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From the ECS State Policy Database 2011 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 2011. 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--No Pass No Play Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers Accountability--School Improvement Adult Basic Education Assessment Assessment--Accommodations Assessment--College Entrance Exams Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Compulsory 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--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Innovation Schools Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Choice of Schools--Vouchers--Privately Funded Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Data-Driven Improvement Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Aid to Private Schools Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries Finance--Performance Funding 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 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--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--African American Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services 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 Ensuring Quality P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 P-3 Health and Mental Health P-3 Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Special Ed./Inclusion P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development Parent/Family Postsecondary CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. Anti-Smoking and Tobacco Enforcement A.B. 795 From bill summary: Provide that the governing bodies of the California State University and each community college district have the authority to enforce specified smoking and tobacco control requirements by citation and fine. Provides that if a campus adopts ... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. Participation in Student Government A.B. 844 From bill summary: Provides that any student, including a person without lawful immigration status, or a person who is exempt from nonresident tuition, as described in statute, may serve in any capacity in student government at the California State University ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 Postsec. Records Maintained by Auxiliary Organization or UC Campus Foundation S.B. 8 From bill summary: Requires records maintained by an auxiliary organization of the governing board of a community college district, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and California State University, or a University of California (UC)... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 Postsec. National Guard and Reservists Called into Active Duty A.B. 636 From bill summary: Revises the conditions for a tuition and fees refund for National Guard and reservist students called into active duty to remove the requirement of the student's withdrawal by a specified date. Also requires any refund toward an academic ter... More... OR Signed into law 08/2011 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Coordinating Commission S.B. 242 Creates the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. ... More... CA Signed into law 07/2011 Postsec. Morrill Act S.J.R. 1 Memorializes the President of the United States and the Congress to renew the commitment to accessible higher education and the support of research in the interest of the nation. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sjr_1_bill_20110714_cha... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Alignment H.B. 6485 Requires the Office of Workforce Competitiveness, every two years, to identify and report on the sectors or subsectors in which workforce shortages exist, the workforce skills needed in those sectors or subsectors, and which career pathways should be establish... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Lobbyists for State Agencies and Postsecondary Institutions H.B. 153 - Lobbyists for State Agencies and Postsecondary Institutions Prohibits a state agency or state institution of higher education from entering into a contract with a lobbyist for more than $50,000 in a calendar year without the approval of the controlling board. Provides that this does not apply to an employment contract ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Financial Literacy Training at Postsecondary Institutions H.B. 399 Requires general academic teaching institutions to offer personal financial literacy training. Directs the higher education coordinating board to determine the topics to be covered by the training, which may include budgeting, credit cards, spending, saving, l... More... TX Vetoed 06/2011 Postsec. Limitations on Number of Courses That May Be Dropped H.B. 992 Directs institutions of higher education to provide written notice to undergraduates of provisions limiting the number of courses that may be dropped. Requires that such notice be given before the end of the first semester in which the student is enrolled in t... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Degree Plan H.B. 3025 - Degree Plan Defines "degree plan" as a statement of the course requirements that an undergraduate must complete to be awarded an associate or bachelor's degree from the institution. Requires each student in an associate or bachelor's degree program at an institute of high... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Donation of Data Processing Equipment S.B. 74 Permits a university system or institution or agency of higher education to donate data processing equipment that is surplus or salvage property to a public or private hospital located in a rural county. Defines "rural county" for these purposes. http://www.le... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Study Creation of a Regional Higher Education Center in Northeastern Maryland H.B. 1156 Establishes a task force to study the creation of a Regional Higher Education Center in Northeastern Maryland; Provides for the membership, chair, and staffing of the task force. Requires the task force to study and make recommendations regarding the higher ed... More... NE Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Institution Act, Dual Enrollment, College Admission Testing in 11th Grade L.B. 637 Adopts the Postsecondary Institution Act and amend provisions of the Private Postsecondary Career School Act. Sec. 85-961 currently provides that community colleges (with exceptions specifically authorized by statute and the Coordinating Commission for Postsec... More... NJ Issued 05/2011 Postsec. Higher Education Council E.O. 64 Directs the Governor's Advisory Council on Higher Education to examine the financial disclosure requirements in the higher education community and make a recommendation to the Governor as to the appropriate level and content of financial disclosure applicable ... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Compensation for Unpaid Sick Leave S.B. 354 Clarifies that discretion is granted to state-supported institutions of higher educaiton on whether or not to compensate all employees for unpaid sick leave on retirement or death. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Bills/SB354.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Arkansas Student Loan Authority. H.B. 1489 Clarifies the purposes, duties and operation of the Arkansas Student Loan Authority. Defines loans and students. Authorizes authority to adopt rules governing: (1) Compliance statutes or regulations governing the guaranty, insurance, purchase, or other dealing... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Annual Report H.B. 1454 Clarifies what information specific to higher education-related reports should contain, including information on affirmitive action programs. Additionally, reports must state: (A) The amount of institutional revenue spent on remediation; (B) The total general ... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Minimum Admissions Standards H.B. 2050 Beginning with the 2012-13 academic year, using one of the federally approved ability to benefit assessments, authorizes use of reassessment of a student's ability to benefit who scores below 15 on an ACT or below a comparable score on a comparable exam Begi... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Arkansas Higher Education Information System H.B. 2142 Creates the Arkansas Higher Education Information System, to be developed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Defines scope of system and information it will record. Requires that information be made available to the legislature, and that procedure... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Postsecondary Funding Forumla S.B. 766 Revises funding formula for postsecondary institutions to include a needs-based component and an outcome-centered component. Directs the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop an outcome-centered funding formula by December 31, 2011. The outco... More... ND Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux Nickname and Logo H.B. 1263 Bill text: University of North Dakota fighting Sioux nickname and logo. The intercollegiate athletic teams sponsored by the university of North Dakota shall be known as the university of North Dakota fighting Sioux. Neither the university of North Dakota nor t... More... NJ Issued 01/2011 Postsec. Community College Governor's Higher Education Council E.O. 52 Establishes the Governor's Higher Education Council, to: (a) serve as an advisory body to the Governor on higher education issues; (b) make recommendations to the Governor on higher education initiatives of statewide significance; and (c) provide advice to the... More... NJ Issued 01/2011 Postsec. Community College University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee E.O. 51 Establishes the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee. The Committee shall consist of up to five (5) members to be appointed by the Governor. These members shall include individuals from both inside and outside government who ha... More... Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability 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 Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property 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--Four-Year Baccalaureate Postsecondary Institutions--HBCUs/Minority-Serving Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Enrollments (Statistics) Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--International Postsecondary Students--Low-Income Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Reading/Literacy--Adult 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 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 Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes School/District Structure/Operations School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation School/District Structure/Operations--District Size 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--Staffing Ratios 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--Immigrant 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 Surveys Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--Incentives 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--Highly Qualified Teachers 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 Attitudes Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining--Strikes Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban--Change/Improvements