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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 Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid Postsecondary Affordability--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. Residency Requirements for Military or Dependents A.B. 882 From bill summary: Amends state law to conform with federal law granting a member of the Armed Forces, or his or her dependent, entitlement to resident classification for so long as he or she is continuously enrolled at that institution. Requests the Regents o... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 Community College Postsec. Transportation Fees at Community Colleges S.B. 774 From bill summary: Raise the maximum parking services fee limits at community colleges, and authorizes the governing board of each community college district to annually increase the parking and transportation services fee limits by the same percentage increas... 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... CA To governor 09/2011 Community College Postsec. Community College Student Fees A.B. 32 From bill summary: Provides that provision setting community college student fees at $36 per unit per semester repeals May 1, 2011 instead of January 1, 2012 as formerly specified. Increases student fee to $46 per unit per semester, effective with the summer ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2011 P-12 Postsec. Budget Issues S.B. 6 From bill summary: Requires the director of finance to meet specified requirements if he/she proposes to reduce an item of appropriation pursuant to specified provisions. Repeals provision setting student fee at each community college district at $36 per unit ... More... SC Signed into law 08/2011 Postsec. The South Carolina Higher Education Efficiency & Administrative Policies Act of 2011 S.B. 172 Transparency and Efficiency Requires each public institution of higher learning to maintain a transaction register that includes a complete record of all funds expended, from whatever source for whatever purpose. Provides that the register must be prominently... More... CA Signed into law 07/2011 Community College Postsec. Student Fees at Community Colleges A.B. 108 - Community College Fees Amends circumstances under which the governing board of each community college district must raise student fees to $46 per semester, and when this fee change takes place. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_108_bill_20110726_chaptered.... More... CT Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Community College Extends In-State Tuition Benefits to Certain Postsecondary Students H.B. 6390 Extends in-state tuition benefits. Provides that a person, except a nonimmigrant alien (someone with a visa permitting temporary entrance to the country for a specific purpose), qualifies for in-state tuition if he or she: (1) Resides in Connecticut; (2) atten... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 Postsec. Tuition Dispartity Study H.C.R. 110 Urges and requests the Board of Regents to study the disparity in tuition charged at public four-year universities as compared to their Southern Regional Education Board peers, to develop a proposal for amending the LA GRAD Act in a way that will mitigate the ... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Tuition Exemption for Military Members H.B. 232 Revises current statute on providing tuition exemption for family members of a member of the Louisiana National Guard. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=760079... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. College Tuition/Fee Increases H.B. 526 Authorizes the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges to increase tuition and mandatory fee amounts at institutions under its supervision and management; provides limitations, applicability and implementation requirements, including provision... 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... 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... OH Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Resident for Determining Tuition H.B. 153 - Resident for Determining Tuition Requires that the chancellor's rules for determining student residency for purposes of determining tuition costs must grant residency status to a person who graduated from an Ohio high school, if the person enrolls in an institution of higher education and est... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Student Residency H.B. 3359 Extends sunset on allowance of certain foreign exchange students to be considered residents of school district until July 1, 2013. Requires resident school district of foreign exchange students described in Oregon Revised Statutes 339.133(8) to submit a report... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Tuition Payment Dates H.B. 1341 From bill analysis: Eliminates inconsistency between statute and the General Appropriations Act regarding tuition payment dates by giving each institution of higher education the freedom to set its own policy with regard to collection of tuition and mandatory ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. www.capitol.state.tx.us H.B. 2999 Permits a general academic teaching institution (as defined here http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.61.htm) to develop a fixed tuition rate program for qualified students who agree to transfer to the institution within 12 months of completing... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Student Fee Advisory Committee Meetings and Recommendations S.B. 5 - Student Fee Advisory Committee Meetings and Recommendations Existing Sections 54.5031 and 54.5032 providing for student fee advisory committee meetings. New provisions require that such committees conduct meetings at which a quorum is present in a manner that is open to the public and in accordance with procedures pres... