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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 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 WA Signed into law 12/2011 P-12 Teacher Certification H.B. 2160 Directs the professional educator standards board to revise standards for the elementary education endorsement and middle level and secondar... More... WI Signed into law 11/2011 P-12 Clarifies "Immoral Conduct" for License Revocation S.B. 49 Relates to revocation for immoral conduct of a license issued by the Department of Public Instruction. Clarifies that "Immoral conduct" incl... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Linked Learning Credential A.B. 1304 Authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to convene a workgroup to develop program standards for the issuance of a recognition of ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Out-of-State-Prepared Credential Applicants S.B. 941 - Out-of-State-Prepared Credential Applicants From bill summary: Removes reference to a "professional clear teaching credential" in provisions regarding credentialing of out-of-state pre... More... CA Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Awarding of Additional Subject Credential or New Teaching Credential Type S.B. 941 - Awarding of Additional Subject Credential or New Teaching Credential Type From bill summary: Requires the commission on teacher credentialing to issue an authorization for an additional subject or for a new teachin... More... IL Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Overhaul of Teacher and Administrator Licensure S.B. 1799 Effective June 30, 2012, repeals 105 ILCS 5/21-1a on teacher certification exams. Effective June 30, 2013, repeals statutory provisions on (... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Nonpublic School Teaching Experience and Professional Certification H.B. 6434 From Education Committee Summary - Allows teachers to continue to use, or in the case of student teaching to start using, teaching experienc... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Data Collection Requirements/Charter Schools S.B. 1039 State Education Resource Center - Clarifies the status of the State Education Resource Center as a nonstock corporation and nonprofit tax ex... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Charter School Educator Permit S.B. 1160 Establishes a charter school educator permit and allows the education commissioner, starting in the 2011-12 school year, to waive state cert... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Closing the Achievement Gap/Early Literacy S.B. 929 Sec. 1 - Establishes a task force to address the academic achievement gaps in Connecticut by considering effective approaches to closing the... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Teaching Specialized Courses/Teacher Contract Renewal Notification H.B. 6499 - Sec. 3, 14 Sec. 3 - Allows the Commissioner of Education, upon request from a board of education for a district that has a school with grades K-8, to p... More... IN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Teacher Evaluations and Renewal S.B. 1--Teachers Establishes an annual staff performance evaluation that categorizes teachers as highly effective, effective, improvement necessary, or ineff... More... MN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Licensing H.F. 26 Directs the board of teaching to grant initial teaching licenses based on professional competencies aligned with the board's licensing syste... More... MN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Tiered Licensure Task Force H.F. 26 Directs the board of teaching and the education commissioner to convene and facilitate an advisory task force to develop recommendations for... More... OR Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Teacher and Administrator Preparation H.B. 3474 Directs preparation of plan to encourage national board certification for teachers and administrators. Requires creation of comprehensive le... More... RI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Criminal Record Checks H.B. 5455 Amends background checks to require school employee applicants or child care operators to apply to the Rhode Island bureau of criminal ident... More... CT Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Charter School Teacher Certification S.B. 1104 Allows the state Commissioner of Education to waive the requirement that teachers in charter schools hold certification when the charter sch... More... CT Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Early Childhood Educators Qualifications and Professional Development S.B. 927 To revise the requirements for early childhood educators and direct the Commissioner of Education to use unexpended funds for providing prof... More... HI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Teacher Licensure S.B. 806 Allows teacher and educational officer Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) members to continue to serve out up to three consecutive three-... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Repeals the Teacher Academy and the Professional Teaching Standards Commission H.B. 22 Budget Technical Corrections Legislation: Section 7.31 - Repeals the statutory provisions of the Teacher Academy, created to establish a sta... More... NC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011 P-12 Renewal of Professional Educator's License H.B. 200 - Renewal of Professional Educator's License Prohibits state board from requiring more than 5 semester hours or 7 1/2 units of renewal credits to renew a North Carolina Standard Profess... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Criminal Background Checks A.B. 393 Requires the board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school to adopt a policy requiring the license... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Licensure A.B. 39 relating to educational personnel; removing the requirement that the Superintendent of Public Instruction notify a licensee by mail of the d... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Teacher and Administrator Licensure S.B. 315 Requires the Commission on Professional Standards in Education to adopt regulations prescribing the qualifications for licensing teachers an... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Teacher Licensure A.B. 230 Requires the State Board of Education to evaluate certain providers of education and training which are offered to qualify a person to be a ... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certain Teacher Certification Requirements in Private Schools H.B. 153 - Certain Teacher Certification Requirements in Private Schools Establishes certification requirements for teaching foreign language, music, religion, computer technology or fine arts in nontax-supported ... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Resident Educator License Requirements H.B. 153 - Resident Educator License Requirements Prohibits the state board from adopting additional requirements for the resident educator license beyond those established in statute. Page ... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Teaching Certification Reciprocity with Other States H.B. 153 - Teaching Certification Reciprocity with Other States By July 2012, directs the state superintendent to develop a list of states that the superintendent considers to have standards for teacher l... