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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 School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution MI Signed into law 12/2011 P-12 Anti-Bullying H.B. 4163 Provides these provisions are be known as "Matt's Safe School Law". Not later than 6 months after the effective date of this act, requires a school district or intermediate school district board or a public school academy's board of directors to adopt and impl... More... MN Issued 11/2011 P-12 Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying E.O. 11-33 Establishes the Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying to examine the state of bullying, harassment and intimidation in the state, including existing laws and regulations, and to advise the governor's office and the legislature on effective... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Bullying A.B. 9 From bill summary: Requires the policy adopted by the local educational agencies to prohibit discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics. Requires the process for receiving and investigating complaints to ... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. Harassment and Bullying; Nondiscrimination; Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation A.B. 620 From bill summary: Requests the Trustees of the California State University, the Regents of the University of California, and the governing board of each community college district to adopt and publish policies on harassment, intimidation and bullying to be in... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Bullying A.B. 1156 From bill summary: As of July 1, 2012, encourages the inclusion of policies and procedures aimed at the prevention of bullying in comprehensive school safety plans. Requires the department of justice and the state department of education to contract to provide... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Gender Identity and Gender Expression S.B. 559 Expresses legislative intent that public schools have access to supplemental resources to combat bias on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0551-0600/sb_559_bill_20110906_chaptered.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Student Suspension and Expulsion and Electronic Communications H.B. 3281 Permits a district to expel a student guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct perpetuated by electronic means. Permits a student to be suspended for up to 10 days or to be expelled for up to two years if (1) the student has made an explicit threat on a Web... More... CA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 "Electronic Act" under Anti-Bullying Provisions A.B. 746 Specifies that an "electronic act" as defined under anti-bullying policies includes a post on a social network Web site. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0701-0750/ab_746_bill_20110708_chaptered.pdf... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Strengthens School Bullying Laws S.B. 1138 Expands the types of conduct that constitute school bullying and the situations where it can occur. Makes the school principal responsible for investigating or designating someone to investigate and address bullying whether it occurs in or out-of-school. Requi... More... HI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 DOE Compliance with Bullying, Cyberbullying and Harassment Policies H.B. 688 Requires the board of education to monitor the department of education's compliance with rules or statutes covering bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment and to establish reporting requirements for the department of education to report on the department's com... More... IL Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution H.B. 1204 Requires districts to provide instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution in grades K-12 (rather than in grades 4-12, as previously required). http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB1204lv.pdf... More... IN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Bullying H.B. 1083 Provides defenses to the crimes of disseminating matter that is harmful to minors, child exploitation, and possession of child pornography if a cellular telephone was used and the defendant and recipient of the matter are certain ages and meet other requiremen... 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... RI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Safe School Act -- to Combat Bullying H.B. 5941 Enacts the "Safe School Act." to combat bullying. Explicitly prohibits any form or degree of bullying at school. Defines "Bullying" as the use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Anti-Bullying H.B. 1942 Establishes definition of bullying; includes expression through electronic means (cyberbullying). Permits staff development to include training in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying. Permits the board of trustees to tra... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Early Mental Health Intervention and Prevention of Youth Suicide H.B. 1386 - Early Mental Health Intervention and Prevention of Youth Suicide Directs the department of public health, in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, to provide and annually update a list of best practice-based early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs for implementation in public K-12 schools. P... More... CA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 School Bullying Prevention Awareness Month A.C.R. 22 Provides that legislature declares March 2011 to be California School Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and urges that the issue of bullying, and methods of prevention be discussed with appropriate activities in California schools during this time. http://w... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Student Bullying Prevention and Education H.B. 1254 Creates a student bullying prevention and education grant program for schools in the department of education.Spells out terms and requirements of the grant program, funding and the department's responsibilities. Also clarifies and strengthens anti-bullying pro... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires Nonpublic Schools Participating in State-funded Education Programs to Adopt Policy on Bullying H.B. 38 Requires nonpublic schools that participate in state-funded education programs to adopt by March 31, 2012, a policy prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Requires the policy to include specified provisions. Encourages nonpublic schools to develop... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Nonpublic Schools Must Adopt Policy Prohibiting Bullying, Harassment & Intimidation S.B. 489 Requires nonpublic schools that participate in state-funded education programs to adopt, by March 31, 2012, a policy prohibiting bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Encourages nonpublic schools to develop educational bullying prevention programs for studen... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Accountability A.B. 138--Report Cards Revised the requirements for the reports of accountability information prepared by the State Board of Education and the board of trustees of each school district to include: (1) certain information relating to adult diplomas; and (2) reports on incidents resul... More... TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention H.B. 301 Requires that each LEA include a prohibition against cyber-bullying in its existing policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying (cyber-bullying includes bullying undertaken though an electronic communications device). Expands the definition of "har... More... VT Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Electronic Bullying and Harassment S.B. 100 - Electronic Bullying Adds to definitions of "Harassment" and "Bullying" to include an incident or act conducted by electronic means. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf... More... WV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Expands the Definition of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying H.B. 3225 Expands the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying to include an electronic act, communication, transmission or threat which is administered by means of telephone, wireless phone, computer, pager or any electronice or wireless device whatsoever, an... More... AR Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Bullying Policies S.B. 892 Amends state anti-bullying policy. Defines "attribute" an individual may be bullied for to include: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, socioeconomic status, academic status, disability, gender, gender identity, physical appearance, health condit... More... AR Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Anti-Hazing Policy S.B. 897 Clarifies that prohibition against hazing includes the initiation into or affiliation with sports programs and other extracurricular activities. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Bills/SB897.pdf... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Bullying H.B. 2415 Directs school districts to implement following requirements with regard to incidents of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, including cyberbullying: (1) supply written report of full and detailed description of an incident; (2) establish appropriate discip... More... NM Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Student Bullying Policies S.B. 78 Requires the state education department to establish guidelines for district to develop student bullying prevention policies and programs. http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/11%20Regular/final/SB0078.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Relating to Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying and Suicide Prevention H.B. 1163 Requires the offices of the education ombudsman and the superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group on school bullying and harassment preventionto develop, recommend, and implement strategies to improve school climate and create respectful lea... More... ND Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Bullying Prevention H.B. 1465 Adds six new sections to chapter 15.1-19, relating to the prevention of bullying in public schools. Defines bullying as conduct that occurs in a public school, on school district premises, in a district owned or leased schoolbus or school vehicle, or at any pu... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Expanding Scope of Anti-Bullying Laws S.B. 304 Defines "communication", "cyberbullying" and "harassment". Prohibits students and school employees from engaging in bullying; cyberbullying; harassment; hazing; retaliation; and making false claims regarding the aforementioned conduct. By September 2011, requi... More... VA Issued 02/2011 P-12 Effectiveness of Antibullying Policies H.J.R. 625 Requests the Department of Education to study the nature and effectiveness of local school divisions' antibullying policies. In conducting its study, the Department of Education shall (i) review and compare antibullying measures in the student codes of conduct... More... 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