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From the ECS State Policy Database 2010 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 2010. 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 21st Century Skills Accountability Accountability--Accreditation Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results Accountability--Rewards Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers Accountability--School Improvement Adult Basic Education Assessment Assessment--Accommodations Assessment--College Entrance Exams Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--Formative/Interim 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 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--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Censorship Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Excusal Curriculum--Family Living Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Geography Education Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Demographics--Enrollments Economic/Workforce Development Equity Federal Finance Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries Finance--Private Giving 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--Mandates 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 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--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling 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--Induction Programs and Mentoring Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation--Alternative Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Finance No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers No Child Left Behind--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support No Child Left Behind--Special Populations 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 Family Involvement P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 P-3 Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development Parent/Family Parent/Family--Parent Rights Partnerships--University/School Postsecondary DE Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 Postsec. Dissolving Higher Education Commission H.B. 482 Dissolves the Higher Education Commission as a unit of the state Department of Education and vests the commission's functions with the Delaware Higher Education Office within the Department of Education. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/vwLegislation/H... More... CA Signed into law 08/2010 Postsec. Master Plan for Higher Education A.B. 1901 Amends 66002, regarding the state Master Plan for Higher Education, to reference "Appreciating Our Past, Ensuring Our Future: A Public Agenda for Public Higher Education in California," the report of the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education.... More... NH Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Postsec. Reporting on Pupil Indicators S.B. 503 Requires early childhood programs and postsecondary institutions to submit a report to the department of education containing information on pupil indicators in the following areas: (a) Attendance rates. (b) Annual and cumulative drop-out rates of high school... More... CO Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Flexibility S.B. 3 Provides greater flexibility to improve the financial position of state higher eduation institutions. Requires a common course number system in conjunction with the guaranteed transfer program and to develop articulation agreements for degree programs; relates... More... GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Transportation S.B. 392 Defines "educational institution" as any K-12 school, child care learning center, or college, university, technical school or other institution of higher learning. Bars any educational institution receiving state funds to enter into a contract for student tran... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Individual Student Data S.F. 184 Authorizes the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to match individual student data from the student record enrollment database with individual student financial aid data collected and maintained by the office in order to audit or evaluate federal or state su... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Institution Eligibility Requirements S.F. 184 Provides that institutions are eligible to participate in state student aid programs if the institution is: •  operated by the state (MnSCU) or the Board of Regents (U of M); •  privately operated and has academic standards comparable to Minnesota institutions... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Senior Citizen Definition S.F. 184 Increases from 62 to 66 the age at which "senior citizens" can take postsecondary courses at MnSCU and the U of M, paying only an administrative fee. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0184.3.html&session=ls86... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Private Institutions Registering with Office of Higher Education S.F. 184 Clarifies that public and private institutions outside Minnesota offering courses or programs to Minnesota residents must register with OHE https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0184.3.html&session=ls86... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College School Closure S.F. 184 Declares that a school will be deemed to have ceased operations when the school: (1) has an unscheduled nonemergency closure or cancellation of classes for more than 24 hours without prior notice to the office; (2) announces it is closed or closing; or (3) fil... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Streamlined System Office S.F. 184 Requires the MnSCU board to reduce expenditures by streamlining centrally delivered services. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0184.3.html&session=ls86... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Nanotechnology Report S.F. 184 Requires the U of M and MnSCU to report to the legislature by February 1, 2011, on nanotechnology research and education, including ethical issues and principles for the responsible use to protect health, environment, and workers safety. https://www.revisor.mn... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Monitoring of Federal Postsecondary Textbook Disclosure Law S.F. 184 Directs OHE to monitor the implementation of federal requirements for disclosure of information to students on textbooks, including pricing and other information and report to the legislature by February 1, 2011. Provides an immediate effective date. https://... More... NJ Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 S.B. 920 Meant to ease restrictions on public-private partnerships between higher education institutions and private entities, encouraging flexibility in planning and growth at state and county colleges, and creating jobs. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S1000/... More... NJ Issued 05/2010 Postsec. Community College New Jersey Higher Education Task Force E.O. 26 Creates the New Jersey Higher Education Task Force. The Task Force will consist of up to 7 members appointed by the Governor who shall serve at his pleasure. The Task Force is charged with developing recommendations for the Governor concerning the State's high... More... TX Adopted 05/2010 Postsec. Review of Low-Producing Degree Programs 19 TAC 4.285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293 Establishes new sections 4.285 - 4.293, which establish procedures for annual review of the number of graduates produced by degree programs at institutions of higher education to determine which are low-producing degree programs, and provides remedies for thos... More... AL Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. Alabama Higher Education Partnership and Teachers' Retirement System Membership H.B. 585 Relates to the Teachers' Retirement System; authorizes the officers and employees of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc. (http://www.higheredpartners.org/ ), to participate in the system. ... More... MN Vetoed 04/2010 Postsec. Community College Transfer of Credits H.B. 3164 Regulates the transfer of credits within institutions belonging to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3164.3.html&session=ls86... More... VA Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Community College Institutional Crisis and Emergency Management Plan S.B. 608 Requires the president and vice-president of each public institution of higher education, or the superintendent in the case of the Virginia Military Institute, to annually certify in writing to the Department of Emergency Management comprehension and understan... More... VA Signed into law 02/2010 Postsec. Community College Duties of State Council of Higher Education H.B. 7 Relates to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; provides that when performing its duty to develop a uniform, comprehensive data information system designed to gather all information necessary to the performance of the Council's duties, the Council m... More... MA Signed into law 01/2010 Postsec. Creating New State Universty System H.B. 4864 Creates a state university system for nine current state colleges. Six state colleges will be renamed as Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester Sta... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2010 Postsec. Community College Task Force on Underage Drinking in Higher Education S.B. 2491 Establishes Task Force on Underage Drinking in Higher Education. Defines membership and duties of task force. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A1500/1145_I1.PDF... More... 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 Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Finance--Facilities Postsecondary Finance--Revenue and Expenditures Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Governance and Structures--Administrative/Leadership Issues Postsecondary Governance and Structures--State Executives/State Agencies Postsecondary Institutions 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 Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--International Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Religion 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 Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round School Climate/Culture 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--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--Federal Law/Regulations 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--Migrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards Standards--Common Core State Standards State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Student Surveys Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--K-12 Exchange Students 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--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 Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Working Conditions Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Research/Evaluation Textbooks and Open Source Whole-School Reform Models