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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 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 ND Signed into law 11/2011 Postsec. Team Logo and Nickname S.B. 2370 Allows the University of North Dakota to complete the directive of the State Board of Higher Education and to meet the terms of the 2007 settlement agreement with the National Collegiate Athletic Association by transitioning away from the current nickname and ... More... PA Signed into law 11/2011 P-12 Safety in Youth Sports Act S.B. 200 Establishes standards for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries to student athletes. Requires the Departments of Education and Health to develop and post on their websites guidelines and relevant materials to inform mand educate students concernin... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 California Interscholastic Federation S.B. 107 From bill summary: Extends provisions governing the operation of the California Interscholastic Federation to January 2017 (these were due to expire in January 2012), and requires the California Interscholastic Federation to report to the legislature and the g... More... DE Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Management of Concussions S.B. 111 Requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) to adopt regulations regarding the appropriate recognition and management of student athletes exhibiting signs and symptoms consistent with a concussion during practices, scrimmages and intersch... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 Postsec. Full Disclosure to Student Athletes H.B. 5415 Provides that, beginning January 1, 2012, any institution with an intercollegiate athletic program that recruits student athletes by soliciting them to apply to, enroll in, or attend the institution for the purpose of participating in intercollegiate athletics... More... IL Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Concussions H.B. 200 Directs each school board to adopt a policy on student athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance with the protocols, policies and bylaws of the Illinois High School Association. Requires that information on the local concussion and head injur... More... ME Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Private School Students May Participate in Public School Extracurricular Activities H.P. 662 Provides that a student enrolled in an equivalent instruction program in a private school that enrolls fewer than 30 students is eligible to participate in public school cocurricular, extracurricular and interscholastic activities. http://www.mainelegislature.... 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... 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... AL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Concussions H.B. 108 Requires the governing body of each sport or recreational organization to develop guidelines and other pertinent information to inform parents and youth athletes on the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury. Requires the youth athlete and athlete's pa... More... DE Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Use of Academic Excellence Units to Fund Athletic Trainers S.B. 69 Allows the use of academic excellence units for funding for licensed athletic trainers in schools that are members of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association. States that the use of the units for this purpose is discretionary. http://legis.delaware.g... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certain Private School Students May Participate in Public School Athletics H.B. 797 Allows a student attending a private middle school or high school to participate in interscholastic or intrascholastic sports at a public school that is zoned for the physical address at which the student resides if the private school does not offer an athleti... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Student Participation in Athletic Programs H.B. 31 Revises academic standards for student participation in interscholastic athletics. Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt a policy relative to such eligibility requirements. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Comprehensive Sports Injury Management Program H.B. 364 Creates a comprehensive sports injury management program related to the health and safety of students who participate in school-sanctioned athletics. Explains procedures for when students sustain serious injuries. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdo... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Concussions by Student Athletes S.B. 189 Relates to concussions and head injuries suffered by student athletes, education requirements, removal of athletes from competition upon sustaining a concussion. Addresses requirements which must be satisfied for a youth athlete to return to play after sustain... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Gfeller-Waller Concussion Awareness Act H.B. 792 Provides that the required rules governing interscholastic athletic activities adopted by the State Board of Education must provide: 1. That all coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, first responders, volunteers, students who participate in interscholas... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Participation in Athletics H.B. 153 - Participation in Athletics Provides a student may not be denied the opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics solely because the student's parents do not reside in this state, if the student resides in this state with the student's grandparent, uncle, aunt or sibling who h... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Prohibition of Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Group H.B. 153 - Prohibition of Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Group Prohibits a state institution of higher education from taking any action or enforcing any policy that would deny a religious student group any benefit available to any other student group based on the religious student group's requirement that its leaders or m... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Athlete Agents (Higher Education) S.B. 1671 Changes various requirements for registration of athlete agents, providing notice of athlete agent activities to higher education institutions and penalties for violations of Athlete Agent Reform Act of 2011. http://state.tn.us/sos/acts/107/pub/pc0424.pdf... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Football Helmet Safety H.B. 675 Prohibits a district from using football helmets that are 16 years old or older in its football program. Requires districts to ensure that each helmet used in its football program that is 10 years old or older is reconditioned at least every two years. Require... