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
+ 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
TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12Permits a student to enroll in a course provided through the state virtual school network if the student is either under 21 or under 26 and entitled to the benefits of the Foundation School Program under Section 42.003. Directs each district or open-enrollment charter school to adopt a policy providing students with the opportunity to enroll in courses provided through the state virtual school network; requires such policy to be consistent with statutory requirements. Requires a determination of whether an electronic course will meet the needs of a student with a disability to be made by the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee in accordance with state and federal law. Requires the administering authority of the state virtual school network to provide students who have completed or withdrawn from a course (and students' parents) a mechanism to provide comments regarding the course. Requires the administering authority to provide public access to student and parent comments, and for comments to be able to be sorted by teacher, electronic course, and provider district or school. Provides that if the essential knowledge and skills with which a state virtual school network course is aligned are modified, the provider district or school must have the same time period to align the course as is provided for the modification of a course provided in a traditional classroom setting. Existing law requires the administering authority to establish a schedule for an annual submission and approval process for electronic courses, and evaluate electronic courses to be offered through the state virtual school network. New provision (1) requires the administering authority to publish such schedule, including any deadlines, and any guidelines applicable to the submission and approval process, and (2) requires the evaluation to include review of each electronic course component, including off-line material proposed to be used in the course. Directs the state education agency to establish and publish a fee schedule for the cost of evaluating and approving electronic courses submitted by a district, open-enrollment charter school, or public or private institution of higher education, if the agency determines a shortage of funds for that purpose.

Provides a district or open-enrollment charter school is entitled to funding for a student's enrollment in a course offered through the state virtual school network in the same manner the district or charter school is entitled to funding for the student's enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting, provided the student successfully completes the electronic course. Directs the commissioner to adopt a standard agreement to govern payments relating to a student's enrollment in an electronic course offered through the state virtual school network. Provides exceptions to when a district or open-enrollment charter school must use the standard agreement. Repeals Section 42.159, Education Code. Pages 178-184 of 263: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/821/billtext/pdf/SB00001F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: S.B. 1
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

MESigned into law 06/2011P-12Requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a program of technical assistance, including professional development and training for instruction in digital literacy and the establishment of a clearinghouse for information on the use of online learning resources that may be made available to all school administrative units. Establishes the Digital Literacy Fund and provides that balances in the fund may be used to pay for the development of a program of technical assistance that designs instructional materials promoting digital literacy, teacher professional development and training on the use of online learning resources; new administrative costs and other expenses; and for the implementation of a new clearinghouse for information on the use of online learning resources, including best practices in the use of open educational resources and open-source textbooks for elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC354.asp
Title: S.P. 161
Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org

NCVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011P-12Effective June 30, 2011, ends specified funding for (1) the School Connectivity Initiative and (2) the Friday Institute at North Carolina State University to evaluate the effectiveness of using technology and its impact on 21st-century teaching and learning outcomes. Page 46 of 342: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H200v9.pdf
Title: H.B. 200 - Technology-Related Funding
Source: www.ncleg.net

