groups of rural districts.
ht...

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TXSigned into law 05/2009P-12Personal and Sick Leave
S.B. 522
Bars district policies from the order in which an employee may use certain types of personal and sick leave. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB00522F.pdf...

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WASigned into law 05/2009P-12Employee Benefits
H.B. 2245
Relates to the Public Employees Benefits Board; allows the Board to determine the criteria for eligibility for benefits; establishes certain rules for half-time employees and half-time community and technical college faculty; allows the Health Care Authority t...

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GASigned into law 04/2009P-12Teachers with Leadership Degrees
H.B. 455
Adds provision that an educator's placement on the salary schedule cannot be based on a leadership degree earned on or after July 1, 2010, unless the educator is employed in a leadership position as defined by the state board. Requires the educator to be place...

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IASigned into law 04/2009P-12Single Salary System
S.B. 445
Amends existing policy and adds new section (284.3) on single salary system. S.F. 445 incorporates Phase II (general salary increases) of the Educational Excellence Program into individual salary schedules and repeals the Educational Excellence Program includi...

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INSigned into law 04/2009P-12Teacher Compensation
S.B. 263
Provides that a school corporation and an employee or the exclusive representative of its certificated employees with respect to those employees may agree to a wage payment arrangement which provides that compensation earned during a school year may be paid us...

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INSigned into law 04/2009P-12Teacher Retirement Fund
S.B. 536
Allows the board of trustees of the public employees' retirement fund to establish by rule the valuation date for a member's annuity savings account and the frequency, allocation, and timing of changes in a member's investment selections for the legislators' r...

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WASigned into law 04/2009P-12Teacher Compensation and Evaluation
H.B. 2261--Section 201-203, Teacher Compensation and Evaluation
Section 201-203 focus on the certification, evaluation and compensation of teachers and other staff. Includes creation of an effective teaching and compensation working group to address a new salary model. Section 204 instructs the education data center and th...

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WASigned into law 04/2009P-12Teacher Compensation
H.B. 2261--Section 601, Teacher Compensation
Section 601 establishes a technical working group to begin working on July 1, 2011 using the results the legislature has collected on developing an enhanced salary allocation model that is collaboratively designed to ensure the rationality of any conclusions r...

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COSigned into law 02/2009P-12Alternative Teacher Compensation
S.B. 213
Allows the general assembly to determine annually whether to appropriate moneys for the alternative teacher compensation plan grant program; repeals the 2008-09 fiscal year appropriation of $ 1 million for the grant program; relates to grants to school distric...

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COAdopted 02/2009P-12Alternative Teacher Compensation Grant
1 CCR 301-80
Addresses an alternative teacher compensation plan grant program to be administered through the Department of Education and directs that funds be provided for a competitive grant program to school districts that seek to develop alternative teacher compensation...

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+ 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