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 University Interscholastic League H.B. 1286 Prohibits the legislative council of the University Interscholastic League (http://www.uiltexas.org/) from taking final action on a new or amended rule that would result in additional costs for a member school unless a fiscal impact statement regarding the rul... More... AK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Concussions H.B. 15 Relating to prevention and evaluation of and liability for concussions in student athletes. Sec. 14.30.142 is amended to read: The governing body of a school district shall consult with the state school activities association to develop and publish guidelines ... More... IN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Concussions S.B. 93 Requires the department of education, in consultation with specified persons, to disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to school corporations for distribution to schools to inform and educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student at... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires Policies and Programs on the Risk of Concussions and Head Injuries H.B. 858 Requires the state Department of Education, in collaboration with specified entities, to develop policies and to implement a program to provide awareness to coaches, school personnel, students, and parents or guardians of students on the risk of concussions an... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 State Board to Report to Legislature on Academic Standards Required for Participation in Athletics H.B. 364 Requires the state board of education, in consultation with county boards of education, to report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2011, regarding minimum academic performance standards that students in public high schools in the state should ... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Concussions and Head Injury Awareness S.B. 771 Requires the state Department of Education, in collaboration with specified entities, to develop policies and implement a program to provide awareness to coaches, school personnel, students, and parents or guardians of students on the risk of concussions and h... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Concussions A.B. 455 Requires the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and the board of trustees of each school district to adopt policies concerning the prevention and treatment of injuries to the head sustained by pupils while participating in sports and other athletic ... More... VT Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Concussions S.B. 100 - Sec. 39 This section defines and establishes the importance of avoiding and treating student concussions. Requires the development of statewide guidelines, forms and other materials (to be updated as needed) that are designed to educate coaches, youth athletes, and th... 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... AR Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Athletic Trainers H.B. 1743 Requires districts to develop procedures concerning student physical activity in its public schools that includes recognition and management of the following events or conditions that may be encountered by a student during athletic training and physical activi... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Concussions S.B. 1521 Requires school district governing boards to implement policies and procedures regarding concussions and head injuries of students participating in school-sponsored athletic activities. Chapter 167 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1521s.pdf... More... IA Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Protecting Against Concussions and Brain Injuries S.F. 367 Concerned with protecting students from concussions and other brain injuries. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/SF367.pdf... More... ND Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Concussions S.B. 2281 Requires that all schools that sponsor or sanction athletic activities must adopt a concussion management program and outlines specific requirements that must be included in the program. The program must require that students be removed from competition and pr... 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... ND Signed into law 03/2011 Postsec. University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux Nickname and Logo H.B. 1263 Bill text: University of North Dakota fighting Sioux nickname and logo. The intercollegiate athletic teams sponsored by the university of North Dakota shall be known as the university of North Dakota fighting Sioux. Neither the university of North Dakota nor t... More... SD Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Student Activities S.B. 65 An Act to allow nonpublic schools accredited by certain accrediting agencies other than the Department of Education to become members of the South Dakota High School Activities Association. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2011/Bills/SB65ENR.pdf... More... SD Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Concussions S.B. 149 Establishes policies for youth athletes with concussions resulting from participation in youth athletic activities. The South Dakota High School Activities Association, working with the Department of Education, will develop guidelines to inform and educate mem... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Access to School Facilities by Student Clubs H.B. 218 Extends "limited open forum" (i.e., clubs for student expression) provisions to charter schools. Replaces references to "school building use" accessible to clubs and limited open forums to "school facilities use", including playing fields. http://le.utah.gov/~... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Charter School Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities S.B. 235 Provides that a charter school student is eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity at a public school other than the student's charter school if the student's charter school is located on the campus of the public school, or has local school board... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Student Sports Concussions H.B. 204 Creates the "Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act". Includes public or private school in the definition of "amateur sports organization", and includes in definition of "agent" a coach, teacher, employee, representative, or volunteer in the organizatio... More... WY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 School Athletics Safety S.F. 38 Requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a model protocol and to assist school districts in developing protocols for addressing risks associated with concussions and other head injuries from school athletics. Requires school district... More... 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