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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--Choice/Open Enrollment--Research 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 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 High School--International Baccalaureate Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling 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--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 Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid TX Adopted 11/2010 Postsec. Tuition Equalization Grant Program 19 TAC 22.21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 Provides new s.s.22.21 - 22.32 concerning Provisions for the Tuition Equalization Grant Program. Specifically, the new sections replace repe... More... DE Signed into law 10/2010 Postsec. Community College Inspire Scholarship Program H.B. 399 Creates the Inspire Scholarship Program, available to students with excellent credentials and economic need to attend Delaware State Univers... More... MI Signed into law 10/2010 Postsec. Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program and Other Veteran Assistance S.B. 1157 - Sec. 480 Expresses legislative intent that each public university receiving a certain state appropriation: (1) Voluntarily participate in the yellow ... More... NY Signed into law 10/2010 P-12 Postsec. Reporting on the Tuition Assistance Program A.B. 6391/S.B. 3603 Directs the president of the higher education services corporation to annually submit a report on the tuition assistance program (TAP) to th... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 Postsec. Athletic Scholarships A.B. 2079 From bill summary: Beginning January 2012, requires California colleges and universities that offer athletic scholarships to provide the fol... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 Community College Postsec. Increasing Student Participation in State and Federal Financial Aid A.B. 1997 Requires the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, until January 2014, to establish a voluntary pilot program to in... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 Postsec. Aligning Cal C Grants with High-Need/-Wage/-Growth Occupations S.B. 957 Primarily from bill summary: Requires that Cal C grants (which may already only be used for occupational or technical training) be used only... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 P-12 Postsec. California Dream Act of 2010 S.B. 1460 From bill summary: Enacts the California Dream Act of 2010. As of July 1, 2011, exempts a person who has attended, for 3 or more years, at l... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 Postsec. Student Financial Aid A.B. 1413 Effective July 1, 2011: Provides that persons who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition (per section 68130.5 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/... More... MI Signed into law 09/2010 Postsec. College Access Challenge Grant Program Continued S.B. 1154 - Sec. 902 Continues the college access challenge grant program (previously scheduled to conclude at the end of the fiscal year); Provides that the pur... More... FL Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Postsec. Repeals Certified Education Paraprofessional Welfare Transition Program HB 7037 - Sec 33 Repeals 1009.64, which created the Certified Education Paraprofessional Welfare Transition Program. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/D... More... IL Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. MIA/POW Scholarships S.B. 3630 Revises residency criteria for MIA/POW scholarships. Provides that an "eligible veteran or serviceperson" includes a veteran or serviceperso... More... IL Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. Community College Financial Aid to Encourage Transfer to Four-Year Institutions S.B. 3699 Establishes the Community College Transfer Grant Program Act. Creates the Community College Transfer Grant Program to provide financial assi... More... IL Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. Student Data and Postsecondary Service Providers S.B. 1332 Provides that the prohibition on a higher education institution providing a student's name, address, telephone number, social security numbe... More... MO Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. Bright Flight Scholarship Program S.B. 733 Specifies that recipients of the Bright Flight Scholarship Program must be residents of Missouri; expands scholarship eligibility to individ... More... NY Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. SEEK Program Renamed A.B. 9512 Renames the Seek Program as the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=%0D%0A&bn=A09512&Summary=Y&Act... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 Postsec. Community College Student Tuition Exemption Program S.B. 182 Revises Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, including for Louisiana National Guardsmen. The TOPS is a tuition exemption program. http:/... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Postsec. College Scholarship Eligibility H.B. 1491 Revises the academic standards for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award with respect to the high school core curriculum requireme... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 Postsec. Community College Scholarship Eligiblity for Career/Technical Award S.B. 486 Revises Taylor Opportunity Program for Students requirements for students to receive a TOPS-Tech Award. For any student graduating from high... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 Postsec. Need-based Financial Assistance S.B. 505 Create the Louisiana GO Grant need-based financial assistance program. Outlines eligibility requirements for student participation in the pr... More... TN Signed into law 06/2010 Postsec. Lottery Scholarships S.B. 2899 As enacted, redefines "eligible independent postsecondary institution" to include institutions that are members of an accrediting agency tha... More... AK Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Higher Education Scholarship Funding Task Force, Advisory Task Force on Higher Education and Career Readiness S.B. 221 Relates to the AlaskAdvantage education grant program; relates to professional student exchange program availability; establishes the Alaska... More... CO Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College College Savings Accounts for Adult Learners S.B. 202 Concerns college savings accounts for job retraining for adult learners; provides a tax exemption for employer matching contributions; relat... More... CT Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Veteran Tuition Waiver Clarification S.B. 215 Clarifies that eligibility for the waiver of tuition at state universities and colleges is limited to veterans who have served time addition... More... DE Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. SEED Scholarship S.B. 41 Allows children who are leaving foster care to have access to the SEED scholarship, without the condition that they begin their higher educa... More... FL Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Bright Futures Scholarship Program HB 5201-Sec. 13 and 16 Modifies the Bright Futures Scholarship Program; raises qualifying ACT/SAT