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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 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 PA Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 11/2010 P-12 Sections 1301-A, 1302-A, 1303-A H.B. 101 - School Safety Requires the state department of education to require all school entities to submit annual violence statistics and reports by July 31 of each year, verify corrective action plans, develop and update forms to be used by schools and police departments, verify th... More... PA Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 11/2010 P-12 Postsec. Dating Violence Education (K-12) and Sexual Violence Education (Higher Education) H.B. 101 - Sections 1553, 2023 and Article XX-G Sections 1553, 2023 require the state department to develop a model dating violence policy to assist districts in developing their own policy for reporting purposes. Authorizes district to establish a policy to address incidents of dating violence (procedures,... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 Postsec. Fire Inspections of University of California Property A.B. 2021 From bill analysis: Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to enforce the building standards and other regulations of the State Fire Marshal on all University of California campuses and properties administered or occupied by the University of California. Authorizes... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 Door Locks for School Safety A.B. 211 Requires all new construction projects submitted to the division of the state architect to include locks that allow doors to classrooms and rooms with an occupancy of 5 or more persons to be locked from the inside. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/... More... IL Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Chicago Public Schools Violence Prevention Hotline H.B. 4647 Directs the board of the Chicago Public Schools, in consultation with the Chicago Police Department, to establish a violence prevention hotline, to be known as the "CPS Violence Prevention Hotline," with calls placed to the hotline to be answered by the Chicag... More... LA Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Student Conduct and Discipline H.B.1239 Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and adopt rules and regulations relative to the physical abuse of public school teachers and other school employees by students. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?... More... NY Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Comparing Apples to Apples in School Violence Reporting A.B. 11566 - Section 4 Amends provisions related to reporting violence and disruptive incidents in public schools. Repeals provision requiring commissioner to identify the schools and districts with the least and greatest incidence of violent and disruptive incidents, and the least ... More... FL Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. Repeals Annual Crime Statistics Report HB 7037 - Sec 31 Repeals 1006.67, which required each postsecondary institution to submit an annual report of campus crime statistics to the department of education. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7037er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumb... More... GA Adopted 07/2010 P-12 Student Seclusion and Restraint 160-5-1-.35 Establishes rules for appropriate use of seclusion (including time-out) and restraint for all students, when necessary for student safety. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-5-1-.35.pdf... More... FL Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Cooperation Between Schools and Juvenile Authorities S.B. 1058 Adds the director of transportation to the list of individuals required to be notified by the school superintendent when a youth is arrested and formally charged with an alleged felony or violent crime. In addition, the principal is required to immediately not... More... GA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Weapons on School Property S.B. 308 Amends definition of "school safety zone", to remove from definition "within 1,000 feet of" public or private K-12 school or postescondary institution property ("school safety zone" now simply means in or on public or private K-12 school or postsecondary insti... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Classroom Management and Student Discipline S.B. 527 Requires local school districts to provide certain classroom management training to school personnel. School master plans must make provision for pre-service and ongoing grade appropriate classroom management training for teachers, principals, and other approp... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Student Restraints H.B. 405 Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt guidelines for the use of seclusion, physical restraint, and mechanical restraint of certain students. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722518... More... NH Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Prohibition of Hiring H.B. 1224 Prohibits the hiring of any person charged pending disposition for certain crimes by school administrative units, school districts, and chartered public schools. Requires applicants for driver education certificates and school licenses to notify the director o... More... AL Pocket veto by governor 05/2010 P-12 Postsec. Misdemeanors by Public School Employees H.B. 236 Defines "public education employee" as any public education employee employed by federal, state or county government or any public college, school, or university. Relates to arrest warrants for public education employees. Specifies that when a public education... More... GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Zero Tolerance Policy S.B. 299 Changes provisions relating to the zero tolerance policy on weapons in schools. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb299.pdf... More... VT Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Hazing H.B. 648 Adds independent postsecondary institutions to those institutions required to adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy prohibiting hazing, which shall define hazing in a manner that is at least as stringent as the definition contained in subdivision 11(a)(30) ... More... WI Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Safety Plans S.B. 154 Expands current statutory requirements by providing specific details regarding school safety plans. The Act requires both public and private schools to do all of the following: 1. Create a school safety plan with active participation from appropriate parties ... More... MD Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Cultural Competency Model Training Curriculum for Law Enforcement Officers Assigned to Public Schools H.B. 983 The bill requires that the Maryland Police Training Commission, in consultation with the Maryland State Department of Education, develop a cultural competency model training curriculum for law enforcement officers assigned to public schools. A law enforcement ... More... MD Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Safe Schools Act - Juvenile Notification Requirements H.B. 1160 - Section 1 Requires a court to notify specified school administrators if the court places a child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school under the supervision or custody of a local department of social services or the Department of Juvenile Services and if a... More... MD Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Prohibiting Gangs in Schools H.B. 1160 - Section 1, 7-424.2 Requires the state board of education to develop a model policy to address gangs and gang-like activity in schools by March 31, 2011; Using the state board's model policy, each local board of education must establish and submit a local policy to the state supe... More... MD Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline H.B. 973 This bill requires each local board of education to provide each student in grades 6-12 with the telephone number of the Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline by: (1) printing the number prominently in the school handbook; and (2) printing the telephone number on a st... More... ME Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Gun-free Schools H.B. 1206 Aligns the duties of school boards concerning student safety with the requirements of the Federal Gun-free Schools Act; prohibits, with some exceptions the discharge of firearms within 500 feet of public and private school properties. http://www.mainelegislatu... More... MN Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Child Maltreatment in a School Facility H.B. 3157 Modifies parent notification of child maltreatment in a school facility; requires a mental health assessment of teachers disciplined for child maltreatment; revokes the teaching license of repeat child maltreatment offenders; requires a district policy for edu... More... MN Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Penalty for Possessing Dangerous Weapons S.B. 2339 Increases the criminal penalty for possessing dangerous weapons on school property. Lowers the criminal penalty for brandishing, using, or possessing replica firearms and BB guns on school property. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2339.1.html&... More... OK Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Distance Limits for Sex Offenders S.B. 2064 Modifies the distance around an elementary, junior high, or high school, licensed child care center, playground, or park within which a person required to register pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration Act is prohibited from loitering (from 300 feet to 50... More... SC Vetoed 04/2010 Postsec. Private Univeristy Campus Police - Extention of Authority S.B. 19 Relates to the jurisdiction of campus police officers at private colleges. As proposed in the legislation, the authority of campus police officers would have been extended to specific off-campus activities such as accompanying a school employee to make a bank ... More... WV Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 School Bus Safety Measures H.B. 4223 Increases the penalties for overtaking and passing a school bus stopped for the purpose of receiving and discharging children; authorizes the mounting of cameras on school buses; requests an educational information campaign on school bus safety. http://www.leg... More... IA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Protection Against Sexual Offenders S.B. 2305 Modifies sex offender registry provisions; relates to sex offenses against minors; relates to residency restrictions near schools, public libraries and child care facilities. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/SF2305_Enrolled.pdf... More... TN Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Limits and Rights of Sexual Offenders S.B. 2988 Requires a sexual offender or violent sexual offender to obtain written permission or a request from school principal or facility administrator before attending a conference at the school as a parent or providing transportation to the offender's child at the s... More... UT Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Electronic Cigarettes on School Property H.B. 88 Provides the state board of education may, and local boards and charter schools must adopt rules prohibiting the use, possession or distribution of an electronic cigarette on school property or during school-sponsored activities. http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills... More... UT Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Gang Prevention and Intervention S.B. 59 Adds Section 53A-15-603. Requires the state board to adopt rules requiring local boards and charter school governing boards to adopt gang prevention and intervention policies. Authorizes the state board rules to include provisions related to (1) school staff r... More... VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Sex Offenders on School Grounds H.B. 227 Provides that a sex offender who has received a court order allowing entry on school or child day center property must also obtain permission of the school board or of the owner of the private school or child day center for entry within all or part of the scop... More... VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Gang-Free School Zones H.B. 682 Expands current gang-free school zones to the broader gang-free zones; includes any school bus stop or the property, including buildings and grounds, of any publicly owned or operated community center, park, library, or hospital; and provides that engaging in ... More... VA Signed into law 02/2010 Postsec. Community College Crisis and Emergency Management Plan H.B. 1238 Requires the members of the threat assessment team, and 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 E... More... UT Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Bullying and Hazing Policies and Training R277-613 Defines "bullying", "cyberbullying", and "hazing". Requires school districts and charter schools to implement bullying and hazing policies district- and school-wide. Provides for regular and meaningful training of school employees and students. Provides for en... More... 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