ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2012 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 2012. 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 Drive
+ Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers
+ Accountability--School Improvement
+ Adult Basic Education
- Assessment
MTAdopted 10/2012P-12Chapter 55 Accreditation Standards provide a framework to ensure the constitutional right of every Montana student to a basic system of free quality public
schools that develops the full educational potential of every student and that 1. recognizes the uniqueness and diversity of Montana students;
2. implements the elements of educational quality that best prepare students for their role as global citizens of the 21st Century;
3. acknowledges the role of cultural heritages in the community, state, nation, and world;
4. recognizes the importance of school, family and community engagement;
5. requires the appropriate use of a variety of assessments to guide curriculum development, to shape instruction, and to inform decision making;
6. guides the schools to be accountable to students, families, and the community;
7. encourages innovation in implementing Chapter 55 Accreditation Standards while maintaining the intent of those standards;
8. acknowledges the role of local control; and
9. balances the needs of present and future Montana students with the realities of limited resources."
Establishes a pre-appointed review board to review applications for variances to accreditation standards.
http://sos.mt.gov/arm/register/archives/MAR2012/MAR12-19.pdf
Title: ARM 10.56.101
Source: http://sos.mt.gov/arm/register/

LAAdopted 09/2012P-12Provides that where retests on an assessment required for accountability are available, LEAs may request that School Performance Score (SPS) calculations include retest results through a waiver request to the state board for accountability purposes. In such waiver request, requires the LEA to demonstrate that it financed retests for all affected students and that it took corrective action as necessary to prevent a recurrence of the irregularity, including specific measures regarding any employee found to have willfully caused the irregularity. Page 61 of 153: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1209/1209.pdf
Title: LAC 28:CXI.312
Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov

COSigned into law 06/2012P-12Indicates that Colorado will participate as a governing board member, at least until January 2014, in the consortium of states that are developing and will implement assessments that support the Common Core State Standards. The state board is encouraged to conduct a fiscal and student achievement benefit analysis of Colorado remaining as a governing board member.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2012a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/A386D89EDA600136872579820026D8D7?Open&file=1240_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1240 (section 58)
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us

DESigned into law 06/2012P-12Provides that the Department of Education establish a statewide readiness tool that will review a child's readiness for learning when they enter kindergarten. The tool will be phased in starting in Fall 2012 with statewide implementation no later than Fall 2015.
http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+317/$file/legis.html?open
Title: H.B. 317
Source: http://www.legis.delaware.gov/

OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12By December 31, 2013, directs the state board to submit recommended scoring ranges on the state English language arts assessments (including on 3rd grade ELA assessment to be promoted to 4th grade) and Ohio graduation tests necessary to successfully implement the Common Core curriculum and assessments in the 2014-2015 school year. Pages 391-392 of 401: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_N.pdf
Title: S.B. 316 - Common Core and State Assessment Scoring Ranges
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Directs the department or a contractor responsible for scoring of assessments to send each district board a list of the individual scores of all persons taking any of specified state assessments within 75 days of assessment administration; requires that scores be provided no later than June 15, 2013. Pages 396-397 of 401: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_N.pdf
Title: S.B. 316 - Scores on State Assessments, Including OGT
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

PASigned into law 06/2012P-12Defines "Keystone Exam" as "An assessment developed or caused to be developed by the Department of Education pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 4.51(f) (relating to State assessment system)." Requires that, subject to annual appropriation and by the 2020-2021 school year, the department must develop Keystone Exams in algebra I& II, literature, biology, English composition, geometry, United States and world history, chemistry, and civics and government.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=DOC&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1901&pn=3885
Title: H.B. 1901- Sections 102, 121
Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us

COSigned into law 05/2012P-12
Postsec.
Allows districts and charter schools to administer to 9th-12th-grade students the basic skills placement or assessment tests that are used for first-time college freshmen. Districts can administer the test as often as necessary, but the state education department will offset the costs for administrating each exam only once per student. Districts that administer the tests will inlcude the results and college/workforce readiness level in students' individual career and academic plan (ICAP). Intervention plans will be developed for students with scores that indicate a lack of readiness to help prepare them for postsecondary education without the need for remediation. If appropriate, students can enroll in one or more basic skills courses at a higher education institution through the state's concurrent/dual enrollment program.
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2012a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/CD3C8673214EEF8C872579CD00625FE2?Open&file=1345_enr.pdf
Title: H.B. 1345 (sections 13 to 15)
Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us

IASigned into law 05/2012P-12Directs the state board to specify the approved district-wide assessments measuring student progress on core academic indicators in any rule adopted by the state board associated with the core academic indicators. The district assessment specified by state board rules in connection with the core academic indicators will be the assessments used by districts in the school year beginning July 1, 2011.
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/SF2284.pdf
Title: S.F. 2284 - Division II
Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us

LASigned into law 05/2012P-12Relates to the Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program and the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program. Provides greater clarity to the definition of state content standards. Indicates that criterion-referenced tests will be replaced by standards-based assessments and that the exams will be used for language arts and math, and adds that the exams will be for science and social studies, and extends the grades they will be administered from 4-8 (pilot program) to 3-11. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, standards-based assessments implemented by the state board in English/language arts and math will be based on the Common Core Standards. The department will establish the level of achievement on certain tests in 4-8th grades that indicate proficiency. Students must demonstrate proficiency to advance to grades 5 and 9.
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=802824
Title: H.B. 707
Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us

