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
CAVetoed 10/2009P-12Amends existing law that authorizes a pupil to be excused from school for specified reasons. Includes civic engagement activities offered by a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity among the types of absences that are excused. Provides a pupil may not be excused from school when the absence is due to participation in a demonstration or political campaign. Provides participation in civic engagement activities may not exceed 10 days per academic year. Defines "civic engagement activities" as volunteering to work in a community to help address a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy, and provides that such activities may include volunteering at a community-based nonprofit organization, serving on a neighborhood association, tutoring or mentoring young children, testifying before the local city council or appearing before a state or federal board or committee. Specifies that civic engagement activities do not include participation in a demonstration or political campaign, and prohibits a school from excusing a pupil from school when the absence is due to participation in a demonstration or political campaign. Bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_796_bill_20090910_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_796_vt_20091012.html
Title: A.B. 796
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

CASigned into law 09/2009P-12Requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages schools to conduct exercises on that date each year to recognize the contributions of those involved in the conflict. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0701-0750/ab_717_bill_20090925_chaptered.pdf
Title: A.B. 717
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

ILSigned into law 07/2009P-12Provides that each school district must require all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled in a course concerning U.S. history or a combination of U.S. history and American government to view the Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB1675lv.pdf
Title: S.B. 1675
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

OHSigned into law 07/2009P-12From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Prohibits school districts from preventing a teacher from having students recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the teacher's classroom. Prohibits school districts from altering the Pledge of Allegiance from the wording set forth in the United States Code (4 U.S.C. 4).
DOE summary of H.B. 1: http://www.education.ohio.gov/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=71635
Pages 1159-1160 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf
Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3313.602
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

ORSigned into law 06/2009P-12Establishes Oregon Civics Day for Teachers on first Friday in December; urges school districts to encourage teachers to participate in professional development opportunities focused on civics; declares emergency, effective July 1, 2009. Chapter 419
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0300.dir/sb0374.en.pdf
Title: S.B. 374
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

ORSigned into law 06/2009P-12Directs school districts that include a public high school to adopt plans to encourage students to register to vote and to vote in elections; requires the State Board of Education to incorporate voter registration skills into Essential Learning Skills. Chapter 702
http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3400.dir/hb3473.en.pdf
Title: H.B. 3473
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us/

TXSigned into law 06/2009P-12Allows certain high school students to serve as election clerks. Provides an excused absence for such service. Adds new section 33.092 allowing a student election clerk to apply such time served toward a school service requirement or school project requirement, subject to local discretion. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB01134F.pdf
Title: S.B. 1134
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

ALSigned into law 05/2009P-12Effective October 1, 2009. Establishes the Student Harassment Prevention Act. Requires local boards to adopt policies by July 2010 to prevent student harassment and suicide. Includes written and electronic acts motivated by a student characteristic in the definition of harassing behavior. Limits harassment to behavior that takes place on school property or school buses, or at school-sponsored events. Provides no student should be subject to harassment or intimidation. Allows any student who is the object of harassment (or student's parent) to file a written complaint. Requires all schools to develop plans or programs, including peer mediation teams, to encourage students to report and address incidents of harassment, violence or threats of violence. Directs the department to develop a model policy prohibiting harassment, violence and threats of violence that contains specified components, including procedures to report acts of intimidation or harassment, suicide threats, violence and threats of violence.

Requires schools to:
--Implement proven practices to promote safe and harassment-free school environments
--Implement proven practices to prevent harassment, intimidation, violence and threats of violence, and to intervene when such incidents occur
--Incorporate awareness of harassment and intimidation prohibitions into character education curricula
--Report statistics on harassment, violence and threats of violence to the local board, which must provide statistics by school and for the district as a whole to the department of education for posting on the department Web site.

Provides that, to the extent that legislative or local funds are available, all school systems must implement 12 specified suicide prevention standards and policies, including educating students in recognizing signs of suicidal tendencies, informing students of available community suicide prevention services, and promoting cooperation between school staff and community suicide prevention program staff. Effective October 1, 2009.
Title: H.B. 216
Source: www.lexis.com

NVSigned into law 05/2009P-12Changes the name of the Youth Legislative Issues Forum to the Youth Legislature; revising the appointment process and eligibility requirements for the members; expands the eligibility requirements to authorize a pupil to apply not only to the Senator of the district in which the pupil resides, but also to the Senator of the district in which the pupil is enrolled in a public school or a private school or, if he is homeschooled, otherwise eligible to be enrolled in a public school. Chapter 73
http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB161_EN.pdf
Title: S.B. 161
Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/

WASigned into law 05/2009P-12Eliminates the expiration of the legislative youth advisory council; provides that the council's duties are contingent on available funding. Chapter 410
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202009/5229-S.SL.pdf
Title: S.B. 5229
Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov

OKSigned into law 04/2009P-12Directs each school district to adopt a policy, with grade-level-appropriate instructional levels, that assures that all students are encouraged, and have the opportunity, to read and study the founding documents of America that are pertinent to understanding the principles, character, and world view of America's founders, including documents that contributed to the foundation or maintenance of America's representative republican form of limited government, the Bill of Rights, our free-market economic system, and patriotism. Each school district is required to permit a principal or teacher to use, read, or post in a public school building, classroom, or at any public school event any excerpts or portions of the documents, writings, speeches, proclamations, or records relating to the history, heritage, or foundation of the United States or the State of Oklahoma including, but not limited to, the:
1. Mayflower Compact;
2. Declaration of Independence;
3. Constitutions of the United States and the State of Oklahoma;
4. Federalist Papers;
5. Pledge of Allegiance;
6. National anthem;
7. Presidential records and speeches;
8. Acts and published records of Congress; and
9. United States Supreme Court decisions and records.
School districts may not limit or restrain instruction in American or Oklahoma state history or heritage based on religious references in documents, writings, speeches, proclamations, or the materials. These and any other materials shall be used for educational purposes only and not to establish or promote any religion. States that students may voluntarily choose to read, write, share, report, or otherwise study a topic which is religious in nature provided other students are provided with the same opportunity to freely choose a topic.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10HB/HB1756_int.rtf
Title: H.B. 1756
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

VASigned into law 04/2009P-12Adds one nonlegislative citizen member, who must be a student that has successfully completed the civics curriculum in his school division, to the membership of the Commission; extends the Commission.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+SB1453ER
Title: S.B. 1453
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

WASigned into law 04/2009P-12Regards instruction in civics; requires the state board of education, if the board increases the number of course credits in social studies that are required for high school graduation, to also require that at least one-half credit of that requirement be coursework in civics.
Chapter 223
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2132.PL.pdf
Title: H.B. 2132
Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov

+ 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
+ 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