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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 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 CA Vetoed 10/2011 Community College Postsec. Enrollment of Previously Expelled Community College Student A.B. 288 From bill summary: Authorizes the governing board of a community college district to either deny enrollment, permit enrollment or permit conditional enrollment to any individual who has been expelled from a community college within the preceding 5 years, or wh... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Comprehensive School Safety Plans A.B. 680 From bill summary: Authorizes school districts and county offices of education, in consultation with law enforcement officials, to elect not to have their schoolsite councils develop and write the portions of their comprehensive school safety plans that includ... More... DE Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Uniform School Discipline Requirements Across Districts H.B. 42 Directs the department of education to promulgate student discipline regulations, so as to create uniform definitions for student conduct that may result in alternative placement or expulsion, uniform due process procedures for alternative placement meetings a... More... IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Stalking No Contact Orders H.B. 192 Directs the court, when issuing a stalking no contact order, to weigh specified considerations when the petitioner and the respondent attend the same public or private K-12 school, including any continuing physical danger or emotional distress to the petitione... More... IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Criminal Trespass to a Safe School Zone H.B. 78 Defines the offense of criminal trespass to a safe school zone as entering or remaining in a safe school zone, both (1) for a student or employee who has been suspended, expelled, or dismissed for disrupting the orderly operation of the school, or (2) for anot... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Carbon Monoxide Detectors H.B. 5326 Requires all of the state's public and nonpublic school buildings to be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. Exempts boards of education, and supervisory agents of nonpublic schools and their agents, employees, or officers, acting without malice, in good f... More... LA Vetoed 07/2011 P-12 Student Discipline Policies S.B. 67 Relates to the discipline of students. Adds restorative justice practices to options for disciplinary measures when students are removed from classrooms. Indicates discliplinary measures that need to be implemented before students can return to classrooms. Req... More... MO Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Concussions H.B. 300 Establishes the High School Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act which requires school boards to work with the Missouri State High School Activities Association to develop guidelines regarding concussions and head injuries. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/b... More... NY Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Prostitution in a School Zone and Promoting Prostitution in a School Zone S.B. 1313 Creates offense of prostitution in a school zone. Creates offense of promoting prostitution in a school zone. Defines "school zone" for purposes of these offenses. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=%0D%0A&bn=s01313&term=2011&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text... More... RI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Concussions H.B. 5440 and S.B. 0291 A Adds an annual refresher course to the initial course requirement for coaches and volunteers, and encourages districts to have school nurses complete a training course in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Encourages districts to get student neuropsych... More... CO Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Restorative Justice H.B. 1032 Defines "restorative justice". The general assembly encourages each district to implement training and education in the principles and practices of restorative justice to ensure that capable personnel and resources are available to successfully facilitate all ... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Amends Gun Laws H.B. 650 Provides that a person must "knowingly" carry a firearm onto school grounds to be criminally liable of a Class I felony. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H650v6.pdf... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Clarifies Principals' Obligation to Report Certain Offenses S.B. 394 Amends the statues governing reportable offenses in schools by adding to the bases of knowledge triggering the obligation of a principal to report to law enforcement. Provides that school principals must report if they have a "reasonable belief" that a specifi... More... NC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011 P-12 School Improvement Plans, School Improvement Teams, etc. H.B. 200 - School Improvement Plans, School Improvement Teams, etc. Removes all statutory references to school improvement plans, building school improvement teams, local safe school plans, and local school system technology plans. Pages 48-52 of 342: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H200v9.pdf... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Safe Schools S.B. 276 Requires the Department of Education to establish and recommend training programs for members of the State Board of Education, boards of trustees of school districts and school district personnel on the prevention of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment and in... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Cyberbulling S.B. 277 Prohibits a minor from using an electronic communication device, such as a cell phone, to possess, transmit or distribute a sexual image of himself or herself or of another minor. A minor who uses an electronic communiction device to transmit or distribute a s... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 School Safety H.B. 2939 Prohibts use of mechanical, chemical or prone restraint on student in public education programs. Allows reasonable use of physical restraint or seclusion on student in public education programs under certain circumstances. Describes procedures to be followed i... