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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 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 CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Makes numerous changes to retirement provisions, including permitting a retired member of the State Teachers' Retirement System (STRS), pursuant to specified limitations, to perform the work of county and district superintendents who are responsible for the supervision of persons or administration of certain duties and to perform trustee work for the Cash Balance Benefit Program. In addition: From bill summary: Existing law establishes the Cash Balance Benefit Program, administered by the State Teachers' Retirement Board, as a separate benefit program within the State Teachers' Retirement Plan. This bill would permit a member retired for service under the Cash Balance Benefit Program to perform specified activities as an employee of an employer in the system, as an employee of a third party, or as an independent contractor within the California public school system, but would prohibit the member from making contributions to the retirement fund. The bill would condition this authorization on a variety of factors including limitations on the rate of pay of the member and the total amount of compensation, as well as on the employer maintaining accurate records in this regard, among other things. The bill would also repeal provisions that require that a participant in the Cash Balance Benefit Program who becomes reemployed under certain conditions have his or her annuity terminated. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0301-0350/sb_349_bill_20111009_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 349 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 From bill summary: Requires the board of administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement Board to each provide a 5-year strategic plan for emerging investment manager participation across all asset classes. Requires each of the boards to submit an annual report to the legislature, until January 1, 2018, regarding the progress of the strategic plan. Requires the boards to define "emerging investment manager" for purposes of these provisions. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0251-0300/sb_294_bill_20110908_enrolled.pdf According to the last bill analysis before bill enrollment, "According to the [bill] author, "While both entities have voluntarily adopted emerging manager programs as a strategy to increase diversification, there is no existing law that governs these programs. This bill is to encourage expanded opportunities for newer and smaller investment companies in the state procurement of financial services, including the management of assets managed by the state's public pension funds." http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0251-0300/sb_294_bill_20111009_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 294 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NY Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Permits certain eligible vested members of the NYS teachers' retirement system in tiers 3 and 4 who have permanently ceased teaching to withdraw from such system and to transfer such credits to another state's retirement system. Requires return of accumulated member contributions. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S03401&term=&Summary=Y&Text=Y Title: S.B. 3401 Source: assembly.state.ny.us CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Establishes a charter school educator permit and allows the education commissioner, starting in the 2011-12 school year, to waive state certification requirements and issue such a permit to a teacher or administrator who lacks certification and who is employed by a charter school, if the person meets the bill's qualifications. Limits the number of teachers and administrators who may hold permits in any year to no more than 30% of a charter school's teachers and administrators combined. Provides that a charter school educator permit allows a person to work in a charter school as a teacher or administrator and, if working as an administrator, to supervise and evaluate anyone providing instructional or pupil services in the school that employs the administrator. Makes anyone holding a charter school educator permit a member of the appropriate teachers' or administrators' unit for collective bargaining purposes. Requires any permit holder who becomes certified to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System (by law, only certified teachers and administrators may participate in the TRS). http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/Pa/pdf/2011PA-00234-R00SB-01160-PA.pdf Title: S.B. 1160 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov ME Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Provides that employees of school administrative units and educational advisory organizations are eligible to participate in the group health plan that is available to state employees and other eligible persons. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC438.asp Title: S.P. 200 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org AL To governor 06/2011 P-12 Relates to the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP). Subjects employees or retirees who knowingly and willfully submit false or misleading information to the board or engage in fraudulent activity to disqualification from coverage in the plan. Provides that all employees retiring after December 31, 2011, with certain exceptions, be subject to a new sliding scale premium calculation based on years of service. Provides that all employees retiring after December 31, 2011, be subject to a sliding scale premium calculation based on the difference between the age of the employee at retirement and the Medicare entitlement age. Provides that for all employees retiring after December 31, 2011, the employer contribution for a Page non-Medicare retiree may not exceed the employer contribution for an active employee no later than October 1, 2016. Provides that assistance be given to low-income employees and retirees who fall within 300% of the federal poverty level. Provides further for percentages of federal poverty level with regard to assistance to low-income families. Provides that a two-thirds vote of the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Board is no longer required to change the employee or retiree contribution to the health insurance premium or other out-of-pocket expenses. Title: S.B. 419 Source: ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Allows school administrative units to offer group self-insurance health and dental programs and to enter into cooperative agreements with other school administrative units or municipalities to provide such programs. Provides that school administrative units may arrange for and offer a choice of optional health or dental insurance plans to employees and their families that may vary in benefits provided and costs. