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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 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 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 OH Signed into law 12/2011 P-12 Dyslexia Early Screening and Intervention Pilot H.B. 96 Specifies dyslexia as a specific learning disability. Directs the superintendent of public instruction to establish a pilot project, to oper... More... OH Signed into law 12/2011 P-12 Dyslexia Training for K-4 Teachers H.B. 157 - Dyslexia Training for K-4 Teachers Defines "dyslexia" and "dyslexia specialist". Permits the governing board of any educational service center to engage the services of a dysl... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Curriculum Frameworks, Standards, Instructional Materials, Model Professional Development Modules A.B. 250 - Curriculum Frameworks, Standards, Instructional Materials, Model Professional Development Modules From bill summary: Deletes the schedule for submission of instructional materials for foreign languages and health for state board approval,... More... NH Notices of Adopted Rules 10/2011 P-12 General Special Education and Early Childhood Special Education NH ADC Ed 507.39, 391; NH ADC Ed 612.07, 071 Update the requirements for certification and teacher preparation program for general special education and early childhood special educatio... More... NV Adopted 10/2011 P-12 Special Education Endorsements NAC 391.054, 343, 347, 356, 360, 363, 376, 380, 381, 383 Revises provisions relating to special education endorsements. ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Intellectual Disability S.B. 942 - Intellectual Disability Replaces references to "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" in provisions governing special education programs. http://www.legi... More... NY Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Special Education Schools, Early Intervention Agencies, Early Intervention Program Services, and Multi-Disciplinary Evaluations S.B. 5524 Requires a provider of special education services or programs to obtain a waiver pursuant to 6503-B (see next paragraph) before providing ev... More... OR Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Residential treatment programs S.B. 170 Requires Department of Education to be responsible for payment of costs of education of students in eligible day treatment program or elig... More... CA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Funds for Special Education Instruction A.B. 108 - Special Education Funding From bill summary: Amends the Budget Act of 2011 by reducing the amount of moneys appropriated from the general fund to the state department... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Study Cost of State-Mandated Special Education Requirements H.B. 6103 Requires the Commissioner of Education to conduct a review of the cost of state-mandated special education requirements including, but not l... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Special Education - Evaluation Process H.B. 6501 Prevents delays in the evaluation process of children suspected of requiring special education and related services. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2... More... DE Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Eligibility for Supportive Instruction S.B. 112 Empowers the Department of Education to adopt rules and regulations regarding eligibility for supportive instruction and which also provide ... More... MN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Disability Terminology H.F. 26 Updates statutory terms to conform with federal terminology and Minnesota rule. (Article 3, Sec 1) http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS8... More... NC Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities H.B. 344 Provides a taxpayer a credit against the tax imposed for each of the taxpayer's eligible dependent children who is a resident of the state a... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Expands Eligibility for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program H.B. 1329 Expands eligibility for the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program to students with disabilities who have 504 acc... More... HI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Special Education Students in Private Schools or Placements S.B. 1284 Authorizes the Department of Education (DOE) to monitor students with disabilities who are placed, at DOE's expense, at private schools or p... More... HI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Private Schools Serving Special Education Students S.B. 1503 Requires certain private special education schools and programs that provide services to students with disabilities who receive state fundin... More... ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Attorney Presence at Individualized Education Program Meeting H.P. 822 Provides that the school administrative unit may not have an attorney present at an individualized education program team meeting unless the... More... ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Aligns Maine Special Education Statutes with Federal Requirements H.P. 986 Repeals provisions providing for planning the transition of students with disabilities to adult services and for transitional services coord... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Background Checks at Certain Schools H.B. 153 - Background Checks at Certain Schools Requires that staff at a nonpublic school participating in the Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program or at a college-preparatory bo... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Autism Scholarship Program H.B. 153 - Autism Scholarship Program Specifies that the services provided under the scholarship must include an educational component. Pages 74-77 of 1000: http://www.legislatur... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program H.B. 153 - Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program Establishes the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, effective with the 2012-13 school year, for K-12 students with disabilities ... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Interagency Workgroup on Autism H.B. 153 - Interagency Workgroup on Autism Authorizes the director of developmental disabilities to establish an interagency workgroup on autism to improve the coordination of the sta... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Instructional Hours H.B. 2283 Specifies that students receiving a modified diploma, extended diploma or alternative certificate have access to instructional hours and tra... More... OR To governor 06/2011 P-12 Special Education H.B. 2299 Requires school district in which public charter school is located to be responsible for identifying, locating and evaluating students to de... More... SC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 South Carolina Dyslexia Task Force S.J.R. 241 Creates the South Carolina Dyslexia Task Force to study and evaluate practices for diagnosing, treating, and educating children with dyslexi... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Isolation and Restraint H.B. 1336 Requires isolation and restraint to be imposed by school personnel who have been certified for completing a behavior intervention training p... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Reporting on Self-Contained vs. Mainstream Placement Ratios H.B. 1130 Repeals provision directing the Texas Education Agency to annually disseminate to each district a list of districts that for two consecutive... