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
+ 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
+ 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
NCSigned into law 07/2010P-12Requires superintendents to report to the state board of education on career employees who resign without the written agreement of the superintendent and have been recommended for dismissal; Provides that the employee will be viewed as having consented to: (1) having written notice of the superintendent's intention to recommend dismissal placed in the employee's personnel file and (2) the release, upon request, to prospective employers of the fact that the superintendent has reported the employee to the state board and that pending a state board investigation to determine whether to pursue action against the employee's license, the employee will be deemed to have voluntarily surrendered his or her license for up to 45 days from the date of the resignation. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1377v6.pdf
Title: H.B. 1377
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us

OKSigned into law 06/2010P-12This section addresses employment status of career teachers (defined in this section), probationary teachers and administrators. A principal who has received a rating of "ineffective" as measured pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) as set forth in Section 6 of this act for two (2) consecutive school years, shall not be reemployed by the school district, subject to the due process procedures of this section. Subject to the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990, 1. A career teacher who has been rated as "ineffective" as measured pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) as set forth in Section 6 of this act for two (2) consecutive school years shall be dismissed or not reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district. 2. A career teacher who has been rated as "needs improvement" or lower pursuant to the TLE for three (3) consecutive school years shall be dismissed or not reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district. 3. A career teacher who has not averaged a rating of at least "effective" as measured pursuant to the TLE over a five-year period shall be dismissed or not reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district.

A probationary teacher who has been rated as "ineffective" as measured pursuant to the TLE for two (2) consecutive school years shall be dismissed or not reemployed by the school district subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. A probationary teacher who has not attained career teacher status within a four-year period shall be dismissed or not reemployed by the school district..
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB2033_ENR.RTF
Title: S.B. 2033
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

COSigned into law 05/2010P-12Calls for the development of a teacher evaluation system in which at least 50% of the evaluation is determined by the academic growth of the teacher's students. The evaluation system must include multiple measures of student performance in conjunction with student growth expectations. Bases at least 50% of a principal's evaluation on the academic growth of students and the effectiveness or improvement in the effectiveness of his/her teachers.The new evaluation system is to be implemented statewide in 2013-14. Expectations of student academic growth must take diverse factors into consideration, including student mobility, special education status and classrooms in which 95% of the student population meets the statutory definition of "high-risk student." Standardizes "effectiveness" by directing the newly-formed State Council for Educator Effectiveness to recommend to the state board a definition of "effectiveness" (upon which the state board must adopt rules by September 2011).
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/EF2EBB67D47342CF872576A80027B078?open&file=191_enr.pdf
Title: S.B. 191
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us

CTSigned into law 05/2010P-12Provides that any certified teacher or administrator employed by a local or regional board of education for a school district identified as a priority school district may attain tenure after 10 months of employment if such certified teacher/administrator previously attained tenure with another local or regional board in Connecticut or another state. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/ACT/PA/2010PA-00111-R00SB-00438-PA.htm
Title: S.B. 438 - Sec. 9
Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov

OKSigned into law 05/2010P-12Authorizes a district board of education for a district with an average daily membership of more than 30,000 which implements an alternative governance arrangement to use the following procedures, upon approval of the district board and concurrence of the executive committee of the appropriate local bargaining unit: a. any teacher not retained at the school site shall be given status as a full-time substitute teacher within the school district for a period of not to exceed two (2) years; b. if the teacher is not offered a contract teaching position at a school in the district within the two-year period specified in subparagraph a of this paragraph, the district board shall be authorized to not reemploy the teacher, and c. the district board shall designate trained, certified, instructional staff to provide teacher support, development and evaluation, which may include certified personnel other than administrators. These actions are not to be subject to the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990. The decision by the district board for renewal or nonrenewal is final. (For these purposes, a full-time substitute teacher is to perform the duties assigned by the district superintendent and is to continue to receive the same salary, benefits and step increases that the teacher would otherwise be entitled to for the time period the teacher serves as a full-time substitute.)
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB509_ENR.RTF
Title: S.B. 509
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

SCSigned into law 05/2010P-12Permitted local school districts to delay by one month the date by which they must to notify teachers of whether their contract was renewed for the 2010-2011 school year. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/4299.htm
Title: H.B. 4299
Source: http://www.scstatehouse.gov

