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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 Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges CA Signed into law 10/2011 Community College Postsec. Community College Governing Board Elections A.B. 684 From bill summary: Authorizes the governing board of a community college district to change election systems in accordance with the provisions of this bill and the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, subject to approval by the Board of Governors of the Calif... More... OR Signed into law 08/2011 Postsec. Community College Higher Education Coordinating Commission S.B. 242 Creates the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. ... 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. Community College Oversight of Instruction A.B. 1029 Extends to January 1, 2014 deletion of requirement that the board of governors of the California Community Colleges review and approve courses of instruction that are not offered as part of an educational program approved by the board of governors. Extends to ... More... PA Adopted 07/2011 Postsec. Community College Postsecondary Access in Rural Communities S.R. 147 A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine the Commonwealth's programs for post-secondary education in Commonwealth rural communities and to make recommendations for improving the delivery of open admissions and affordable, ... More... CA Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Postsec. Out-of-State Absence of Community College District Governing Board Members A.B. 334 Makes provisions prohibiting the out-of-state absence of a local school board member (with exceptions for illness, military service, etc.) applicable to a member of a community college district governing board member. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/a... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 Postsec. Community Colleges and Economic Development S.C.R. 61 Urges and requests the Board of Regents to work with the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges to study the two-year college services offered to the greater northeast Louisiana area, and to determine how the state can best meet the education... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Postsec. Creates New Community College S.B. 69 Creates the Northshore Technical Community College. Addresses the management, supervision, operation of the institution. Address program offerings, and awarding of certificates, diplomas, and degrees. Addresses duties and responsibilities of the Board of Regen... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Community College Common Core State Standards/Remediation/Vocational, Career Courses S.B. 479 Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to continue to participate in the development of the Common Core State Standards in conjunction with the consortium of other states, review all national assessments developed by both multistate consortia, and implemen... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Community College Establishes the State Board of Proprietary Schools S.B. 685 Establishes the State Board of Proprietary Schools in the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office. Provides that the State Board of Proprietary Schools has the authority to recommend for adoption and to administer all policies, regulations, and standa... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Community College Credit for Military Education/Training S.B. 275 Directs the board of each community college district, in consultation with the department of veterans' affairs, to develop standards for the district to award credit for education and training obtained during service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Requires the comm... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Postsec. Training for Members of Public Junior College District Governing Boards H.B. 1206 Requires training for all members of governing boards of public junior college districts, not only appointed members. Requires topics of such training to additionally include information about best practices in campus financial management, financial ratio anal... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Community College Postsec. Information Resources Management Act and Junior Colleges/Junior College Districts H.B. 1495 Clarifies that the Information Resources Management Act does not apply to public junior colleges and public junior college districts. Provides certain exceptions. Bill text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB01495F.pdf#navpanes=0 Infor... More... GA Signed into law 05/2011 Community College Postsec. State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia H.B. 49 Changes the name of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education to the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116879.pdf... 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... NH Signed into law 05/2011 Community College Postsec. Closure of Community Colleges/Regional Academic Centers H.B. 69 Authorizes the community college system of New Hampshire board of trustees to render a final decision on the closure of any college or regional academic center within the community college system. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/HB0069.html... More... WV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishes the Learn and Earn Cooperative Education Program S.B. 538 Establishes the Learn and Earn Cooperative Education Program to provide opportunities for students in technical and community colleges to work with West Virginia companies while in college, thus increasing the likelihood that they will complete the program, fi... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 Community College Postsec. Community College District S.B. 1213 Outlines an alternative process to convert a provisional community college district to an independent community college district. Allows a county to organize an independent community college district if the following requirements are met: (1) The county has op... More... IA Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Community College Community College Duties and Operations S.F. 470 Oversight/governance moves from state board for community colleges to the state board of education. Requires statewide summary of fiscal data reported. Modifies instructional workload standards. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/SF47... More... IA Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Community College Postsec. District-to-Community College Program and Facilities Pilot Program S.F. 424 Establishes district-to-community college program and facilities sharing pilot program. Authorizes a consortium of four or more districts and a community college to request approval to participate. Sets parameters and timeliness. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.... More... NC Vetoed 04/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Community Colleges Opt Out Of Participation In Federal Direct Loan Program H.B. 7 Allows community colleges to opt out of participation in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Govenor's Veto Message: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemID=1803 Bill text: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions... 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... NE Signed into law 02/2011 Postsec. Community College Distribution of State Aid to Community College Areas L.B. 59 Does not impact the level of funding appropriated for state aid to community college areas but does specify the distribution of state aid among the six community college areas for 2011-12 and 2012-13. http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Fi... More... 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