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Community College Guaranteed Tuition/Fees H.B. 1301 Revises policies related to guaranteed tuition and fee rates by higher education institutions. Limits the contracts between students and institutions to addressing only tuition and clarifies that the contracts are not included in an institution's financial acc... More... FL Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Education Funding S.B. 2150 From Legislative Budget Committee Summary: Coenrollment in Public Schools and Adult Education Programs Prohibits funding for coenrollment in public schools and adult general education programs, except that for the 2011-2012 fiscal year students may enroll i... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Community College Amends Requirements For Exemption From Community College Tuition Payment for Disabled Individuals H.B. 104 Clarifies and amends the requirements for obtaining an exemption from the payment of tuition at community colleges for specified disabled individuals. Allows an individual who is out of work due to a disability to obtain a tuition waiver at a community college... More... WV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Duties of Higher Ed Policy Commission/Tuition Increases/Graduation Rates S.B. 330 Clarifies the duties and responsibilities of the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC). Sets deadlines in coming years for working toward fulfilling pay levels included in a state-determined salary schedule. Provides that a tutition and fee increase greate... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Tuition H.B. 2410 Grants in-state student status for the purposes of tuition at any Arizona public university or community college to any person honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2410h.pdf  ... More... AZ Vetoed 04/2011 Postsec. Professional Student Exchange Program S.B. 1386 Increases the repayment responsibilities of participants in the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and grants participants a greater period of time to fulfill their repayment obliga... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Deferment of Tuition Payment S.B. 1256 -- Veterans On registration at a state supported community college, college, or university, any person who is eligible for and has applied for benefits for education available to veterans of the United States Armed Forces under federal law may apply for a deferment of pay... More... IL Adopted 04/2011 Postsec. Out-of-State Tuition and Fees H.R. 4 Requests the Illinois Board of Higher Education to conduct a cost-neutral analysis of all relevant out-of-state tuition and fees charged by the University of Illinois in comparison to those charged by the flagship schools in surrounding states, and that the bo... More... ND Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Student Fees S.B. 2351 Defines a fee as any monetary charge, other than tuition, that a student is assessed for a specific purpose or supplemental service. Requires the state board of higher education to publish on its web site all fees by campus; limits annual mandatory fee increas... More... VA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. In-State Eligibility for Military Spouse H.B. 1848/S.B. 1279 Ensures that the established in-state tuition eligibility must not be affected by the establishment and maintenance of a place of residence in another jurisdiction for the purpose of maintaining a joint household with such member. Also provides that the spouse... More... CA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Lowering Instruction and Administration Costs, Meeting Enrollment Goals S.B. 70 - Sec. 59 and 60 From bill summary: Requires the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the California State University, in implementing reductions contained in the Budget Act of 2011, to minimize fee and enrollment impacts on students by targeting action... More... ID Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Resident and Nonresident Tuition/Fees H.B. 20 University of Idaho - Amends and repeals existing law relating to education to provide that the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho may prescribe fees, including tuition fees, for resident and nonresident students enrol... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Resident Tuition for Veterans H.B. 425 - Resident Tuition for Veterans Permits the governing board of a public university to adopt a tuition policy whereby any veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard who is eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who enrolls as a student in the university as a non-Kentucky resident is ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. In-State Tuition for Children of Military Personnel S.B. 46 Requires an institution of higher education to grant resident status to the child of active duty military personnel if the child produces any of specified identification. http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillenr/sb0046.pdf... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. In-State Tuition for National Guard S.B. 1074 Provides in-state tuition for any person who met the requirements for in-state tuition prior to being called to active duty in the National Guard of another state following completion of active duty service if during active duty that person maintained one or m... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Tuition Assistance Grant Program S.B. 1439/H.B. 1960 Amends the criteria for institutions of higher education to be eligible to receive tuition assistance on behalf of eligible students. For an institution to be eligible, the institution must have either been receiving such funds as of January 1, 2011, or (i) be... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. In-State Tuition for Veterans H.B. 1861/S.B. 824 Authorizes certain veterans who elect to establish Virginia as their permanent residence for domiciliary purposes to establish immediate residency in Virginia and become eligible for in-state tuition, rather than waiting the required one-year period. http://li... More... 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