MDSigned into law 04/2010P-12Extends the probationary period of employment (nontenure) for certificated employees from 2 years to 3 years, requires that nontenured certificated employees be evaluated annually, and requires that student growth data be used in teacher and principal performance evaluations. If a nontenured certificated employee is not on track to qualify for tenure at any formal evaluation point, a mentor must promptly be assigned and additional professional development provided. For tenured teachers who move to another district, that employee is to be granted tenure if his/her contract is renewed after one year as long as the final evaluation from the preceding employer is satisfactory or better and there has been no break in service between the two systems of longer than one year. Local districts may extend the probationary period for such an employee for a second year if the employee does not meet performance evaluation criteria but demonstrates a strong potential for improvement. The new tenure policy only applies to an employee with a date of employment that begins on July 1, 2010, or later. Adds "student growth" to the teacher evaluation measures. Requires the state board to adopt regulations that establish general standards for performance evaluations for teachers and principals that include observations, clear standards, rigor, and claims and evidence of observed instruction. These regulations are required to include model performance evaluation criteria. The state board is required to solicit input from local districts. Requires county boards to establish performance evaluation criteria that includes data on student growth as a significant component of the evaluation and as one of multiple measures -- that are mutually agreed on by the local system and the exclusive employee representative. Evaluations may not be based solely on an existing or newly created examination or assessment, although such an assessment may be used as one of the multiple measures. No single criterion may account for more than 35% of the total performance evaluation criteria. If agreement on the model performance evaluation criteria is not reached between the local system and the exclusive employee representative, this takes effect in the local system 6 months following the final adoption of the state board regulations. http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/bills/hb/hb1263e.pdf
Title: H.B. 1263 - Tenure and Evaluation Sections
Source: http://mlis.state.md.us

TNSigned into law 04/2010P-12Changes, from April 15 to May 15, the annual date by which teachers must be notified in writing of their dismissal, reelection, or that their position has been abolished by the local board of education. Chapter No. 798
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB2772.pdf
Title: H.B. 2772
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

GASigned into law 03/2010P-12Relates to annual contracts for certified K-12 personnel. Extends to May 15 (for the 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 school years only) the deadline for districts to tender a contract for current teachers and other certified personnel for the following school year, or provide written notification of the intent not to renew an existing certified staff person's contract for the following school year. Also extends employment into the subsequent school year for any teacher or other certified staff person who has not received a termination notice by such extended date, unless the employee provides written notification by June 1. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb906.pdf
Title: H.B. 906
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us

INSigned into law 03/2010P-12Relates to indefinite teacher contracts; removes the age limitof 71 for teachers who hold an indefinite contract. Effective July 1, 2010.
Public Law 43
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2010/EH/EH1005.1.html
Title: H.B. 1005
Source: http://www.state.in.us/legislative

NMSigned into law 03/2010P-12District must provide for the mentorship and evaluation of level one teachers. At the end of each year and at the end of the license period, the teacher shall be evaluated for competency. If the teacher fails to demonstrate satisfactory progress and competence annually, the teacher may be terminated. If the teacher has not demonstrated satisfactory progress and competence by the end of the five-year period, the teacher shall not be granted a level two license.
http://nmlegis.gov/Sessions/10%20Regular/final/HB0071.pdf
Title: H.B. 71
Source: http://nmlegis.gov/

TNSigned into law 01/2010P-12Creates a Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee (TEAC) composed of 15 members, including the Commissioner of Education, the Executive Director of the State Board of Education, the Chairs of the Education Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, and 11 other members appointed by the Governor. Requires the TEAC to develop and recommend to the Board guidelines and criteria for annual evaluation of all teachers and principals, including a grievance procedure. Effective no later than July 1, 2011, requires the Board to adopt policies to implement the recommended guidelines and criteria. Annual evaluation of principals shall be based in part on student achievement data. Student achievement data will make up 50% of the evaluation criteria, with 35% on student growth; 15% on other measures of achievement. Authorizes LEAs to develop their own proposed salary schedules, subject to approval by the Commissioner. No salary schedule may reduce the salary of any teacher employed at the time the salary schedule is adopted. Grants any tenured teacher the right to a hearing before an impartial hearing officer selected by the local board of education prior to termination.
Link to fiscal note: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Fiscal/HB7010.pdf
Title: S.B. 7005A - H.B. 7010A
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

+ 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