ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2011 State Policies / Activities

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
+ 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
+ High School--International Baccalaureate
+ Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices
+ Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling
+ Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools
+ 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
+ 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
+ Postsecondary Success--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics)
+ 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
+ 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
MNSigned into law 07/2011P-12Establishes a minimum number of hours for student instruction.  Sets the hours at 425 hours per year for kindergarten pupils, 935 hours for pupils in grades 1 to 6 and 1,020 hours per year for pupils in grades 7 to 12. Clarifies that this section does not supersede the commissioner's approval authority of a four-day school week under section 124D.126. (Article 1, Sec 3)
http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS87/1/HF0026.0.pdf
Title: H.F. 26
Source: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us

TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12Authorizes a district board of trustees to implement a furlough program and reduce the number of days of service otherwise required by law by not more than 6 days of service during a school year if the commissioner certifies that the district will be provided with less state and local funding for that year than was provided to the district for the 2010-2011 school year. Authorizes the board of trustees to reduce the salary of a furloughed employee in proportion to the number of days by which service is reduced. Sets out conditions and restrictions applicable to a furlough program, including among other provisions that (1) a furlough program must subject all contract personnel to the same number of furlough days, (2) an educator may not use personal, sick or any other paid leave while on furlough, and (3) implementation of a furlough program may not result in an increase in the number of required teacher workdays. Establishes the required process for the development of a furlough program or other salary reduction proposal. In developing a furlough program, requires a district to use a process that includes the involvement of the district's professional staff, and provides employees with the opportunity to express opinions on the furlough program or salary reduction proposal at a public meeting. Pages 12-14 of 19: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/821/billtext/pdf/SB00008F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: S.B. 8 - District Furloughs
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

CASigned into law 06/2011P-12Adds new Section 46201.3 to specify (only if subdivision (c) of Section 3.94 of the Budget Act of 2011 is operative) that for the 2011–12 school year, the minimum number of instructional days and minutes school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools are required to offer is reduced by up to seven days. Provides that implementation of the school calendar reduction must be achieved through the bargaining process. Establishes method for reducing each school district, county office of education, and charter school's revenue limit. Provides that this section does not affect the number of instructional days or instructional minutes that may be reduced pursuant to Section 46201.2. Pages 42-43: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_114_bill_20110630_chaptered.pdf
Title: A.B. 114 - School Calendar Reduction for 2011-12 School Year
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

ILSigned into law 06/2011P-12Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Specifies that Chicago collective bargaining agreements may address decisions to determine the length of the work and school day and length of the work and school year. Page 97 of 111: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/97/PDF/097-0008.pdf
Title: S.B. 7 - Length of School Day and Year in Collective Bargaining Agreements
Source: www.ilga.gov

NCVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011P-12Directs the state board to establish a school calendar pilot program in the Wilkes County Schools, the Montgomery County Schools, and the Stanly County Schools, to determine whether and to what extent a local school administrative unit can save money by consolidating the school calendar. Provides that the school calendar for the 2011-2012 calendar year for the pilot school systems must include a minimum of 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction covering at least 9 calendar months; permits a participating school system to meet minimum 185 days of instruction by adding instructional hours to previously scheduled days. Directs the state board to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2012, on the administration of the pilot program, cost savings realized, and its impact on student achievement. Provides that if the state board finds that it will enhance student performance to do so, the state board may grant a pilot school system a waiver to use up to 5 instructional days or an equivalent number of instructional hours as teacher workdays. Bill text (page 53 of 342): http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H200v9.pdf
State board report: http://www.ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/JLEOC/Reports%20Received/2012%20Reports%20Received/School%20Calendar%20Pilot%20Program.pdf
Title: H.B. 200 - School Calendar Pilot Program
Source: www.ncleg.net

OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Permits a local board, or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school or a community school, prior to the start of the school year, to submit a plan to the department to require students to complete classroom lessons posted to the district's or nonpublic school's Web portal or Web site to make up for days lost due to school closures in excess of the number of days permitted in statute. Permits up to three days or the equivalent hours to be made up via online lessons. Defines elements that the plan must provide for.
Pages 165-167 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf
Title: H.B. 153 - Making Up Lost Instructional Days Online
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

