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
FLRejected by voters 11/2010P-12Proposed amendment to the constitution to revise class size requirements for public schools as follows: (1) For grades Pre-kindergarten through 3, the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom must not exceed 21; (2) For grades 4 through 8, the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom must not exceed 27; and (3) For grades 9 through 12, the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher in an individual classroom must not exceed 30.
http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0002.pdf
Title: Constitutional Amendment 8; SJR 2
Source: http://www.flsenate.gov

FLSigned into law 06/2010P-12Section 11 - Requires each local school board, before adoption of the district school budget for 2010-2011, to hold public hearings and provide information to parents on the district's website, and through any other means by which the district provides information to parents and the public, on the district's strategies to meet maximum class size requirements; While the bill provides penalties for lack of compliance with Florida's class size requirements, a district may get relief from the penalties by submitting a school board-certified plan by February 15 that indicates the planned actions necessary to achieve full compliance with class size requirements for the following year. 

Section 12 - Effective upon approval by the electors of Senate Joint Resolution 2 in the 2010 General Election and retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year the average number of students at the school level may not exceed the following limits:
- Pre-K through 3rd Grade - 18 students
- 4th Grade through 8th Grade - 22 students
- 9th Grade through 12th Grade - 25 students
The bill also provides flexibility to allow some class sizes to increase, as long as the school-wide average remains in compliance with the current restrictions.

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h5101er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=5101&Session=2010
Title: H.B. 5101
Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov

FLSigned into law 05/2010P-12Proposes a constitutional amendment to go before voters in November 2010; revises the maximum class size requirements; beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the maximum number of students who may be assigned to a teacher (while not exceeding the school level average) as follows: (1) 21 students in grades preK-3; (2) 27 students in grades 4-8; and (3) 30 students in grades 9-12. The class size requirements do not apply to virtual classes. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0002er.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Title: SJR 2
Source: http://www.flsenate.gov

GASigned into law 05/2010P-12From bill summary: Temporarily waives certain expenditure controls relating to funds earned for direct instructional costs, media center costs, staff and professional development costs, and additional days of instruction. Temporarily provides for system average maximum class sizes in grades K-8. Provides for blanket waivers or variances of class size requirements.
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb908.pdf
Title: H.B. 908
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us

WISigned into law 05/2010P-12Previous law allowed an eligible school board that has entered into a five-year renewable student achievement guarantee (SAGE) contract with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to reduce class size to 15 pupils in grades Kindergarten to three in schools with specified low-income enrollment to receive $2,250 for each low-income pupil enrolled in grades eligible for SAGE funding. DPI has not been authorized to enter into new SAGE contracts after June 30, 2001, but DPI has entered into five-year renewal contracts if certain conditions are met. DPI has been permitted to waive requirements of the SAGE program under these contracts.
This bill permits the school board of an eligible school district to enter into a five-year SAGE contract with DPI in the 2010-11 school year on behalf of one or more schools if all of the following apply:
- In the previous school year, each school had an enrollment that was at least 30% low income.
- The school board is not receiving a grant under the Preschool to Grade 5 Program on behalf of any of the schools.
- None of the schools is a beneficiary of a SAGE contract.

Under the Act, for contracts that begin in the 2010 school year, the contract must require the school board to reduce class size to 18 in each participating school in the following manner:In the 2010-11 school year, in at least grades Kindergarten and one; in the 2011-12 school year, in at least grades Kindergarten to two; in the 2012-13 to 2014-15 school years, in at least grades Kindergarten to three. DPI must pay to each school district that has entered into a SAGE contract $2,250 multiplied by the number of low-income
pupils enrolled in grades eligible for funding in each school in the school district that is covered by a contract entered into in the 2010-11 school year and by renewals of SAGE contracts.
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-808.pdf
Title: A.B. 808
Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us

UTSigned into law 03/2010P-12Modifies the state superintendent's annual report of the public school system by: (1) requiring reporting of data on average class sizes calculated in accordance with state board of education rule; (2) modifying the reporting of pupil-teacher ratios and (3) deleting the reporting of pupil-adult ratios. Rewrites statutory language on method for calculating school and district pupil-teacher ratios in the state superintendent's annual report. Requires data on pupil-teacher ratios to additionally be reported by district, and by state-level aggregate for charter schools and public schools. Requires the section of the state superintendent's annual report dealing with pupil-teacher ratios to indicate the Web site where pupil-teacher ratios for each school in the state may be accessed. Requires data on charter school funding, including state allocations and local expenditures, to be included in the state superintendent's annual report.

Specifies how average class size at the elementary and secondary school levels must be reported. Requires that special education classes and online classes be excluded when determining average class sizes at the elementary and secondary school levels. http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/sbillenr/sb0056.pdf
Title: S.B. 56
Source: le.utah.gov

NVSigned into law 02/2010P-12Revises provisions governing class-size reduction to allow school districts flexibility in addressing budget shortfalls; allows a school district to elect to increase class size by not more than a specified number of pupils to achieve specified ratios in specified grades; establishes requirements for the use of moneys that would have otherwise been expended by the school district electing to increase class sizes in such a manner.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/26th2010Special/Bills/AB/AB4_EN.pdf
Title: A.B. 4B
Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us

+ 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
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+ Public Involvement
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
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+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length
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+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Week
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+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round
+ School Climate/Culture
+ School Safety
+ School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution
+ School Safety--Code of Conduct
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+ 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
+ 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