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC395.asp Title: H.P. 972 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org MI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 From Legislative Staff Summary: Eliminates middle college grants and funding that provides districts additional funds for educating students of limited English-speaking ability. Eliminates language protecting Intermediate School District operational funding from falling below certain levels paid in 1994-95. Revises the fall pupil membership count day from the last Wednesday in September to the first Wednesday in October. Requires districts to post the health care bid required under state law to their web sites. Provides a one-time incentive grant to districts that satisfy four out of five criteria before July 1, 2012: (1) Charging employees at least 10% of health care services costs; (2) Serving as the policyholder for health care service plans; (3) Continuing to implement consolidation plans to reduce school operating costs; (4) Obtaining competitive bids on non-instructional services; and (5) Providing to parents and community members a dashboard or report card demonstrating the district's efforts to manage its finances responsibly. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/htm/2011-PA-0062.htm Title: H.B. 4325 - K-12 Provisions Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Under existing law, each school district is required to schedule and provide annually a minimum of 180 days of school and a charter school is required to provide at least as many days of school as are required for other public schools in the school district in which the charter is located. For the 2011-2013 biennium, Section 6.5 of this bill authorizes the board of trustees of a school district and the governing body of a charter school to request a waiver of not more than 5 noninstructional days from the required minimum number of school days for a school year in that biennium during an economic hardship to avoid the layoff of teachers and other educational personnel employed by the school district or charter school. A request for a waiver must be reviewed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and, if approved, transmitted to the Interim Finance Committee, which makes the final determination of whether to grant a waiver. The circumstances in which an economic hardship exists for a school district or charter school are identical to the circumstances in which an economic hardship exists under existing law for a school district or charter school to request a waiver from the required minimum expenditures for textbooks, instructional supplies, instructional software and instructional hardware. Section 7 sets forth the intent of the legislation in establishing a program certified by the the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school whereby employees of school districts and charter schools who are members of the Public Employees' Retirement System and who take furlough leave due to extreme fiscal need be held harmless in the accumulation of retirement service credit and reported salary. Section 7 further sets forth provisions concerning the furlough leave as it relates to the Public Employees' Retirement System in a manner similar to the furlough program of state employees. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/AB/AB117_EN.pdf Title: A.B. 117 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Section 9.482: Authorizes a political subdivision (including a school district), when authorized by their respective legislative authorities, to enter into an agreement with another political subdivision to allow the contracting political subdivision to exercise any power, perform any function or render any service that the contracting recipient political subdivision is otherwise legally authorized to exercise, perform or render. Establishes parameters for such agreements. Provides that employees acting outside the boundaries of their employing political subdivision while providing a service under an agreement may participate in any pension or indemnity fund established by the political subdivision to the same extent as while they are acting within the boundaries of the political subdivision, and are entitled to all the rights and benefits of Chapter 4123 of the Revised Code to the same extent as while they are performing a service within the boundaries of the political subdivision. Pages 43-44 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part1.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Powers of Political Subdivisions Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Section 9.833: Provides that any agreement for a political subdivision (including a school district) to jointly administer an individual self-insurance program with another political subdivision, establish and maintain a joint self-insurance program, or join with other political subdivisions to provide a health savings account program, among other actions, must (1) be in writing, (2) comply with specified legislative provisions, and (3) contain best practices established in consultation with and approved by the department of administrative services. Permits the best practices to be reviewed and amended at the discretion of the political subdivisions in consultation with the department. Requires that detailed information on the best practices be made available to any employee upon request. Requires political subdivisions to maintain certified audited financial statements for individual or joint self-insurance programs. Section 9.90: Provides that certain provisions related to health care programs apply until the department of administrative services implements healthcare plans designed under section 9.901. Provides that once the department of administrative