TXSigned into law 06/2011P-12Permits a district to begin instruction before the fourth Monday of August at a single campus or at not more than 20% of campuses in the district if the district has an enrollment of 190,000 or more, provides with local funds additional days of instruction at the campus or at each of the multiple campuses, the campus(es) are undergoing comprehensive school reform, and a majority of the students at the campus or campuses are educationally disadvantaged. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB01555F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: H.B. 1555
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

HISigned into law 05/2011P-12Excludes multi-track public schools from the 180-day school year requirement. Repeals provision requiring the 180-day instructional year to include 915 instructional hours for the elementary grades and 990 instructional hours for the secondary grades. Repeals provision requiring a 915-hour instructional year for elementary schools and 990-hour instructional year for secondary schools beginning with 2011-13 school years. Provides that for the 2011-12 school year, 50% of public elementary schools (excluding charter schools and multi-track public schools) must implement a 915-hour instructional year, which must be implemented by all public elementary schools beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Requires all public secondary schools, excepting charter and multi-track public schools, to implement a 990-instructional hour school year for the 2014-16 school years. Permits the board of education to grant any individual school a waiver to the instructional hours or instructional days requirement; requires the board of education to adopt policies and procedures related to the granting of such waivers.

Directs the department of education, with the board of education and office of the governor, and in consultation with representatives of the affected collective bargaining units, to submit to the legislature before the convening of the regular sessions of 2013 through 2018, a report on its progress and efforts to meet certain requirements related to length of the school year. Moves the requirement that the department submit a plan for extending the school year from 2012 to 2015. Provides that the plan must be for increasing the instructional day to 190 days beginning with the 2018-19 school year, rather than 2015-16 school year, as previously required.

Directs the department of education to re-examine what constitutes student instructional hours, determine current levels of student instructional hours at each school, and assess the ability of all schools to comply with the requirements of certain statutory requirements, and report such findings to the legislature by September 2011.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/HB945_CD1_.HTM
Title: H.B. 945
Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov

HISigned into law 04/2011P-12Provides that the single school calendar for all public schools does not apply to schools designated by the board of education in furtherance of a plan to improve educational outcome in students. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/SB1171_.HTM
Title: S.B. 1171
Source:

OHSigned into law 04/2011P-12To amend sections 3313.482, 3314.08, and 3317.01 of the Revised Code to excuse up to five, instead of three, calamity days for the 2010-2011 school year, to broaden schools' authority to make up calamity days by lengthening remaining days in the school year, to waive the number of hours a community school is closed for a public calamity if it meets certain requirements, and to declare an emergency.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_36_EN_N.pdf
Title: H.B. 36
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

CASigned into law 03/2011P-12Extends through 2014-15 school year the provision allowing a school district, county office of education or charter school to shorten its instructional year by up to 5 days without incurring fiscal penalties.
Page 45 of 81: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0051-0100/sb_70_bill_20110324_chaptered.pdf
Title: S.B. 70 - Sec. 46201.2
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

KYSigned into law 03/2011P-12Section 2: Permits the commissioner of education to grant up to the equivalent of 10 instructional days for school years 2010-11 and 2011-12 for districts that have missed an average of 20 or more days in the previous three years and use alternative methods of instruction, including virtual learning, on days when the school district is closed for health or safety reasons, on nontraditional days, or during nontraditional time. Provides average daily attendance for purposes of supporting education excellence in Kentucky funding during the instructional time granted must be calculated in compliance with administrative regulations promulgated by the state board of education.

Section 3: Provides that if the days in the approved calendar designated as makeup days are used, the commissioner of education must grant a request made by a local board of education to waive the makeup of all remaining instructional days scheduled to occur on or after June 21.

Section 4: Permits a local board of education to amend its 2010-11 school calendar by adding at least 30 minutes to any remaining instructional day to make up time missed due to weather or illness. Requires that all instructional time added pursuant to this section be fully credited toward the calculation of the equivalent of 177 six-hour instructional days, and prohibits a school calendar amended pursuant to this section from being deemed an innovative calendar during the 2010-2011 school year
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/11RS/HB427/bill.doc
Title: H.B. 427 - Lost Instructional Days
Source: www.lrc.ky.gov

+ 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--Migrant 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 Supports
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ 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