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Student Safety Registration Plates H.B. 3684 Directs the Department of Transportation to issue Keep Kids Safe license plates. Directs the Department to deposit net proceeds from surcharge on plates to account designated by Children's Trust Fund of Oregon Foundation. http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measp... More... PA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Multiple Sections -- School Safety Provisions H.B. 1352 Section 223 transfers the required safety committee created through past fiscal codes and incorporates them into the Public School Code. Section 1303-A clarifies that school safety reports must be filed with the department on an annual basis. http://www.legis... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 State-Level Safety Team Membership H.B. 146 Specifies that the commissioner may appoint to the state-level safety team a representative from "directors of schools, members of local boards of education, public school teachers, school counselors and psychologists, and parents of students enrolled in publi... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Community College Background Checks H.B. 1951 Enacts the "Kristen Azevedo Act" regarding background checks on persons applying to work at higher education institution in housing facilities who will have access to student rooms or apartments. Amends TCA Title 49. http://state.tn.us/sos/acts/107/pub/pc0506.... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Student Discipline, Including Corporal Punishment H.B. 359 Defines corporal punishment. Provides that if a district board of trustees adopts a policy permitting corporal punishment, a district educator may use corporal punishment as a form of discipline unless the student's parent has previously provided a written, si... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Study the Creation of a Maryland Center for School Safety H.B. 79 Establishes a task force to study the creation of a Maryland Center for School Safety. Provides for the membership, chair, and staffing of the task force. Requires the task force to study and make recommendations regarding specified matters, including the foll... More... ND Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Student Use of Alcohol or Controlled Substance Notification H.B. 1086 Provides that a teacher must notify the school principal if the teacher knows or has reason to believe that a student is using, is in possession of, or is delivering alcohol or a controlled substance while on school property, while involved in a school-related... More... NJ Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Dating Violence Policy A 2920 Directs the Department of Education to develop a school district dating violence policy and requires school districts to provide dating violence education in the health curriculum. Requires the DOE to recommend educational resources on dating violence and shal... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Secret Witness Program A.B. 138--Safe Schools Authorizes the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a policy that allows a pupil enrolled in a public school within a school district to report, anonymously if the pupil chooses, any unlawful activities that are being conducted on school property... More... WV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 School Crisis Response Plans S.B. 592 Requires the state board in conjunction with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to promulgate by December 31, 2011, a legislative rule for the establishment of an up-to-date, school specific crisis response plan at every school in the s... 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... MT Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Residency for Out-of-District Students H.B. 288 Clarifies residency for enrollment purposes (who can enroll a student) -- particularly for students who have had behavioral issues and been disciplined in their home districts. If a "caretaker relative" seeks to enroll a child who has been disciplined by a pre... More... IL Adopted 03/2011 P-12 Railroad Crossing Warnings S.R. 44 Urges K-12 schools to include railroad crossing warnings in their student handbooks. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/SR/PDF/09700SR0044lv.pdf... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Staff Member to Accompany Students on Non-Athletic School Trips H.B. 427 - School Trips Requires a certified or classified staff member to accompany students on non-athletic school-sponsored or school-endorsed trips. Permits local boards of education to adopt a policy specifying the job classifications of staff members who may accompany students ... More... MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teacher License Suspension/Revocation For Sexual Contact H.B. 641 Adds to grounds for revocation or suspension of a teacher or administrative license: (g) The license holder has engaged in unethical conduct relating to an educator/student relationship as identified by the State Board of Education in its rules; (h) The licens... More... ND Passed 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Access to Juvenile Court Records S.C.R. 4017 A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to study the feasibility and desirability of allowing school officials, including officials of higher education institutions, access to the otherwise confidential files and records of the juvenile co... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Definiton of "On or About School Premises" H.B. 75 From bill summary: Modifies the definition of "on or about school premises" as related to (1) sentencing enhancements for the use of a dangerous weapon, and (2) those locations where a person may not possess a dangerous weapon, firearm, or sawed-off shotgun. h... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Sex Offenses Prohibiting Entry Onto School or Other Property H.B. 2066 Expands the prohibition on entry onto school grounds by any adult convicted of a sexually violent offense to include any school bus and any property, public or private, during hours when such property is being used solely by a public or private elementary or s... More... WY Signed into law 02/2011 P-12 Seclusion and Restraint S.F. 36 Requires the state superintendent to adopt rules and regulations regarding seclusion and restraint in schools; requiring school district boards to adopt policies regarding the use of seclusion and restraint in schools as specified; defining terms; and providin... More... 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