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
NYSigned into law 08/2010P-12Amends 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 and most improvement since the previous year(s). Replaces with provision directing the commissioner to compare the incidence of violent and disruptive incidents in schools and districts with other schools and districts based on similarity in size, grade levels and other characteristics, including student need and resources, as determined by the commissioner.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=%0D%0A&bn=A11566&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y
Title: A.B. 11566 - Section 4
Source: assembly.state.ny.us

TXAdopted 07/2010P-12The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes an amendment to s.97.1005, concerning accountability and performance monitoring. The section describes the purpose of the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS) and manner in which school districts and charter school performance is reported. The section also adopts the most recently published PBMAS Manual. The proposed amendment would adopt applicable excerpts of the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System 2010 Manual. Earlier versions of the manual will remain in effect with respect to the school years for which they were developed. Adopted as published in the July 30, 2010 Texas Register (pp 5-10 of 51): http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0730/0730adop.pdf
Title: 19 TAC 97.1005
Source: www.sos.state.tx.us

LASigned into law 06/2010P-12Requires each local public school system to post the four-year cohort graduation rate for each high school and for the system as a whole on its Internet website. Districts must send a written notice to the parent or other legal guardian of high school students that contains the four-year cohort dropout rate of the school and the number of students in the school that have been identified as failing pursuant to the school and district accountability system.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722458

Title: S.B. 753
Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/

LASigned into law 06/2010P-12In addition to any other performance-related labels or designations assigned to schools and districts, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with parents, teachers, school administrators, and other education stakeholders, shall develop a letter grade system reflective of school and district performance. The letter grades will be included in school and district report cards.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722542

Title: H.B. 925
Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/

OHSigned into law 06/2010P-12Establishes the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Council. Directs the council to:
(1) Monitor progress in improving student health and wellness
(2) Make periodic policy recommendations to the state board of education on ways to improve the nutritional standards for food and beverages served in public schools
(3) Make periodic recommendations to the department of education for the development of a clearinghouse of best practices in the areas of student nutrition, physical activity for students, and body mass index (BMI) screenings
(4) Assist the department of health in developing a list of resources on health risks associated with weight status, for distribution to parents
(5) Regularly review developments in science and nutrition to inform recommendations to the state board and department of education.

Requires the department of education, upon receipt of the council's initial recommendations, to establish a clearinghouse of best practices that schools may use to promote student health. Directs the department to update the clearinghouse as needed to reflect subsequent council recommendations.

Establishes new Section 3313.674, which requires students in kindergarten, 3rd, 5th and 9th grades to undergo a BMI and weight status category screening. Allows parents to opt their child out of screening requirement. Requires parents of each screened student to be notified of any health risks associated with the student's results and to be provided with information about appropriately addressing the risks. Requires local boards/charter school governing authorities to report aggregated BMI and weight status category data and any other demographic data required by the director of health, to the department of health. Allows a local board/governing authority to obtain a waiver from this requirement.

Directs the department of education to issue an annual report on public schools' compliance with new Section 3313.674. Establishes new Section 3313.6016, which directs the department of education, beginning in the 2011-12 school year, to administer a pilot program requiring daily physical activity for students. Permits any district, charter school, STEM school or nonpublic school to choose to participate; if a district elects to participate, requires all buildings operated by that district to participate. Specifies that participating schools must require students (grades K-12) to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to rigorous physical activity, not including recess, and that physical activity as part of a physical education course or before- or after-school activity may count towards this requirement. Identifies students excused from this requirement, including among others kindergarten students not enrolled in a full-day kindergarten program. Requires participating districts or schools to report to the department how the 30 minutes of daily physical activity was implemented and the financial cost of implementation; requires the department to issue an annual report of this data.

By December 31, 2011, directs the state board of education to develop a measure of (1) student success in meeting benchmarks in the physical education standards; (2) compliance with the requirements for local wellness policies prescribed by the federal "Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004"; (3) whether a school or district is complying with or operating under a waiver from Section 3313.674; and (4) whether a district or building is participating in the physical activity pilot program established through new Section 3313.6016. Requires the measure to be included in building and district report cards, beginning with report cards issued for the 2012-13 school year, but specifies that the measure will not be a factor in performance ratings issued. Permits the department to accept, receive and expend gifts, devises or bequests of money for the purpose of establishing this measure.

Amends high school graduation requirements to require the half-unit of health to include instruction in nutrition and the benefits of nutritious foods and physical activity for overall health.