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 IEP Information to Regular Classroom Teachers H.B. 1335 Directs the Texas Education Agency to develop and implement a statewide plan to ensure that each district develops a process for regular cla... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certification Requirements to Teach Students with Visual Impairments S.B. 54 Requires that to be eligible to be issued a certificate to teach students with visual impairments, a person must (1) complete all coursework... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 District- and Campus-Level Planning and Decision-Making Committees S.B. 778 Includes professional staff who educate students with disabilities on district-level and campus-level planning and decision-making committee... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Dyslexia S.B. 866 Requires that minimum academic qualifications for an educator certificate that requires a bachelor degree to require instruction in detectio... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Model IEP Form and Transition Planning S.B. 1788 Directs the Texas Education Agency to develop a model form for districts to elect to use in developing an individualized education program (... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Special Education Definitions, Placement and Funding H.B. 1277 Revises special education statutes. Expands definition of children with disabilities to include conditions such as autism and serious emotio... More... ME Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires a Study to Ensure That Teachers & Paraprofessionals Working with Children with Autism Are Appropriately & Adequately Prepared H.R. 546 Directs the state Board of Education and the Department of Education (DOE) to conduct a study to ensure that teachers and paraprofessionals ... More... ME Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Amends Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age Twenty Law Regardig Child Observations H.R. 708 Requires the Department of Education to amend state statute Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age Twenty to permit a quali... More... ND Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Reimbursement for Special Education Student Boarding Costs H.B. 1074 Requires school districts to receive state reimbursement for 80% of the room and board costs paid by the district for a student with disabil... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Special Education A.B. 318 This bill provides that in all due process hearings held pursuant to the feder Individuals with Disabilities Education Act where the school ... More... OK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Amends Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities H.B. 1744 Parents requesting a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities must make their request no later than December 1 of the... More... OR Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Choice H.B. 2282 Allows student to attend school in school district where student does not have legal residence if student receives written consent from dist... More... TX Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 State Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education Services H.B. 861 Relating to membership of the state continuing advisory committee for special education services. Requires that at least one member be a dir... More... TX Became law without governor's signature 05/2011 P-12 Interagency Council for Addressing Disproportionality S.B. 501 Establishes the Interagency Council for Addressing Disproportionality to: (1) Examine the level of disproportionate involvement of children ... More... VT Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Special Needs S.B. 100 - Disabilities Sections Requires schools and local districts coordinate educational services to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance with th... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Empowerment Scholarship S.B. 1553 Amends Title 15, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding chapter 19 creating a "scholarship account" program providing options for K-12 students... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Disabled Students S.B. 1256--Disabled Students Arizona Revised Statutes 15-761 is amended to reflect previous statutory changes in the definition of speech/language impairment. Chapter 3... More... IL Adopted 04/2011 P-12 Peer Buddies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder H.R. 43 Urges the state board of education to encourage the establishment of a peer buddy program in each school district for children with autism s... More... IN Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Special Education H.B. 1341 Requires a school corporation, including a charter school, to expend a proportionate share of its state special education grant on providing... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Licensed Speech Pathologists Bonus H.B. 1819 Specifies the date for the department of education to pay the licensed pathologist bonus. Details repayment terms for teachers who receive b... More... CO Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Special Education Appeals Process S.B. 61 Revises process for parents or guardians to appeal decisions related to special education students. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics20... More... CO Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Gifted and Exceptional Students H.B. 1077 Revises policies and practices for identifying and serving gifted students and students with disabilities. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Salaries for Administrators at Special Schools H.B. 425 - Salaries for Administrators at Special Schools Directs the Kentucky Department of Education, with the assistance of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, to adopt a salary schedule for administ... More... MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Autism Advisory Committee H.B. 1125 Creates the Mississippi Autism Advisory Council. Provides for membership terms of the committee and sets for the duties of the committee. ht... More... ND Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Modifies Special Education Provisions H.B. 1073, S.B. 2142 Changes terminology from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability." Removes the requirement that multidisciplinary team include medi... More... NY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Schools for the Deaf and Blind S.B. 2808 - Part A, Sec. 51, 53, 54 Sec. 51: Provides that effective with the 2011-12 school year, the district of residence must pay the tuition expenses of a child attending ... More... NY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Reimbursement for Students in Certain Special Education Placements S.B. 2808 - Part O Increases percent reimbursement rate for school districts with a student with a disability placed in a state school or special act school di... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind May Establish Foundation H.B. 415 Modifies the Public-Private Partnership for Education Excellence Act by authorizing the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind to establish a n... More... DE Signed into law 02/2011 P-12 Needs-Based Funding H.B. 1 Allows services for children with disabilities to be funded based on identified individual needs rather than on their classification or plac... More... TX Adopted 01/2011 P-12 Graduation Requirements 19 TAC 89.1070 Specifies graduation requirements for students receiving special education services. Reflects changes to assessment and curriculum requireme... More... 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--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