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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 Postsecondary Accountability IL Signed into law 08/2011 Postsec. Admission, Retention and Graduation of 1st-Generation College-Goers S.B. 122 Directs the board of higher education to include in a specified annual report to the governor and general assembly information on each public institution's admission, retention and graduation statistics of all students who are the first in their immediate fami... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 Postsec. Planning Commission for Higher Education S.B. 858 - Postsecondary Provisions Existing law creates the Blue Ribbon Commission to develop and implement a strategic master plan for higher education in the state. Renames the commission the Planning Commission for Higher Education. Repeals the existing parameters for the master plan to be d... More... OR Signed into law 07/2011 Postsec. Task Force on Higher Education H.B. 3418 Creates Task Force on Higher Education Student and Institutional Success and specifies membership. Directs task force to study and prepare report on best practices, methods and funding options to promote student and institutional success and submit, to interim... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Higher Education Coordinating Council/Articulation Coordinating Committee/Various Postsecondary Provisions H.B. 7151 Establishes the Higher Education Coordinating Council and directs the council to make recommendations on: (1) The primary core mission of public and nonpublic postsecondary education institutions in the context of state access demands and economic development ... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 Postsec. Study of Higher Education Institutions H.C.R. 30 Urges and requests the Board of Regents to study the provision of public postsecondary educational opportunities, to establish the appropriate role, scope, and mission of each public postsecondary education institution, and to formulate a plan that will make o... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary and Workforce Development Study H.C.R. 66 Urges and requests the Board of Regents, the Department of Revenue, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission to report and share information and data, including the success of Louisiana's postsecondary graduates in the workforce, and to submit a report of furth... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Revises LA Grad Act - Peformance Agreements H.B. 549 Revises the Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas Act (LA GRAD Act) to provide for additional operational autonomies to be granted to public postsecondary education institutions, including but not limited to authority and exemptions relative t... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. LA Graduation Act Performance Audits H.B. 560 Requires audits of information submitted by such Board of Regents institutions as indication of achievement of performance objectives under the LA GRAD Act; addressesto provide the timing and costs of such audits. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdo... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 Postsec. Shared Vision for Higher Education in Louisiana H.C.R. 121 Urges the Louisiana Board of Regents to aggressively and fully implement its previously established admission standards, those standards the board set for implementation in 2012 and 2014, and additional admission standards as warranted; that the board continue... More... NV To governor 06/2011 Postsec. Tuition and Fees S.B. 449 Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada, in fixing tuituon charges and assessing registration fees and other fees, to adjust the amount of the tuition charges and registration and other fees based on the demand for or the costs of providing... 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. Internet Access to Faculty Information for General Academic Teaching Institutions H.B. 736 - Internet Access to Faculty Information for General Academic Teaching Institutions Requires that each general academic teaching institution make public on the institution's Web site the following information: (1) the student/faculty ratio; (2) the percentage of all full-time equivalent faculty members with teaching responsibility who are ten... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Institution Resume for Institutions of Higher Education H.B. 736 - Institution Resume for Institutions of Higher Education Amends provisions of 51A.002, "Powers and Duties of Coordinating Board Relating to Institution Resumes; General Requirements for Institution Resumes" and 51A.003, "Duties of Institutions of Higher Education Relating to Institution Resumes". Existing legislatio... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policymakers (51A.052) H.B. 736 - Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policymakers (51A.052) Amends provisions of 51A.052, "Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers"--these resumes differ from those established by 51A.002 through .004 and from 51A.102, "Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers". Requires that the "e... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Institution Resume for Prospective Students, Parents and Members of the Public H.B. 736 - Institution Resume for Prospective Students, Parents and Members of the Public Amends provisions of 51A.053, "Institution Resume for Prospective Students, Parents, and Members of the Public". Requires that, under the "Enrollment" heading, the resume include the percentage of undergraduate students enrolled in the institution for the firs... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers (51A.102) H.B. 736 - Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers (51A.102) Amends provisions of 51A.102, "Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers", which differs from 51A.052, "Institution Resume for Legislators and Other Policy Makers" also amended by this act. Requires under the heading "Enrollment" reporting on ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Online Information Regarding Certain Career Educational Entities H.B. 736 - Online Information Regarding Certain Career Educational Entities Directs the Texas Workforce Commission and the higher education coordinating board to jointly develop a comprehensive strategy to improve and coordinate the dissemination of online information regarding the operation and performance of career schools or colleg... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Comparison Tool H.B. 736 - Comparison Tool Directs the higher education coordinating board to make available on its Web site a search tool allowing for comparisons of general academic teaching institutions that meet certain criteria selected by the user, including offering a particular major or program... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Reporting Requirements S.B. 5 - Postsecondary Reporting Requirements Provides for the expiration of specified reporting requirements applicable to institutions of higher education and university systems. Provides that a rule or policy of a state agency, including the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in effect on June ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Higher Education Master Plan S.B. 52 Directs the commission on higher education to design a master plan that achieves the following goals: increasing the overall number of degrees and certificates awarded in a year by 30% in a decade to provide support for economic development; renegotiating perf... More... IN Vetoed 05/2011 Postsec. Board of Trustee Membership H.B. 1177 Modifies the manner in which alumni members of the Indiana University board of trustees are elected. Requires all of the members of the board of trustees for Indiana University to be citizens of the United States. Requires a majority of the members of the boar... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Accountability A.B. 220 AN ACT relating to the Nevada System of Higher Education; encouraging the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to examine, audit and revise certain aspects of the System to ensure the educational needs of students and prospective students will be met i... More... TX Adopted 05/2011 Postsec. Approval of New Academic Programs and Administrative Changes at Public Universities, Health-Related Institutions, and Review of Existing Degree Programs 19 TAC 5.43, 44, 52 Defines terms, including "doctoral graduation rate", "graduate placement" and "master's graduation rate". Provides that if the minimum number of credit hours required to complete a bachelor degree program exceeds 120, the institution must provide a compelling ... More... WA Partial veto 05/2011 Postsec. Higher Education Opportunity Act H.B. 1795 Establishes the Higher Education Opportunity Act to: (1) ensure tuition dollars are spent to improve student access, affordability and the quality of education; (2) establish a clear nexus between tuition dollars and improved productivity and greater accountab... More... WV Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Collection and Dissemination of Information Concerning Higher Education Institutions S.B. 375 Authorizes the Higher Education Policy Commission to collect and disseminate information concerning higher education institutions. Requires each institution to annually provide the commission, as requested, all information the commission or council considers n... 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 Presentation of Expenditure Data H.B. 1017 Requires state-supported institutions of higher education to present expenditure data on a Web site operated by the institution. The website must be updated annually and retain data for each fiscal years for 10 years, starting with 2013 fiscal year. "Expenditu... More... CA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. State Financial Aid Programs S.B. 70 - Sec. 69432.7, 69432.9, 69433.2, 69433.6 Makes amendments to the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Cal Grant Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards, the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards programs. From bill summary: --P... More... 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