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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 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 CA Signed into law 10/2011 Community College Postsec. Common Assessment System for Community Colleges A.B. 743 From bill summary: Requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to establish a common assessment system with specified objectives, including selection of an existing commercially available and centrally delivered system of student asses... More... CO Final Regulations 06/2011 P-12 Standards for Individual Career and Academic Plans 1 CO ADC 301-81:1.00; 1 CO ADC 301-81:2.00, 01, 02, 03 Establishes Standards for Individual Career and Academic Plans ('ICAP') for students enrolled in public schools.Each ICAP shall include a career planning, guidance and tracking component and a portfolio that inlcudes, among other items: (a)  Documentation of ... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Statewide Assessment Provisions H.B. 1255 - Sec. 16, 18, 25, 26 Allows a principal to waive the civics end-of-course (EOC) assessment requirement for a transfer student who already completed a civics course (Sec. 25). Establishes an exemption from the intensive reading course requirement for certain students (Sec. 16, 18).... More... LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 College and Career Readiness Commission H.B. 79 Changes the name of the High School Redesign Commission to the College and Career Readiness Commission and changes its membership. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=760066... More... SC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Extends the Implementation Date of Personal Pathways to Success H.B. 3748 Extends the date by which the Education and Economic Development Act, now called Personal Pathways to Success, must be implemented fully (the primary goals of Personal Pathways to Success are to increase high school completion rates, better prepare students fo... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Generation Texas Week H.B. 2909 - Generation Texas Week Renames "Education: Go Get It Week" as "Generation Texas Week." Adds that the information provided to students during this week must include the college readiness standards and expectations as determined under Section 28.008. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo... More... TX Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 College Readiness H.B. 3468 - College Readiness Directs the Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to conduct a study of best practices for and existing programs offering early assessments of high school students to determine college readiness, identify a... More... AK Adopted 05/2011 P-12 Work Keys Assessment 4 AAC 06.717 The Department of Education & Early Development proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 4 of the Alaska Administrative Code, 4 AAC 06.717 (b) - (f), Work Ready/College Ready Transitional Skills Assessment, which may include issues such as the following: ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Task Force on Student Academic Success S.B. 111 Creates the Task Force on Student Academic Success. The overall charge of the task force is to identify the junctures at which grade-level performance are critical to student progress and to ensuring they are college and career ready upon graduation. More spec... More... GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. College and Career Readiness H.B. 186 - College and Career Readiness Directs the state board, working with the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the board of technical and adult education, to develop college and career readiness competency standards in reading, writing and math. Provides these standards m... More... GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Career, Technical and Agricultural Courses H.B. 186 - Career, Technical and Agricultural Courses By July 2012, directs the state board to approve department-developed models and curriculum frameworks for 16 areas of career/technical education study. Requires that the competencies and curricula for career, technical and agricultural courses include state ... More... GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 College and Career Academies S.B. 161 Amends provisions related to career academies. Defines "college and career academy" as a specialized charter school established by a partnership that demonstrates a collaboration to advance workforce development between one or more local boards of education, a... More... ND Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Summative Assessment -- High School S.B. 2150 - Multiple Provisions Eleventh graders in both public and nonpublic schools were required in the past to take the ACT, but this bill adds a requirement that students take the writing portion of the ACT or the WorkKeys assessments. Provides that the cost is to be borne by the state.... More... NV Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. College Readiness A.B. 138--Readiness Authorizes the Department of Education to work in consultation with the Nevada System of Higher Education to establish clearly defined goals and benchmarks for pupils enrolled in public high schools to ensure that those pupils are adequately prepared for the e... More... AR Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Number of Districts Providing Remediation or College Prep S.B. 352 Includes information in the department of education's school performance report about the number of districts providing remediation and college preparation for high school students who take the ACT before their senior year. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assemb... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Postsecondary Prep Programs H.B. 1617 Requires each public school administering the college readiness assessment to provide the basis for the counseling concerning postsecondary preparatory programs. Requires development of postsecondary prep programs, reporting on effectiveness of postsecondary p... More... AR Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College College and Career Readiness standards H.B. 1620 Establishes the Arkansas College and Career Readiness standards. Develops criteria to evaluate, support, promote and fund career and technical education programs. Directs the Department of Career Education to work in collaboration with the Department of Educat... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 School Grading System S.B. 59 Requires the state board of education to establish a school grading system in which a school receives a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on the performance of the school's students on statewide assessments, and, for a high school, the graduation rate and measur... More... WY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Accountability Indicators S.F. 70--Indicators Wyoming Accountability in Education Act--Established through legislation and implemented by Department of Education. PHASE 1 --Establishes "core indicators of student performance" at the school level: Reading measured by proficiency assessment of Wyoming st... More... 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