Requires that each public, charter and STEM school teacher hired after July 2013 to teach physical education holds a valid license for teaching physical education.
Pages 1-14, 22 and 28-29 of 32: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_SB_210_EN_N.pdf
Title: S.B. 210, Part I
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

OKSigned into law 06/2010P-12Creates the school district transparency act; requires school district expenditure information be made available on state department of education website. Requires the Department to make the data available on its website within 120 days of transmission of the expenditures to the Department by the school district.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB1633_ENR.RTF
Title: S.B. 1633
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

IDSigned into law 04/2010P-12The purpose of this legislation is to provide public transparency for the spending of Idaho's public
school districts and other education providers. By the end of 2010, the legislation requires that
each school district with over 300 students to post on the internet all of their expenditures in either
a nonsearchable pdf format, a searchable pdf format, a spreadsheet or in a database format.
The internet based website will contain only information that is a public record. Chapter 263
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0699.htm
Title: H.B. 699
Source: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov

TNSigned into law 04/2010P-12Requires the Commissioner of Education to include a description of short and long-term educational programs that are
offered to juveniles in detention facilities and the number of juveniles served in the Commissioner's annual report.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB2198.pdf
Title: S.B. 2198
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

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

UTSigned into law 03/2010P-12
Postsec.
Section 1: Directs the state board, by December 31, 2010, to review mandates provided for in administrative rule, to determine whether some could be waived to remove funding pressures on public schools temporarily.

Sections 2-4: Eliminates the requirement to administer criterion-referenced tests to students in grade 2. Directs the state board, before the October 2010 Education Interim Committee meeting, to present its plan for a pilot program for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years to (1) replace the 10th-grade basic skills competency test with computer adaptive testing of basic skills, and (2) administer the ACT exam to high school students. Directs the state board to implement such a pilot program during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. Exempts districts and charter schools from administering the 10th-grade basic skills competency test during the the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. Directs the state board to re-direct the money saved by not administering the 10th-grade basic skills competency test to fund implementation of the pilot program during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 fiscal years. Exempts a student from the 10th-grade basic skills competency test requirement if the student was in 10th grade in the 2008-09 or 2009-10 school years and did not pass the competency test (10th-grade basic skills competency test functions as exit exam unless certain waivers apply).

Section 5: Exempts local boards from the requirement to develop and administer activity disclosure statements for high school-level extracurricular activities (as called for in Section 53A-3-420) until the 2012-13 school year.

Section 6: Exempts the state board, until the 2012-13 school year, from the requirements called for in Section 53A-3-602.5 to annually (1) develop a school performance report for schools, districts and charter schools, and (2) collect and electronically report specified performance data for schools, districts and charter schools.

Section 7: Exempts a school district from certain requirements related to the disposal of textbooks until the 2012-13 school year.

Section 8: Until the 2012-13 school year, releases districts from the requirement in Section 53A-13-107 that an annual presentation on adoption be given to students in grades 7-12.

Section 9: Until the 2012-13 school year, releases districts from the requirement in Section 53A-14-107 regarding alignment of primary instructional materials aligned with the core curriculum adopted under Section 53A-1-402.
http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/hbillenr/hb0166.pdf
Title: H.B. 166
Source: le.utah.gov

VASigned into law 03/2010P-12Requires each local school board to include in its annual report to the Board of Education the number of students who passed the state Workplace Readiness Skills assessment.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB630ER+pdf
Title: S.B. 630
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/

WASigned into law 03/2010P-12Relates to school finance; provides that school districts must comply with building energy requirements only to the extent funds are available; provides that online access to certain information for parents concerning vaccines, child abuse, and other matters satisfies certain requirements; makes other changes concerning traffic safety courses, college credit programs, employee training programs, certain curriculum and special education requirements, student assessments and learning plans, and other matters. Chapter 244
Title: S.B. 6604
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet

VASigned into law 02/2010P-12Requires each local school board to include in its annual report to the Board of Education the number of students who passed Virginia's Workplace Readiness Skills assessment. This number is in addition to the current related reporting requirements of the number of industry certifications obtained, state licensure examinations passed, and career and technical education completers who graduate; requires all four numbers to be reported as four separate categories on the School Performance Report Card.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB566ER+pdf
Title: H.B. 566
Source: http://leg1.state.va.us

+ 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
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+ 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
+ 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