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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 UT Adopted 09/2009 P-12 Local Board Assurances R277-108-5 Requires each local school board and charter school governing board to provide written assurance assurances that the board has: (1) Implemented an electronic device (cell phones and pagers) policy consistent with state board rule (2) Posted collective bargain... More... CA Vetoed 08/2009 P-12 Definition of "School District" for Receipt of Federal Funds A.B. 339 Existing law requires the state board of education to direct the allocation and apportionment of federal funds to school districts. Proposed provision includes county offices of education and other agencies within the definition of school district for purposes... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Leadership of Districts in Financial Trouble H.B. 2674 Authorizes a district under the authority of a Financial Oversight Panel to appoint a district superintendent with a specified certification or a chief executive officer upon expiration of the current superintendent's contract. Requires the superintendent or c... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Certain School Treasurers H.B. 325 Allows, with respect to a school board of an elementary school, high school or unit school district that forms a part of a Class II county school unit that was under the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Chicago School Finance Authority S.B. 235 Provides that upon the abolition of the Chicago School Finance Authority, all of its rights and property shall pass to and be vested in the Chicago Board of Education. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB0235lv.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Districts in Financial Difficulty H.B. 944 Provides that no school district may be certified by the state board of education to be in financial difficulty solely by reasons arising as a result of the state's failure to make timely payments of general state aid or any of the mandated categoricals. Relat... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Traffic Fines in School Zones S.B. 2024 Provides that $50 of the additional fine charged for (1) speeding in a school zone or (2) failure to yield to a pedestrian in a school zone must be disbursed for school safety purposes to the school district or districts in which the offense occurred. http://w... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Community College Wind and Solar Power Generation S.B. 1570 Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind and solar generation projects for school and community college districts. Provides for the award of full or partial low-interest loans for engineering studies, feasibility studies, research stud... More... NY Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 New York City Board A.B. 8903 - New York City Board Powers and Duties Substantially amends powers and duties of New York City board, authorizing the board to: (1) Approve all regulations proposed by the chancellor or city board (2) Approve the educational facilities capital plan, following any applicable hearings conducted by t... More... NY Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 New York City Comptroller Audits and Budget Office Reports A.B. 8903 - New York City Comptroller Audits and Budget Office Reports Creates new section 2590-t. Provides the New York City Comptroller has the authority to conduct operational and programmatic audits, in addition to financial audits, of the city district to the same extent that the comptroller has such authority for New York C... More... NY Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 School Based Budgeting and Expenditure Reporting A.B. 8903 - School Based Budgeting and Expenditure Reporting Amends section 2590-r, relating to school based budgeting and expenditure reporting in New York City. Existing law directs principals to develop school based budgets. New provision requires the chancellor to inform each principal of that school's preliminary b... More... AZ Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Finance H.B. 2332 Requires that a school district retain the savings achieved by a guaranteed energy cost savings contract and use the savings for project implementation; prohibits a district from using excess utility monies for implementation; modifies energy audit requirement... More... CA Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 King City Joint Union High School District S.B. 130 Expresses the intent of the Legislature to provide emergency apportionment assistance to the King City Joint Union High School District and makes an appropriation for an emergency loan to the district. Requires the state superintendent of public instruction to... More... CA Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Minimum Instructional Day and Year A.B. 2D - Section 21 From legislative analysis: Existing law prescribes the minimum length of time for the instructional school year and the minimum number of instructional minutes per schoolday. Existing law imposes fiscal penalties on school districts and county offices of educa... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Financial Reporting and Minimum Standards H.B. 1 - Section 3301.07 Partially from the DOE summary of H.B. 1:Modifies the current requirement for the state board to develop a standard for reporting financial information to the public. Requires districts and educational service center boards to report revenues and expenditures ... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Accountability Compliance Commission H.B. 1 - Section 3306.34 Provides that a separate accountability compliance commission must be established for each school district for which the state superintendent opts to establish a commission due to noncompliance with financial budgeting or reporting requirements per section 330... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Failure to Comply with Finance Provisions H.B. 1 - Section 3306.33 By July 2011, directs the department of education to provide technical assistance to that either has failed to comply with any applicable expenditure or reporting standard prescribed by rule adopted under section 3306.25, or that fails to submit a spending pla... More... RI Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Grants, Gifts and Donations S.B. 944 Allows school districts, school departments and school committees to accept grants, gifts and donations from individuals, entities and governmental subdivisions for purposes as specified by the donor and to keep such funds in a restricted receipt account inter... More... VT Became law without governor's signature 07/2009 P-12 H.B. 427 Among other things, this act: · Simplifies the statutory divided vote ballot language and requires that the ballot include an explanation of the reasons the vote is divided. (Secs. 6-7) · Permits the electorate of a school district to vote at a special meeti... More... IL Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Lines of Credit H.B. 999 Allows a school district, entity such as a special education cooperative or other joint agreement, or regional superintendent to establish a line of credit with a bank or other financial institution. Provides that the line of credit must not exceed a specified... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Auditing Procedures H.B. 2549 Amends auditing procedures for and authority of county education departments in counties with a population of 3 million or more. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB02549F.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 District Finance H.B. 3646 - Sections 66-68 and 86 Section 66: Establishes provisions allowing a school district to adopt a budget after the district adopts a tax rate for the tax year in which the fiscal year covered by the budget begins. Section 86 makes a conforming change in the Tax Code. Section 67: Adds ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Financial Accountability H.B. 3 - Section 59 - Part III Former law called for the creation of a single financial accountability rating system. New enactment directs the commissioner, in consultation with the comptroller, to develop separate financial accountability rating systems for districts and charter schools t... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Expenditure of Local Reserve Funds S.B. 165 Allows local boards of education to expend their reserve funds if (1) the governor declares proration in the Education Trust Fund or (2) total state funds appropriated by the legislature to the local boards of education are less than the same appropriation for... More... HI Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Air Conditioner Electricity and Maintenance Costs H.B. 179 Repeals certain provisions regarding the cost of electricity and maintenance for air conditioners in schools that were not installed by the Department of Accounting and General Services and the cost for repair and maintenance of donated fixtures and equipment.... More... KS Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Consolidation and Disorganization S.B. 41 Relates to certain school districts involved in consolidation and disorganization. Concerns powers and duties. In situations where a school district disorganizes and the territory of the disorganized disrict is attached to more than one district, the state fin... More... ND Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Summer School Support H.B. 1400 - Summer School Section Summer school courses and programs eligible for payment from the state: 1. a. Remedial mathematics provided to students enrolled in any grade from kindergarten through eight; b. Remedial reading provided to students enrolled in any grade from kindergarten thro... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Special Audits and Surety Bonds H.B. 1592 In addition to any special audit conducted by the State Auditor and Inspector, requires the State Auditor and Inspector shall, contingent upon the availability of funding, to perform a special audit, without notice, on not more than four common school district... More... IA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Changes to Miscellaneous Provisions H.B. 687 Deletes several requirements for reporting (i.e., simply the number of graduates, rather than specifying that the number has to be calculated according to the NGA definition; and the number of students who graduated in past five years but were not proficient i... More... IA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Tax Credits for Small Wind Innovation H.B. 810 Provides for the establishment of small wind innovation zones; provides for the applicability of tax credits; relates to a political subdivision of this state, including but not limited to a city, county, township, school district, community college, area educ... More... NY Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 District Reserve Funds A.B. 157 - Part A, Section 40 Directs the comptroller at the end of the 2011-12 school year to examine school districts' employee benefit accrued liability reserve funds, to determine the amount in the reserve fund, the liability against such fund, and whether there are funds in the reserv... More... OH Adopted 04/2009 P-12 Education Management Information System OAC 3301-19-03 Amends rules regarding operation of the education management information system. Requires the state superintendent to make available reports that summarize district and statewide expenditures by function area, total expenditure data, per pupil expenditure data... More... SD Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Finance--districts S.B. 91 Allows certain school districts, for a period of years, to expend capital outlay funds for certain motor fuel transportation costs; includes the purchase of property and casualty insurance, energy costs and for utilities costs; restricts use of outlay funds. h... More... SD Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Finance S.B. 88 Rescinds the repeal on funding for certain sparse school districts that will take effect on June 30, 2009. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2009/Bills/SB88ENR.pdf... 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... KY Adopted 01/2009 P-12 Fidelity Bond 702 KAR 3:080 State law already requires each local board of education treasurer to be bonded in accordance with Kentucky Board of Education administrative regulations. This administrative regulation establishes a penal sum for the bond of treasurer and requires the bonding... More... 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 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