services releases in final form health care plans designed under section 9.901, all health care benefits provided to employees of state institutions of higher education, school districts or educational service centers may be through those plans. Provides that if those plans do not include or address any benefits listed in section 9.90, or if the board of trustees or other governing body of a state institution of higher education, a district board, or governing board of an educational service center do not elect to be covered under a plan offered by the department of administrative services under section 9.901, the provisions of 9.90 continue to apply for those benefits. Section 9.901: Among other provisions: Before the department's release of the initial health care plans, the department must contract with an independent consultant to analyze costs related to employee health care benefits provided by existing political subdivision, school district and state institution plans. The consultant must (1) determine the benefits offered by existing plans, the employees' costs, and the cost-sharing arrangements used by political subdivisions, schools, and institutions participating in a consortium; (2)l determine what strategies are used by the existing plans to manage health care costs and study the potential benefits of state or regional consortiums of political subdivisions, public schools, and institutions offering multiple health care plans. Based on the findings of the analysis, the consultant must submit recommendations to the department for the development and implementation of a successful program for pooling purchasing power for the acquisition of employee health care plans. Requires that the recommendations address numerous specified issues. Specifies that nothing prohibits a political subdivision from adopting a delivery system of benefits that is not in accordance with the department's adopted best practices if it is considered to be most financially advantageous to the political subdivision. Pages 46-61 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part1.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Health Care Benefits Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Removes substitutes, adult education instructors who are scheduled to work the full-time equivalent of less than 120 days per school year, or persons who are employed on an as-needed, seasonal or intermittent basis from those local board employees entitled to 15 days sick leave with pay per contract year. Specifies that part-time employees will receive sick leave calculated on a ratio to hours of service as specified in the government code. Page 378 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Calculation of Sick Leave Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Changes the method of selection of trustees of TCRS representing teachers and retired teachers from election by the representative assemblies of the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association respectively to appointment by the speakers of the senate and the house; authorizes professional education employees' organizations to recommend persons to the speaker of each chamber of the general assembly for appointment to teacher trustee positions for TCRS. http://state.tn.us/sos/acts/107/pub/pc0280.pdf Title: S.B. 102 Source: http://state.tn.us/ TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Permits a school district employee whose resignation is effective after the last day of an instructional year to participate in the uniform group coverage plan or the group health coverage through the last calendar day before the first day of the instructional year immediately following the last instructional year in which the employee was employed by the district, if this date is earlier than the first anniversary of the date participation in or coverage under the uniform group coverage plan or the group health coverage was first made available to district employees for the last instructional year in which the employee was employed by the district (employee is entitled to be enrolled in the health plan to the earlier of the two dates). http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00155F.pdf#navpanes=0 Title: S.B. 155 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us FL Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires that a local governmental entity or the governing body of a charter school or charter technical career center make certain elections regarding benefits at the time the entity or governing body joins the Florida Retirement System. Requires employer and employee contributions to the retirement system. Modifies the early retirement benefit calculation for those members retiring on or after a certain date or before the normal retirement date to reflect the change in normal retirement age. http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2011-068.pdf Title: S.B. 2100 Source: http://laws.flrules.org MO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Relates to school retirement system in Kansas City. Actuarial equivalent tables and formulas are to be set forth in a written document which may be changed from time to time if recommended by the retirement system's actuary and approved by the board of trustees. The assets of the retirement system are to be held in trust for the exclusive benefit of members and their beneficiaries and for defraying reasonable administrative expenses of the retirement system. No part of such assets are to be used for or diverted to any purposes other than for such exclusive benefit or for any purpose inconsistent with the requirements of this retirement plan. In the event of the complete termination of the retirement system or the complete discontinuance of contributions to the retirement system, the rights of all members to benefits accrued to the date of termination or discontinuance shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable. If a member leaves employment with an employer to perform miliary service and dies while in such service the member's survivors are entitled to any additional benefits (other than benefit accruals relating to the period of qualified military service) that would have been provided had the member resumed employed and then terminated on account of death. The members period of qualified military services is to be counted as creditable service for purposes of vesting but not for purposes of determining the amount of the member's retirement allowance. Provisions are made for retiree performing substitute, part-time or temporary employment as long as they earn no more than fifty percent of the annual salary or wages last paid before retirement. If a person exceeds hour limit or such compensation limit, payment of the retirement allowance will be suspended for the month in which such limit was exceeded. Any member may elect to have their distribution transferred directly to another eligible retirement plan. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills111/biltxt/truly/HB0229T.htm Title: H.B. 229 Source: http://www.house.mo.gov IN Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Establishes the Indiana public retirement system (system) to administer and manage: (1) the public employees' retirement fund (PERF); (2) the teachers' retirement fund (TRF); (3) the judges' retirement fund; (4) the prosecuting attorneys retirement fund; (5) the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement fund; (6) the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund (1977 Fund); (7) the legislators' retirement system; (8) the pension relief fund; (9) the special death benefit fund; and (10) the state employees' death benefit fund. Creates a nine member board of trustees (board) for the system appointed by the governor as follows: (1) at least one member with experience in economics, finance, or investments; (2) at least one member with experience in executive management or benefits administration; (3) the director of the budget agency (or designee) serving as an ex officio voting member; (4) two members nominated by the speaker of the house of representatives: one an active or retired police officer or firefighter who is a member of the 1977 Fund and one TRF member; (5) two members nominated by the president pro tempore of the senate: one PERF member and one TRF member; (6) one member nominated by the auditor of state: the auditor of state or an individual with experience in professional financial accounting or actuarial science; and (7) one member nominated by the treasurer of state: the treasurer of state or an individual with experience in economics, finance, or investments. Requires that initial appointments to the board give a preference for those individuals who, on June 30, 2011, are serving as trustees of PERF and TRF, and provides that a PERF or TRF trustee appointed to the board serves until the trustee's term would have expired under prior law. Provides for a four year term for trustees. Provides that a trustee is strongly encouraged to complete annually at least 12 hours of trustee education. Provides that five trustees constitute a quorum and requires a majority vote of the trustees present in order for the board to adopt a resolution or take other action at a regular or special meeting. Requires the system's chief investment officer and the officer's staff to file annual financial disclosure statements with the inspector general. Provides that the board's powers and duties are the combined powers and duties of the PERF and TRF boards. Provides that each retirement fund continues as a separate fund managed by the board. Provides for a director of the system who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the board. Provides that employees of PERF and TRF remain members of those funds. Provides that new hires of the system become PERF members, unless the director expressly determines otherwise. Allows the board to establish contribution rate groups for PERF, and removes the requirement that each employer have a separate account within the retirement allowance account. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/SE/SE0549.1.html. Title: S.B. 549 Source: http://www.in.gov NC Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 04/2011 P-12 Transfers governance of the State Health Plan from the legislature to the State Treasurer, who would manage the plan with the help of an appointed committee (Governor Perdue supports this provision of the bill); Requires state workers and teachers to pay a monthly premium for insurance coverage. Governor's Veto Message: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemID=1803 Bill Text: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/HTML/S265v6.html Title: S.B. 265 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us; http://www.governor.state.nc.us OK Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Each month the State Department of Education is required to transfer the monies apportioned to the Teachers' Retirement System Dedicated Revenue Revolving Fund to the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma to be used by the System, for the benefit of that system. The revolving fund is to be administered by the State Department of Education http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2011-12bills/HB/HB1007_ENR.RTF Title: H.B. 1007 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Establishes the right of an Arkansas Teacher Retirement System member to remain an active member when employed by an institution of higher education. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Bills/SB126.pdf Title: S.B. 126 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ ID Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Bureau of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind - Amends existing law to provide that the Idaho Bureau of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind is an employer for Public Employee Retirement System purposes. http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/H0105.pdf Title: H.B. 105 Source: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Identifies conditions under which a retiree's retirement allowance may not be cancelled if a retiree is reemployed by a participating employer within a year of the retiree's retirement date. Directs the state retirement office to cancel a retiree's retirement allowance for the remainder of the calendar year if the reemployment with a participating employer exceeds a specified dollar amount. Provides taht if a retiree is reemployed, the last day of reemployment is considered the retiree's retirement date for the purpose of calculating the separation requirement. http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillenr/sb0127.pdf Title: S.B. 127 Source: le.utah.gov 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