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Licensure Requirements for CTE Teachers H.B. 153 - Licensure Requirements for CTE Teachers Requires that the rules adopted by the board of education regarding standards and requirements for educator licenses include requirements fo... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Criminal Records Check for Adult Educators H.B. 153 - Criminal Records Check for Adult Educators Provides that an applicant for employment by a school district, the governing board of an educational service center or a chartered nonpubli... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Licensure Exam Retakes for Teachers in Lowest-Performing Schools H.B. 153 - Licensure Exam Retakes for Teachers in Lowest-Performing Schools Directs the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district, the governing authority of each community school, ... More... PA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Multiple Sections - Certification H.B. 1352 Creates a new avenue for mid-career professionals to joing the teaching ranks through the use of "residency" certificates that allow for a s... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 BA or Grad. Degree Qualifies to Teach or Supervise S.B. 688 Requires the state board, in consultation with the department of education, to review current policies, rules and regulations pertaining to ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Expiration of Educator's Certificate H.B. 1334 Provides that an educator's certificate is not considered to have expired if the employee has completed the requirements for renewal of the ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Probationary Contract for Persons Changing Assignments H.B. 2380 Permits a person who voluntarily accepts an assignment that requires a different class of certificate than the one held in the person's prev... 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... WA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certification Processing Fee H.B. 1449 Requires the superintendent of public instruction to charge an application processing fee for initial educator certificates and subsequent a... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Offenses Disqualifying Employment and Revoking Licenses H.B. 1121 Adds criminal offenses and circumstances that disqualify individuals from employment at districts and schools, based primarily on background... More... GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Professional Standards Commission H.B. 285 Directs the Professional Standards Commission to revise its certification renewal rules to require, effective July 2015, demonstration of th... More... KS Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Teacher Evaluation H.B. 2191 Amends K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 72-5445. Allows school districts to offer employment contracts to teachers for one or up to two additional years (t... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires Posting of Various Paths Leading to Teacher Certification and Tenure S.B. 687 Requires the state Department of Education to develop an informational form that lists and explains the various paths that can be taken in o... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Teacher Certification & Tenure/Employment for Military Spouses H.B. 998 Requires the state Department of Education to develop a specified form relating to teacher certification and tenure and to post the form on ... More... MN Vetoed 05/2011 P-12 Teacher Candidates Basic Skills Exam S.F. 170 Requires the state board of education to adopt rules requiring a person who enters a board-approved teacher preparation program on or after ... More... MN Vetoed 05/2011 P-12 Teacher Candidates Basic Skills Exam Pass Requirement S.F. 170 Directs the Board of Teaching to adopt rules requiring persons interested in becoming teacher candidates, beginning January 1, 2014, to pass... More... OK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Temporary Employment - Background Checks H.B. 1418 Defines prospective employee as an individual who has received an offer of temporary employment by a school district pending results of a na... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Teacher Certification Reciprocity S.B. 1256--Teacher Certification Amends Section 15-533 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Exempts teachers from the requirement that they take the teacher proficiency exam if ... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Teacher Certification Reciprocity S.B. 1263--Teacher Reciprocity Amends Section 15-203 Powers and Duties of State Board of Education. State Board of Education is to adopt rules that provide for teacher cer... More... CO Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Teacher License Renewal H.B. 1201 To renew a professional educator license, a licensee must show that he or she completed certain professional development activities. The dep... More... GA Adopted 04/2011 P-12 Professional Learning H.R. 489 Directs the professional standards commission to (1) Revise its certification renewal rules so that demonstration of the impact of professio... More... OH Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Licensure of Teach for America Participants H.B. 21 Qualifies Teach for America participants for a resident educator license. Provides Teach for America participants must meet specified condit... More... OK Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Criminal History Background Checks for Substitutes S.B. 59 The measure allows any person employed as a full-time teacher by an Oklahoma school district in the last five years to be employed as a subs... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teacher Licensure and Reciprocity H.B. 1893 Directs the state board to issue standard five-year teaching licenses to individuals who meet certain requirements, including holding out-of... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Certification for Active Duty Military Personnel and Their Spouses H.B. 301 Specifies that any active duty military personnel must be kept in good standing by the administrative body with which he/she is licensed or ... More... MN Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Alternative Teacher Preparation Program S.F. 40 Establishes an alternative teacher preparation program and limited-term teacher license. Requires reports. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bl... More... MN Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Alternative Teacher Preparation and Limited-Term Teacher License S.F. 40 Directs the Board of Teaching to require teacher preparation programs, including alternative teacher preparation programs, to include in the... More... MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teacher License Suspension/Revocation For Sexual Contact H.B. 641 Adds to grounds for revocation or suspension of a teacher or administrative license: (g) The license holder has engaged in unethical conduct... More... NM Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Alternative Teacher Licensure S.B. 361 Allows a subject-area exam as an alternative to subject-area credit hours for alternative level one teacher licensure. Spells out other crit... More... NM Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Teaching Reading and Elementary Licensure Exam H.B. 74 Requires the knowledge of the science of teaching reading to be part of the teacher assessment examination for elementary licensure. http://... More... 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