NCVeto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 06/2011P-12Requires the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program to report to the state board and maintain an administrative office at the department of public instruction. Requires that the director of NCVPS ensure that students in rural and low-wealth county local school administrative units have access to e-learning courses. Requires that e-learning instructional opportunities include courses required in the standard course of study for high school graduation and AP offerings not otherwise available. Repeals section 7.4 of S.L. 2010-31, regarding the NCVPS allotment formula (page 21 of 189 http://www.ncleg.net/fiscalresearch/budget_legislation/budget_legislation_pdfs/2010%20Appropriations%20Act.pdf). Directs the state board to take specified steps to implement an allotment formula for NCVPS beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. Directs NCVPS to provide the NCVPS program at no cost to all students enrolled in North Carolina public schools, Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Directs the state board, in establishing the fee structure and payment structure for NCVPS, to consider recommendations from the eLearning Commission and the NCVPS Advisory Board. Directs the state board to establish a separate per student tuition for out-of-state, home-schooled, and private school students. Requires the board to direct NCVPS to develop a plan by September 15, 2011 to generate revenue from the sale of courses to out-of-state educational entities; requires that such revenue be used to offset instructional costs to local school administrative units and charter schools. Beginning in 2011, requires that the director of NCVPS submit a report on NCVPS to the state board by December 1 of each year. Requires that the report use data from the previous fiscal year and include statistics on actual versus projected costs to local school administrative units and charter schools, student enrollment, virtual teacher salaries, and measures of academic achievement. Requires that the NCVPS director continue specified efforts related to quality of course offerings, elimination of course duplication, and alignment of courses to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Directs the state board to reduce each district or charter school's classroom teacher allotment on the basis of ADM in grades 6-12 to provide $2,866,923 for NCVPS in the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Requires that the allotment reduction continue in future fiscal years and be adjusted annually based upon the percentage growth in NCVPS enrollment. Also requires that in fiscal year 2011-2012, the allotment to districts and charter schools be reduced to provide $2 million to create an NCVPS enrollment reserve, to be used to cover the NCVPS instructional costs of local school administrative units or charter schools with enrollments exceeding projected NCVPS enrollment. Beginning in fiscal year 2012-2013, requires the state board to annually reduce each local school administrative unit's or charter school's classroom teacher allotment, or other allotment, as determined by the state board, on the basis of ADM in grades 6-12 an amount that is the difference between $2,000,000 and the balance of the NCVPS enrollment reserve.
Pages 54-56 of 342: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H200v9.pdf
Title: H.B. 200 - North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)
Source: www.ncleg.net

IDSigned into law 04/2011P-12The Students Come First legislation relates to public school modernization and reform. The legislature has a duty to ensure that state's schools are on firm financial ground. To ensure the state can educate more students at a higher level with limited resources, the state must reform and modernize the educational system. Students Come First legislation reprioritizes statutory requirements to strategically invest in Idaho's educators and technology and increases transparency for the state's public school system.
http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1184.pdf
Title: S.B. 1184
Source: http://legislature.idaho.gov

IDSigned into law 04/2011P-12Requires the State Board of Education to create digital citizenship standards, and to consider adding online courses as a graduation requirement for the class of 2016.

Creates a task force to study and develop plans for implementation of online courses, one-to-one mobile computing devices and other advanced technology in the classroom. The task force will include superintendents, principals, classroom teachers, educational technology experts, representatives of the business community, leaders of educational stakeholder groups and legislators.
http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1184.pdf
Title: S.B. 1184 -Online Learning
Source: http://legislature.idaho.gov

IDSigned into law 04/2011P-12Provides high school teachers with mobile computing devices first in the rollout beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. Provides one-third of high school students access to mobile computing devices beginning with the 2013-2014 school year until all students have access to such devices by 2015-2016. The state will pay for the repair, maintenance, security and support of the devices from the overall budget determined by the legislature. Districts will determine how students utilize the devices. Districts that already have one-to-one computing device ratios will be allocated discretionary funding instead of devices. Requires the State Board of Education to create digital citizenship standards, and to consider adding online courses as a graduation requirement for the class of 2016.
http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1184.pdf
Title: S.B. 1184 - Technology
Source: http://legislature.idaho.gov

WASigned into law 04/2011Community CollegeEnhances the community and technical college system by making the maximum use of certain technologies. Creates the
community and technical college innovation account to pay and secure the payment of the principal of and interest on financing
contracts and to implement the state board for community and technical colleges' strategic technology plan for improving student achievement and efficiency in the community and technical college system. Directors community and technical colleges to transfer 3 percent of operating fees to the Community and Technical College Innovation Account. Authorizes expenditures from the account for projects that implement the community and technical college system's strategic technology plan or to pay off debt for financing contracts authorized by the legislature. Effective 7/22/11
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1909-S2.PL.pdf
Title: H.B. 1909
Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov

+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban--Change/Improvements