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
+ 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
TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12Requires that a district located in a county with a population of 125,000 or less provide educational services to a student who is expelled from school. Permits the district to count the student in its average daily membership. Defines what may be considered an educational placement under these provisions, including among others a contracted placement with an institution of higher education, an adult literacy council, or a community organization that can provide an educational program that allows the student to complete the credits required for high school graduation. Provides that an educational placement other than a district's disciplinary alternative education program is subject to the educational and certification requirements applicable to an open-enrollment charter school. From bill summary: exempts a county that meets certain criteria, including having a juvenile justice alternative education program (JJAEP) serving fewer than 15 students, from certain JJAEP requirements.
Bill text: pages 223-224 of 263: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/821/billtext/pdf/SB00001F.pdf#navpanes=0
Bill summary (see article 70): http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=821&Bill=SB1
Title: S.B. 1
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

ORSigned into law 06/2011P-12Allows educational programs under Youth Corrections Education Program (YCEP) and Juvenile Detention Education Program (JDEP) to award high school diplomas and alternative certificates; implement assessment system; administer national assessment; participate in the Oregon Teacher Corps program; and participate in other programs under Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. Declares emergency, effective July1, 2011.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measures/sb0001.dir/sb0022.en.html
Title: S.B. 22
Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us

TXSigned into law 06/2011P-12From fiscal note: Exempts a county with a population of 125,000 or greater from the requirement that expelled students and students meeting other mandatory placement requirements be placed in a Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP). The parameters stipulated in the bill appear to identify Ellis County.
Bill text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB00592F.pdf#navpanes=0
Fiscal note: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/fiscalnotes/pdf/HB00592F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: H.B. 592
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

TXSigned into law 06/2011P-12Requires a student who receives deferred prosecution for, is found by a court or jury to have engaged in, or a superintendent or designee has a reasonable belief that a student has engaged in aggravated robbery to be removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education program. Permits a student to be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program if the superintendent or designee has a reasonable belief that the student has engaged in aggravated robbery. Permits a district to expel a student who has received deferred prosecution for or has been found by a court or jury to have engaged in, has been arrested for or charged with, has been referred to a juvenile court for allegedly engaging in, or has received probation or deferred adjudication for aggravated robbery. Clarifies provision allowing expulsion of a student in a disciplinary alternative education program. Specifies that misconduct must be documented and while on the program campus despite documented behavioral interventions. Defines "serious misbehavior" for purposes of this provision.

Provides that each school district in a county with a population over 125,000 and the county juvenile board must annually enter into a joint memorandum of understanding that a student may be placed in the juvenile justice alternative education program if the student engages in serious misbehavior, as defined in statute.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB00968F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: H.B. 968
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

MDSigned into law 05/2011P-12Establishes the Task Force to Study High School Dropout Rates of Persons in the Criminal Justice System. Requires the task force to study high school dropout statistics of specified persons in the criminal justice system, obtain specified data, and make recommendations in a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2012. http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/chapters_noln/Ch_286_sb0755T.pdf
Title: S.B. 755
Source: http://mlis.state.md.us

TXBecame law without governor's signature 05/2011P-12Establishes the Interagency Council for Addressing Disproportionality to: (1) Examine the level of disproportionate involvement of children who are racial/ethnic minorities at each stage in the juvenile justice, child welfare and mental health systems; (2) Examine issues relating to the disproportionate delivery of various educational services to children who are racial/ethnic minorities in the education system; (3) make recommendations to reduce the involvement of children who are racial/ethnic minorities in the juvenile justice, child welfare and mental health systems and improve the children's success in the education system; and (4) Assist the Health and Human Services Commission in eliminating health and health access disparities in Texas among racial, multicultural, disadvantaged, ethnic and regional populations. Establishes the composition of the council and requires the council to meet at least quarterly. Sets forth the duties of the council, including reviewing current best practice standards addressing the disproportionate use of children's services by children who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group. Directs the council by December 2012 to prepare a report with the council's findings and recommendations for addressing the disproportionate representation of children who are racial/ethnic minorities in the use of children's services and the council's recommendation as to whether to continue the council. Provides these provisions expire December 1, 2013. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00501F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: S.B. 501
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

AZSigned into law 04/2011P-12Designates the definition of home school district for students who are wards of the state and enrolled in accommodation school at a juvenile detention center.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtest/50leg/1r/bills/sb1256s.pdf
Title: S.B. 1256--Special Populations
Source: http://www.azleg.gov

MSSigned into law 04/2011P-12Authorizes the Mississippi Department of Education to develop and promulgate policies and procedures regarding financial reimbursements to the sponsoring school district from school districts that have students of record or compulsory-school-age residing in said districts placed in a youth detention center.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/SB/2300-2399/SB2388SG.pdf
Title: S.B. 2388
Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/

MSSigned into law 03/2011P-12Provides criteria for districts to make a determination on an individualized basis before placing compulsory-school-age children returning from out-of-home placement in the mental health, juvenile justice or foster care system into an alternative school.out-of-home placement in the mental health, juvenile justice or foster care system.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/HB/1100-1199/HB1178SG.pdf
Title: H.B. 1178
Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/

TXAdopted 02/2011P-12Establishes minimum operational, programmatic, and educational standards for juvenile justice alternative education programs. Section 348.202 provides for an annual performance evaluation, 348.204 provides for assessment reliability and safeguards, and 348.206 provides for biennial performance reports.

With the exception of 348.101, adopted as published in the December 10, 2010 Texas Register (pages 118-128 of 146): http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/1210/1210prop.pdf
Title: 37 TAC 348.100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 200, 202, 204, 206
Source: www.sos.state.tx.us

+ 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