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
CAVetoed 10/2011P-12From bill summary: Requires interventions to be implemented for a school that is identified as persistently lowest-achieving but does not receive specified school improvement grant funding. Requires a governing board of a local educational agency to allow parents and legal guardians to provide testimony at the regularly scheduled public hearing. Prohibits more than one parent or legal guardian per pupil from signing a petition, and requires the petition, and, if the petition includes a specific charter school operator, a summary of the charter petition, to meet specified language requirements. Requires, if the petition includes a
specific charter school operator, that the charter petition include specified elements. Requires that, if paid signature gatherers are being used, the petition include a statement indicating that some signature gatherers may be paid. Requires all parties involved in the signature gathering process to adhere to specified school procedures. Requires the state department of education to provide specified information on its Web site, in easy to understand terms, regarding the petition process, the 5 intervention options that parents and legal guardians may request, a sample petition that meets specified requirements, and an up-to-date list of schools that have implemented an intervention pursuant to these provisions. Makes clarifying changes to, and provide definitions for, those intervention petition provisions. Requires the schoolsite council at each school that is eligible for a petition to be submitted pursuant to these provisions to provide, at its next scheduled meeting, or a meeting within 90 days, whichever is sooner, information regarding the petition
process, including the intervention options available and the process for submitting a petition. Bill text: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0201-0250/ab_203_bill_20110920_enrolled.pdf
Governor's veto message: http://gov.ca.gov/docs/AB_203_Veto_Message.pdf
Title: A.B. 203
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

ILSigned into law 08/2011P-12Provides that if certain specified schools remain on academic watch status for two years, subject to the availability of federal appropriation money, the state board must allow the local school board to operate the school on a state board-approved pilot full-year school plan upon expiration of its teachers' current collective bargaining agreement. Directs a school board to notify the state board of its intent to operate the school on a full-year school plan. Requires a minimum 215 days of student attendance, including not more than 4 institute days, during a 12-month period in a school on a full-year school plan. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/97/PDF/097-0370.pdf
Title: H.B. 1415
Source: www.ilga.gov

CTSigned into law 07/2011P-12Secondary School Reform Act - Delays by two years the implementation of the secondary school reform requirements enacted in 2010 that: (1) Increase the minimum number of credits required to graduate from high school; (2) Require school districts to offer students support and alternative ways to meet the new graduation requirements; and (3) Require the State Department of Education (SDE) to develop end-of-course exams in various subjects. Eliminates a requirement that the state provide grants to help districts implement the new graduation requirements and instead requires SDE to offer technical assistance to districts wishing to start implementing them. Revises and delays by one year the start of biennial status reports on the implementation of the new graduation requirements. Establishes a task force to address implementation issues arising from enhanced high school graduation requirements.

Teacher Evaluations/Tenure - Moves up the deadline for the State Board of Education (SBE), in consultation with the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC), to adopt guidelines for teacher evaluations to July 1, 2012 from July 1, 2013. Requires, for tenure purposes, that teachers whose employing boards enter cooperative arrangements to provide educational services retain their credited service with those boards if their employment is transferred to a committee administering the cooperative arrangement.

Student Success Plan - Requires districts to establish a student success plan for each student starting in grade 6.

School Governance Councils - Exempts boards of education with low-achieving schools that have only a single grade or that already have substantially similar school governance councils from the existing requirement to establish school councils according to the existing law. Reorganizes and clarifies the sequence and contents of required SDE reports on the implementation and effectiveness of school governance councils. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/Pa/pdf/2011PA-00135-R00HB-06498-PA.pdf
Title: H.B. 6498
Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov

HISigned into law 06/2011P-12Allows the superintendent of education to reconstitute a public school, except for charter schools. Directs the department to negotiate with the respective unions the process of reassigning employees of the school to be reconstituted to other positions within the department for which the employees are qualified. Allows the superintendent to recommend actions to the charter school review panel, including the revocation of a school's charter. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/SB1485_CD1_.HTM
Title: S.B. 1485
Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov

OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Establishes a pilot project for any school operated by the Columbus school district that has been ranked in the lowest 5% of all public schools statewide for three or more consecutive years. Requires the district board to implement any of five requested reforms if at least 50% of the parents of students in a school, or 50% of parents and of parents in feeder schools, sign a petition requesting that reform. Directs the board not to implement the requested reform under any of specified circumstances. Directs the state board, within 6 months after the first such petition has been resolved, to annually evaluate the pilot program and submit a report to the general assembly with its recommendations with respect to the continuation of the pilot program, its expansion to other districts, or the enactment of further legislation establishing the program statewide under permanent law. Pages 41-43 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf
Title: H.B. 153 - Parent Trigger Pilot for Columbus
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Provides that for any building that is ranked in the lowest 5% of all public school buildings statewide for three consecutive years and is declared to be under an academic watch or in a state of academic emergency, the district board must do one of the following: (1) Close the school and direct the district superintendent to reassign the students to another school; (2) Contract with another school district or a nonprofit or for-profit entity with a demonstrated record of effectiveness to operate the school; (3) Replace the principal and all teaching staff and, upon request from the new principal, exempt the school from all requested policies and regulations of the board regarding curriculum and instruction. The board must also distribute funding to the school in an amount that is at least equal to the product of the per pupil amount of state and local revenues received by the district multiplied by the student population of the school. (4) Reopen the school as a conversion community school. Provides that if any of the actions described above causes the district to no longer maintain all grades K-12, the district must contract with another district for enrollment of students. Provides that if the district board fails to or is unable to enter into or maintain such a contract, the state board of education shall take all necessary actions to dissolve the district. Pages 50-51 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf
Title: H.B. 153 - Sanctions for the Lowest-Performing Schools
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Directs the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district, the governing authority of each community school, and the governing body of each STEM school with a building ranked in the lowest 10% of all public school buildings according to its performance index score, to require each classroom teacher teaching in a core subject area to register for and take all written exams prescribed by the state board of education for licensure to teach that core subject area and the grade level to which the teacher is assigned. Provides that a teacher who passes such exam must not be required to take the exam again for three years, regardless of the performance index score ranking of the building in which the teacher teaches. Permits district boards, community schools and STEM schools to use the results of such exams in
developing and revising professional development plans and in deciding whether or not to continue employing a teacher. Provides, however, that no decision to terminate or not to renew a teacher's employment
contract may be made solely on the basis of the results of a teacher's exam until and unless the teacher has not attained a passing score on the same required exam for at least three
consecutive administrations of that exam. Pages 400-401 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part2.pdf
Title: H.B. 153 - Licensure Exam Retakes for Teachers in Lowest-Performing Schools
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

TXSigned into law 06/2011P-12Provides that if the commissioner is presented with a written petition signed by the parents of a majority of the students enrolled at a campus that has an "unacceptable" performance rating for three consecutive school years after the campus is reconstituted, and the petition specifies that the parents request either the repurposing of the campus, alternative management of the campus, or campus closure, the commissioner must order the specific action requested. However, if the board of trustees of the district present a written request that the commissioner order a specific action other than that requested in the parents' petition and a written explanation of the basis for the board's request, the commissioner may order the action requested by the board of trustees. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00738F.pdf#navpanes=0
Title: S.B. 738
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us

GASigned into law 05/2011P-12Extends until end of 2014-15 school year the provision that each local school system either notify the department of its intention to request increased flexibility through local school board flexibility contract or elect not to request increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability and consequences. Page 6 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116810.pdf
Title: H.B. 192
Source: www.legis.ga.gov

INSigned into law 05/2011P-12Provides that a school that remains in the lowest performance category for a fifth year becomes a turnaround academy. Requires the state board of education to set specific goals for a turnaround academy, and allows the turnaround academy to be operated by a special management team.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/HE/HE1001.1.html
Title: H.B. 1001--Turnaround Academies
Source: http://www.in.gov

OKSigned into law 05/2011P-12Instructs the state board to adopt a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate to establish a uniform definition of high school graduation rate. Requires the state board to adopt percentage growth targets for high school graduation rates with the eventual goal being 100 percent. Districts must use the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for establishing these growth targets.Districts and schools meeting growth targets at the end of the initial two years or in the alternate years will be recognized as notable schools and school districts. Districts not meeting growth targets must submit high school graduation improvement plans to local boards of education and contingent upon the availability of funding participate in training provided by the State Department of Education for reducing dropout rates and improving graduation rates.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/SB/SB2%20ENR.DOC
Title: S.B. 2
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us

ARSigned into law 04/2011P-12If the state board orders the takeover of a school district under authority and also orders the removal of the school district board of directors, the state board may assume all authority of the school district board of directors as may be necessary for the day-to-day governance of the school district. The state board may designate the authority granted under this subdivision to the Commissioner of Education. (Sec 1)
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Acts/Act989.pdf
Title: S.B. 383
Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us

AZSigned into law 04/2011P-12Amends section 15-241. Changes the method used to calculate a school's classification and replaces the current labels of "excelling", "highly performing", "performing", "underperforming" or "failing to meet academic standards" with a letter grade system of A, B, C, D, and F. Specifies that 50% of the classification must consist of academic performance measurement of academic gain (50% of which is to be based on student gains for all students in the school or district and 50% to reflect progress of the 25% of pupils with the lowest academic performance in the school or district).

Makes accountability provisions applicable to public schools also pertain to districts. Allows the state board of education to assign a D school a letter grade of F if the school is among the persistently lowest-achieving schools.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2234h.pdf
Title: H.B. 2234
Source: http://www.azleg.gov

GASigned into law 04/2011P-12Provides that members of local boards of education must serve terms of no less than four years. Provides for a phase-in period and for exceptions. Provides for the composition and election of county boards of education in counties in which there is a homestead option sales and use tax and a county sales and use tax for educational purposes. Authorizes the governor to remove members of a local board of education if the local school system has not reattained full accreditation status within a certain amount of time. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116716.pdf
Title: S.B. 79
Source: www.legis.ga.gov

MISigned into law 03/2011P-12Provides that if a school included on the list of lowest-achieving 5% of public schools was operated by a district in which an emergency manager was in place under the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction could not place that school under the supervision of the State School Reform/Redesign Officer.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/htm/2011-PA-0008.htm
Title: S.B. 157
Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov

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