ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2010 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 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
+ 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
PAVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 11/2010P-12Sections 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 eac...

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PAVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 11/2010P-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 polic...

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CASigned into law 09/2010Postsec.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 a...

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CASigned into law 09/2010P-12Door 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 ...

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ILSigned into law 08/2010P-12Chicago 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 hotl...

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LASigned into law 08/2010P-12Student 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 ...

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NYSigned into law 08/2010P-12Comparing 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 iden...

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FLSigned into law 07/2010Postsec.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 ed...

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GAAdopted 07/2010P-12Student 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.
h...

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FLSigned into law 06/2010P-12Cooperation 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...

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GASigned into law 06/2010P-12Weapons 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 i...

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LASigned into law 06/2010P-12Classroom 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 provisio...

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LASigned into law 06/2010P-12Student Restraints
H.B. 405
Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt guidelines for the use of seclusion, physical restraint, and mechani...

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NHSigned into law 06/2010P-12Prohibition of Hiring
H.B. 1224
Prohibits the hiring of any person charged pending disposition for certain crimes by school administrative units, school districts, and char...

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ALPocket veto by governor 05/2010P-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, ...

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GASigned into law 05/2010P-12Zero 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...

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VTSigned into law 05/2010Postsec.Hazing
H.B. 648
Adds independent postsecondary institutions to those institutions required to adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy prohibiting hazing, w...

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WISigned into law 05/2010P-12Safety Plans
S.B. 154
Expands current statutory requirements by providing specific details regarding school safety plans. The Act requires both public and private...

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MDSigned into law 04/2010P-12Cultural 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 c...

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MDSigned into law 04/2010P-12Safe 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 u...

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MDSigned into law 04/2010P-12Prohibiting 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 ...

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MDSigned into law 04/2010P-12Maryland 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 Cris...

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MESigned into law 04/2010P-12Gun-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...

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MNSigned into law 04/2010P-12Child 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 chi...

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MNSigned into law 04/2010P-12Penalty 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 p...

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OKSigned into law 04/2010P-12Distance 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 pers...

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SCVetoed 04/2010Postsec.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 of...

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WVSigned into law 04/2010P-12School 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 th...

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IASigned into law 03/2010P-12Protection Against Sexual Offenders
S.B. 2305
Modifies sex offender registry provisions; relates to sex offenses against minors; relates to residency restrictions near schools, public li...

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TNSigned into law 03/2010P-12Limits 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 administra...

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UTSigned into law 03/2010P-12Electronic 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 distribu...

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UTSigned into law 03/2010P-12Gang 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 pr...

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VASigned into law 03/2010P-12Sex 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 permissio...

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VASigned into law 03/2010P-12Gang-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...

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VASigned into law 02/2010Postsec.
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 ...

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UTAdopted 01/2010P-12Bullying and Hazing Policies and Training
R277-613
Defines "bullying", "cyberbullying", and "hazing". Requires school districts and charter schools to implement bullying and hazing policies d...

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+ 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