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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 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 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... 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 Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. College Credits for Military Personnel H.B. 500 Awards educational credits to a student enrolled in a public college or university, who is also a veteran, for courses that are part of the student's military training or service and that meet certain academic standards. Provides definitions and implementation... 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... ME Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Required Reporting of Retention and Graduation Rates for Colleges and Universities S.P. 156 Requires all postsecondary institutions, including institutions offering accredited postsecondary educational and degree programs on the Internet, to report annually to the Department of Education the retention rates of the students for each degree program and... 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... NC Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Establishes the ''No Adult Left Behind" Initiative S.B. 166 Requires the Commission on Workforce Development, acting as the lead agency, with the cooperation of other participating agencies, including but not limited to, the North Carolina Community College System, The University of North Carolina, and the North Caroli... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Study of Funding Higher Education S.B. 374 This bill creates the Committee to Study the Funding of Higher Education. Establishes the composition of the committee. Directs the committee to study specified issues, including: (1) Compare the method of funding higher education in Nevada with the methods us... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Three-Year Baccalaureate H.B. 153 - Three-Year Baccalaureate Directs the chancellor of the board of regents to require all state institutions of higher education that offer baccalaureate degrees to submit a statement describing how each major for which the school offers a baccalaureate degree may be completed within thr... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Increasing Postsecondary Completion Rates H.B. 2910 - Increasing Postsecondary Completion Rates Permits the coordinating board of higher education, in partnership with institutions of higher education, to enter into an agreement with nonprofit organizations to help the board identify and implement strategies to increase degree completion rates, including... 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. Community College Credit Transfer for Associate Degree H.B. 3025 - Credit Transfer for Associate Degree Provides that this provision relates to a student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution (as defined in 61.003(3) http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.61.htm) who has transferred from or previously attended a lower-division institu... 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... MD Signed into law 05/2011 Postsec. Regulation of Public, Private Nonprofit, and For-Profit Institutions of Higher Education S.B. 695 From Department of Legislative Services Fiscal and Policy Note: Distinguishes between public, private nonprofit, and for-profit institutions of higher education. Clarifies the scope of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act to include the unfair or deceptive off... 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... 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... 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... AR Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. Community College Common Course Numbering H.B. 1772 Strengthens the transfer of courses between institutions of higher education. Expands the Roger Phillips transfer policy. Clarifies which courses are prerequisite courses. Establishes a statewide common course numbering system for postsecondary. Creates a "sta... More... 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