scores annually through 2013-2014 for the program's award levels;... More... GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Reporting Student Info for Potential HOPE Eligibility S.B. 340 Requires districts and private schools to adopt a reporting system for freshman, sophomore and junior high school students for the purpose o... More... IL Vetoed 05/2010 Postsec. General Assembly Scholarships S.B. 365 Makes changes concerning General Assembly scholarships. Permits a member of the general assembly to forfeit the privilege of nominating pers... More... MD Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Duties/Authority of Office of Student Financial Assistance S.B. 80 Clarifies the scope of the duties and authority of the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) in the Maryland Higher Education Commis... More... MO Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Student Loans H.B. 1858 Transfers the administrative responsibility for the Minority Teaching Scholarship from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ... More... MO Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Scholarship Program H.B. 2147 Currently, students who are active-duty military dependents are exempt from the three-year attendance requirement for the A+ Program. This s... More... SC Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Teacher Loan Grace Period H.J.R. 4823 - Sec. Provides for a 1-year grace period for certain recipients of a SC teacher loan and requires the SC student loan corporation to develop forms... More... SC Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Teacher Loan Grace Period H.J.R. 4823 - Sec. 5 Allows an individual, for fiscal year 2010-2011, who received a SC Teacher Loan and completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in educati... More... TX Adopted 05/2010 Postsec. Career Opportunity Grant Program 19 TAC 22.181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188 H.B. 3519, 81st Texas Legislature, amended the Labor Code by adding s.305.003, mandating that the Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce... More... WI Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. S.B. 407 Under the Act, if a designated scholar declines a scholarship, a high school must designate as alternate scholars any seniors with the same ... More... AL Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. Alabama Student Grant Program S.B. 290 Relates to the Alabama Student Grant Program. Removes the qualifying requirement that an approved institution not already accredited by the ... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. Scholarships Distribution S.B. 1280 Requires the universities under the Arizona board of regents to publish and disclose the following information related to each merit based s... More... ID Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Postsec. Mastery Advancement Pilot Program H.B. 493 Creates the Mastery Advancement Pilot Program (MAPP) to provide students with the opportunity and incentive to move more rapidly through the... More... LA Adopted 04/2010 P-12 Postsec. Scholarship/Grant Programs - TOPS LAC 28:IV.1009, 1011, 1013, 1015, and 1017 Aligns the certification requirements of the TOPS Tech Early Start Award with those for the Early Start Award such that high schools are res... More... NE Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. Nebraska Opportunity Grant Act L.B. 956 Changes income qualifications and increases the maximum dollar amount of awards given under the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Act – formerly th... More... OK Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. H.B. 2644 Amends or adds provisions relating to the provision of support services for students and others in conjunction with the United States Depart... More... TN Signed into law 04/2010 Postsec. Examination of the General Assembly Merit Scholarship Program Success S.B. 1317 Requires the higher education commission to study and report on the General Assembly Merit Scholarship program and its success in promoting ... More... ME Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Health Professionals Loan Program S.B. 116 Amends the Health Professions Loan Program; provides that loans for medical, veterinary and dental education are to be repaid at varying int... More... ME Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Community College Amends the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program H.B. 899 Amends the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program; amends the definition of accredited Maine junior college, college or univer... More... NM Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Community College College Scholarships for Military Veterans S.B. 134 Changes eligibility for military veterans to receive a legislative lottery scholarship; reconciles multiple amendments to the same section o... More... SD Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Postsec. Financial Aid H.B. 1160 Provides that any student who does not meet certain high school course requirements is eligible for the opportunity scholarship program by p... More... SD GOVERNOR'S veto overridden by SENATE. 03/2010 Postsec. Student Aid H.B. 1240 Creates the state need-based grant fund; provides for the awarding of need-based grants; repeals provisions regarding tuition equalization g... More... UT Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. New Century and Regents' Scholarships S.B. 132 Extends eligibility for a New Century Scholarship to a student who completes at a four-year institution the equivalent of courses required f... More... VA Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Community College Brown V. Board of Education Scholarship Program H.B. 1227 Provides that scholarships awarded through the Brown V. Board of Education Scholarship Program may be used to cover the costs of professiona... More... VA Issued 03/2010 Postsec. Establishing the Governor's Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment E.O. 9 Establishes the Governor's Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment. Directs the commission to consider the current ... More... WV Signed into law 03/2010 Postsec. Make Public Campuses More Military/Veteran Friendly H.B. 4145 Requires public higher education institutions to adopt the recent recommendations of the Veterans Initiative Task Force which would make cam... More... IL Signed into law 02/2010 Postsec. Task Force on Higher Education Private Student Loans S.B. 1698 Cites legislative findings, including that (1) private loans currently constitute 20% of total education loan money, as opposed to 5% of stu... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2010 Postsec. Community College National Guard Tuition Benefits A.B. 4253 Requires a member of the National Guard to apply for all tuition benefits available through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to ... More... 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--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics) Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Religion 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 Supports--Counseling/Guidance Student Supports--Remediation 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