MDSigned into law 05/2012P-12Requires the county board to include in its master plan to improve student achievement a description of how it plans to ensure and measure academic proficiency in specified core academic subjects for students. Adds social studies and science to list of core academic subjects. Requires that the state board and state superintendent implement assessment programs in core academic subjects that provide information needed to improve public schools; inform the public annually of the educational progress made at each school; and provide timely feedback to schools and teachers. Requires that by the beginning of 2014-2015 a grade-band assessment is administered annually to middle school students and an end-of-course assessment of administered annually to high school students each aligned to the Common Core curricula or the state adopted curricula in the core content areas. Removes the requirement that a grade-band assessment be administered at the elementary level. Requires that the State Board make a determination after the 2014-2015 school year whether the assessments accurately measure the curricula and in the event that it does not, the Department is required to develop a state-level assessment to be administered in the 2016-2017 school year. http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/bills/hb/hb1227t.pdf
Title: H.B. 1227
Source: mlis.state.md.us

ORSigned into law 03/2012P-12Establishes and sets membership for the Task Force on Accountable Schools to develop a plan to improve accountability practices for schools and make recommendations.(sec. 22)
http://www.leg.state.or.us/12reg/measpdf/hb4000.dir/hb4014.en.pdf
Title: H.B. 4014
Source: leg.state.or.us

NMAdopted 02/2012P-12Requests an analysis of the cost, both in instructional time and money, of all assessments of New Mexico students, including proposed assessments related to common core state standards.
http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/12%20Regular/memorials/senate/SM073.pdf
Title: S.M. 73
Source: http://www.nmlegis.gov

+ Assessment--Accommodations
+ Assessment--College Entrance Exams
+ Assessment--Computer Based
+ Assessment--End-of-Course
+ Assessment--High Stakes/Competency
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)
+ At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education
+ Attendance
+ Attendance--Compulsory
+ Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower)
+ Attendance--Truancy
+ Background Checks
+ Bilingual/ESL
+ Career/Technical Education
+ Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship
+ Cheating
+ Choice of Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Charter Schools
+ 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--Magnet or Specialized Schools
+ Choice of Schools--Tax Credits
+ Choice of Schools--Vouchers
+ Civic Education
+ Civic Education--Character Education
+ Civic Education--Curriculum/Standards
+ Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance
+ Class Size
+ Curriculum
+ Curriculum--Arts Education
+ Curriculum--Drivers Education
+ Curriculum--Excusal
+ Curriculum--Family Living Education
+ Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed.
+ Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language
+ Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education
+ Curriculum--Language Arts
+ Curriculum--Mathematics
+ Curriculum--Multicultural
+ Curriculum--Physical Education
+ Curriculum--Science
+ Curriculum--Sex Education
+ Curriculum--Social Studies/History
+ Data-Driven Improvement
+ Economic/Workforce Development
+ Equity
+ Finance
+ Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost
+ Finance--Bonds
+ Finance--District
+ Finance--Facilities
+ Finance--Federal
+ Finance--Funding Formulas
+ Finance--Local Foundations/Funds
+ Finance--Lotteries
+ 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--Regional Entities
+ Governance--School Boards
+ Governance--School Boards--Training
+ Governance--Site-Based Management
+ Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies
+ Health
+ Health--Child Abuse
+ Health--Nutrition
+ Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses
+ Health--Suicide Prevention
+ High School
+ High School--Advanced Placement
+ High School--College Readiness
+ High School--Credit Recovery
+ 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
+ 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--Preparation
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development
+ Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure
+ Middle School
+ Minority/Diversity Issues
+ Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
+ No Child Left Behind
+ No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer
+ No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools
+ No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers
+ 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 Data Systems
+ P-3 Early Intervention (0-3)
+ P-3 Ensuring Quality
+ P-3 Family Involvement
+ 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 Teaching Quality/Professional Development
+ Parent/Family
+ Parent/Family--Parent Rights
+ Partnerships--University/School
+ Postsecondary
+ Postsecondary Accountability
+ Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation
+ Postsecondary Accountability--Licensing/Program Review and Approval
+ 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--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--Private/Independent
+ Postsecondary Online Instruction
+ Postsecondary Participation
+ Postsecondary Participation--Access
+ Postsecondary Participation--Enrollments (Statistics)
+ Postsecondary Participation--Outreach
+ Postsecondary Students
+ Postsecondary Students--Adults
+ Postsecondary Students--Disabled
+ Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth
+ Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional
+ Postsecondary Students--Military
+ 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--Education Management Agencies (EMOs)
+ Proficiency-Based Approaches
+ Promotion/Retention
+ Purposes of Public Education
+ Reading/Literacy
+ Religion
+ Religion--Prayer/Meditation
+ Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution)
+ Rural
+ Scheduling/School Calendar
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School
+ Scheduling/School Calendar--Year
+ School Safety
+ School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution
+ 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--Facilities
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Org. (K-3/K-8 etc.)
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching)
+ School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services
+ 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--Migrant Education
+ Special Populations--Military
+ Standards
+ Standards--Common Core State Standards
+ State Longitudinal Data Systems
+ State Policymaking
+ State Policymaking--Ballot Questions
+ State Policymaking--Constitutional Clauses
+ State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions
+ STEM
+ Student Achievement
+ Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap
+ Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance
+ Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring
+ Student Supports--Remediation
+ Student Surveys
+ Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities
+ Students--K-12 Exchange Students
+ 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 Contracts (Not Tenure)
+ Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights
+ Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract
+ Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining
+ Technology
+ Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware
+ Technology--Equitable Access
+ Technology--Funding Issues
+ Technology--Internet Safety
+ Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training
+ Textbooks and Open Source
+ Urban