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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 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 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... TX Issued 08/2011 P-12 Postsec. Western Governors University Texas Executive Order RP75 Expresses the state's commitment to Western Governors University (WGU) and its establishment of WGU Texas. Directs all agencies and officials to work with WGU toward the establishment of WGU Texas as a nonprofit institution of higher education to provide acces... 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. 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... MI Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Community College Collaboration Between Community Colleges and Universities/ Transfer Credits H.B. 4325 - Postsecondary Provisions From Legislative Staff Summary: Encourages community colleges to explore ways of increasing collaboration and cooperation with universities. Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that universities work with community colleges to implement transfer... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Degree Granting H.B. 2117 Directs Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) to issue separate license to issue degrees to schools that meet exemption requirements. Effective January 1, 2012. http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/hb2100.dir/hb2117.en.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Security-Sensitive Positions and Criminal Background Checks H.B. 2937 Amends definition of "security-sensitive position" to include any employee who has access to (1) another person's personal information or identifying information or (2) the financial information of the employer or another person. Adds the Texas Higher Educatio... More... ND Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Community College Authorization, Academic or Professional Postsecondary Educational Institution Offering Credentials H.B. 1092 Provides that the State Board for Career and Technical Education may authorize the operation of an academic or professional postsecondary educational institution that offers educational credentials only upon approval by the director of the Department of Career... 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... VT Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Postsecondary Institution Approval Process S.B. 100 Sets the process for approval for any postsecondary school that operates primarily or exclusively in the state of Vermont. Defines "Postsecondary school" as any person who offers or operates a program of college or professional education for credit or a degree... More... WA Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Expanding Postsecondary Opportunities S.B. 5636 Expanding postsecondary opportunities. Changes the name of the University Center at Everett Community College to the University Center of North Puget Sound. Assigns management and leadership of the University Center of North Puget Sound to Washington State Uni... More... CO Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Community College Postsecondary Campus Safety H.B. 1169 Clarifies the information sharing by higher education institution police to various individuals and entities regarding campus safety and incidences. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2011a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/A55150534810636987257808008004BA?Open&file=1169... More... VA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund S.B. 1485/H.B. 2324 Expands the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund to allow for awards from the fund to be used to encourage commercialization and to attract research talent at state institutions of higher education. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+S... More... WA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Accelerated Degree Programs S.B. 5442 Relating to an accelerated baccalaureate degree program. State universities, regional universities and the Evergreen State College may develop accelerated baccalaureate degree programs that will allow academically qualified students to obtain a baccalaureate d... More... WA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Research University branches H.B. 1586 Authorizes research universities to develop doctoral degree programs at their branch campuses subject to approval by the higher education coordinating board. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1586.PL.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Obtaining Student Consent Form H.B. 1875 Requires institutions of higher education to make a good faith effort to obtain the student consent form and collect and report the data required under the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act. Institutions may lost approved status if they fail to do so. http://ww... More... FL Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Florida College System Institution S.B. 946 Substitutes the term ''Florida College System Institution" for the terms ''Florida college," ''community college," and ''junior college" where those terms appear in the Florida K-20 Education Code. http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2011-005.pdf... More... 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