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From the ECS State Policy Database 2011 State Policies / Activities

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Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies enacted in 2011. This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. To view all, press the button located at the top labeled "Expand All." Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary 21st Century Skills Accountability Accountability--Accreditation Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results Accountability--Rewards Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers Accountability--School Improvement Adult Basic Education Assessment Assessment--Accommodations Assessment--College Entrance Exams Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Compulsory Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Cyber Charters Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Innovation Schools Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Choice of Schools--Vouchers--Privately Funded Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Data-Driven Improvement Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Aid to Private Schools Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries Finance--Performance Funding Finance--Private Giving Finance--Resource Efficiency Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures Finance--Student Fees Finance--Taxes/Revenues Finance--Taxes/Revenues--Alternative Revenues Governance Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest Governance--Mandates Governance--School Boards MI Signed into law 11/2011 P-12 School Board Elections S.B. 427 Revises references to the Election Law to bring into compliance with changes made by H.B. 4005 (more details in bill floor summary http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2011-SFA-0427-F.pdf). Bill text: http://www.legislature... More... MI Signed into law 11/2011 P-12 School Board Elections H.B. 4005 Effective January 1, 2012, requires school board elections to be held at the general November election (i.e., in November of even-numbered years). http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/pdf/2011-PA-0233.pdf... More... IN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Selection of School Board Members H.B. 1074 Beginning in 2012, school board members selected by election must be elected at general elections and take office the following January 1. Provides that a school board plan may be amended to allow for both election and appointment of the members of the school ... More... LA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 School Board Member Leave Time H.B. 454 Grants certain types of leave by a city, parish, or other local public school board; provides relative to the requirement that the board grant certain sabbatical leave requests; and provides relative to the requirement that the board permit certain employees t... More... MN Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 School boards; Interactive Technology H.F. 26 Allows a school board to conduct meetings using interactive technology with an audio and visual link if the board complies with other requirements governing meetings of local units of government. (Article 2, Sec 1) http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS87/1/... More... RI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Collective Bargaining S.B. 1062 Notwithstanding other provisions, requires that the power and duty to enter into collective bargaining agreements be vested in the chief executive officer of the municipality and not in the school committee. Gives the elected school committees of each city, t... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Budget Review/Gift Ban for School Board Members H.B. 1255 - Sec. 6, 29 Removes the requirement that the commissioner of education review the budgets for school districts and Florida College System institutions. Removes the requirement that the state department of education approve school board budgets. Requires school districts t... More... LA Adopted 06/2011 P-12 Substitute Teaching by School Board Members H.C.R. 145 Urges and requests all members of city, parish, and other local public school boards to voluntarily substitute teach in a public elementary or secondary school located in their respective school systems. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp... More... ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Requires School Boards to Adopt Mission Statement H.P. 321 Requires a school board to adopt a mission statement for every school under its jurisdiction. Provides that in developing and adopting a mission statement, a school board must solicit input from teachers, administrators, parents, students and community members... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Permits Local Boards of Education to Jointly Establish Regional Schools S.B. 125 Authorizes local boards of education to jointly establish a regional school to serve enrolled students in two or more local school districts that will expand student opportunities for educational success through high quality instructional programming. Provides... More... NH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Authorization for Special Board Meetings to Discuss Changes in Funding H.B. 650 Authorizes a school district to call a special meeting to address changes in the amount of education funding to be received from the state. The authorization is repealed effective July 1, 2012. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/HB0650.html... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Governance S.B. 197 Removes the provisions creating the 10-member elected State Board of Education and provides for the election and appointment of members whose terms will commence on January 8, 2013. Bill provides for the appointment of the superintendent of public instruction ... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Temporary Absence, Board Members H.B. 1909 Specifies that temporary absence of a member of a county board of education to serve in the military does not constitute a vacancy in office and is not subject to provisions of the code requiring a temporary replacement. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bi... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Campaign Finance Reports for School Board Trustees and Candidates H.B. 336 From fiscal analysis: Requires school districts located either wholly or partly in a city with a population of 500,000 or more, and with a student enrollment of more than 15,000, to post on their Web sites the campaign finance reports for school board trustees... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Clarifies Requirements Under the Open Meetings Act S.B. 644 Establishes a Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government within the General Assembly to provide continuing legislative oversight regarding transparency and open government, and to recommend initiatives that increase citizen access to government resour... More... NH Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Instructional Policies H.B. 216 Requires school boards to establish the structure, accountability, advocacy, and delivery of instruction in each school operated and governed in its district. Requires school boards to establish instructional policies and goals based upon available information... More... NJ Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Board of Education Criminal Activity A 444 Disqualifies member of board of education or member of charter school board of trustees for conviction of certain crimes and requires member to undergo criminal history background investigation. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/PL11/72_.PDF ... More... AR Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Implementing Common Core State Standards S.B. 383 To transition to and implement the Common Core State Standards, the State Board of Education may: (1) Modify curriculum and assessment requirements; (2) Adopt new curriculum and assessment requirements; and (3) Direct the Department of Education to: (A) Propos... More... GA Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 School Board Member Terms S.B. 79 Provides 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... More... IN Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Lawsuits by School Corporations S.B. 495 Prohibits the governing body of a school corporation from using funds received from the state to bring or join in an action against the state unless the school corporation is challenging an adverse decision by a state agency, board, or commission. http://www.i... More... MT Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 School District Trustee Elections H.B. 327 Modifies processes for school district trustee elections -- such as withdrawal of candidates, swearing in, board organization, etc. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billpdf/HB0327.pdf... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Campaign Contributions to School Board Candidates H.B. 228 Increases the limit on campaign contributions to school board candidates from $100 for individuals and $200 for organizations to $1,000. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/11RS/HB228/bill.doc... More... MI Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act H.B. 4214 Repeals the "Local Government Fiscal Responsibility Act", and creates the "Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act", which similarly would provide for the review, management, and control of the financial and other operations of a local g... More... MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Funds to Nonprofit Foundations H.B. 1227 Authorizes local school boards to disburse funds to a nonprofit foundation that exists to enhance the public educational experience and quailty of instruction for studnets in that district. Defines conditions that must be met prior to disbursement of furnds. h... More... MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Purchase of Easements H.B. 1126 Authorizes local school boards to purchase easements for access to 16th section lands. Prohibits the use of eminent domain by any local school board or governing authority to acquire easement access to 16th section lands or lieu lands. http://billstatus.ls.sta... More... MT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 School Board Governance H.B. 204 WHEREAS, if the boundaries of an elementary school district and a high school district do not coincide, then high school additional trustees may be elected from areas outside of the elementary school district boundaries to serve on the high school board of tru... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Secure Mandatory Testing: Exclusion of Students H.B. 2077 Adds the act of excluding students from testing who are required to be assessed to the conditions under which the Board of Education may (i) bring a cause of action, (ii) suspend or revoke an administrative or teaching license, or (iii) initiate or cause to be... More... Governance--School Boards--Training Governance--Site-Based Management Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies Health Health--Child Abuse Health--Mental Health Health--Nutrition Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses Health--Suicide Prevention High School High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges High School--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Certification and Licensure Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Induction Programs and Mentoring Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation--Alternative Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--African American Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses P-16 or P-20 P-3 P-3 Child Care P-3 Content Standards and Assessment P-3 Ensuring Quality P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 P-3 Health and Mental Health P-3 Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Special Ed./Inclusion P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development Parent/Family Postsecondary Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid Postsecondary Affordability--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants Postsecondary Faculty Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Finance--Facilities Postsecondary Finance--Revenue and Expenditures Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Governance and Structures--Administrative/Leadership Issues Postsecondary Governance and Structures--State Executives/State Agencies Postsecondary Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary Postsecondary Institutions--Four-Year Baccalaureate Postsecondary Institutions--HBCUs/Minority-Serving Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Enrollments (Statistics) Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--International Postsecondary Students--Low-Income Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Reading/Literacy--Adult Literacy Religion Remediation (K-12) Rural Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Week Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round School Climate/Culture School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Code of Conduct School Safety--Corporal Punishment School Safety--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault School Safety--Special Education School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes School/District Structure/Operations School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation School/District Structure/Operations--District Size School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching) School/District Structure/Operations--School Size School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Staffing Ratios School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Special Education Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations Special Education--Finance Special Education--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Immigrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards Standards--Common Core State Standards State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Surveys Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities 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