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From the ECS State Policy Database 2012 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 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 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 Counseling/Guidance 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--Equity 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--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 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--Preparation Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Mentoring/Tutoring 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 AK Signed into law 12/2012 Postsec. Alaska Performance Scholarships H.B. 104 Renames the Alaska merit scholarship to the Alaska performance scholarship and makes changes relating to the scholarship and tax credits. Establishes accounts and a fund for those purposes. Increases student eligibility rates over time from 28% to 44% of high ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2012 Postsec. Private Student Loans S.B. 1289 From bill summary: Requires a public, private, or independent postsecondary educational institution, except the California Community Colleges, to make specified disclosures related to private student loans in financial aid material and private loan application... More... CA Signed into law 09/2012 Postsec. Regaining Institutional Eligibility for Cal Grant Awards S.B. 1028 - Regaining Institutional Eligibility for Cal Grant Awards From bill summary: Requires that an otherwise qualifying institution that becomes ineligible for initial and renewal Cal Grant awards due either to (1) a 3-year cohort default rate at or above 15.5% or (2) a graduation rate of 30% or less for students taking 1... More... AK Adopted 07/2012 Postsec. Postsecondar Financial Aid/Postsecondary Credits 20 AAC 16.034; 20 AAC 17.060 20 AAC 16.034 - Provides that the commission will annually set aside a portion of the available grant money, from an AlaskAdvantage education grant funded through the state's participation in the Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP), as priority ... More... IL Signed into law 07/2012 Postsec. Foster Youth Scholarships S.B. 2818 Amends provisions regarding scholarships for foster youth. Former language limited scholarship eligibility to children under care, or children formerly under care who have been adopted or in the subsidized guardianship program. New language replaces references... More... CA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Athletic Scholarships A.B. 1743 From bill analysis: Clarifies that existing law regarding the provision of information about athletic scholarships to student athletes applies only to postsecondary educational institutions with a physical campus and athletic facilities in California. Bill tex... More... CA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Cal Grant Awards S.B. 1016 - Cal Grant Awards From sections 45, 47, 48 of bill summary: Commencing with the 2013–14 award year, sets maximum tuition award amounts for Cal Grant A and B awards for new recipients attending private for-profit and nonprofit postsecondary educational institutions. Requires the... More... CA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Cal Grant Institutional Eligibility + Cohort Default Rates and On-Time Completion Rates S.B. 1016 - Cal Grant Institutional Eligibility + Cohort Default Rates and On-Time Completion Rates From section 46 of bill summary: Existing provisions provide that, effective with the 2012-13 academic year, for students at the institution to be eligible for initial and renewal Cal Grant awards, the institution's 3-year cohort default rate must be below 30%... More... CO Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Improvements In College Completion H.B. 1155 Allows the Colorado commission on higher education to take into account the rigor of a student's high school courses in establishing academic admission standards for state institutions of higher education. Directs the commission to ensure the remedial educatio... More... IL Adopted 06/2012 Postsec. Monetary Award Program (MAP) 23 IL ADC 2735.30, 40 Restricts MAP payment for graduate-level coursework based on school practices found during program reviews. Introduces changes to limit the number of times MAP benefits can be used for repeat courses based, in part, on changes to federal regulations (34 CFR 66... More... KS Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Career Technical Workforce Grant H.B. 2435 Replaces the existing Vocational Education Scholarship with the new Career Technical Workforce Grant program. The grant would be available to eligible students who enrolled in or have been accepted for admission to an eligible career technical education progr... More... LA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Scholarships for Children of State Investigators Killed or Disabled in the Performance of Duty S.B. 526 Extends eligibility for scholarships for children of certain public employees to children of state investigators killed or permanently disabled in the performance of duty. http://legis.la.gov/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=811633... More... NY Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Tuition Waivers for Police Officer Students of the City University of New York A.B. 9167 Extends provisions regarding tuition waivers for police officer students of the city university of New York to July 1, 2014 (previously set to expire July 2012). http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A09167&term=&Summary=Y&Text=Y... More... IL Adopted 05/2012 Postsec. Task Force - New Rules for Monetary Award Program S.J.R. 69 Directs the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to convene a task force to deliberate options for the adoption of new rules for the Monetary Award Program, with the goal of improving the outcomes for students who receive these awards. Direct the task force ... More... LA Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Scholarship H.B. 926 Provides for guidelines and procedures permitting the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission to receive and consider ACT and SAT test scores submitted by an applicant for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award after statutorily established ... More... LA Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. State Scholarship Program Eligibility for Students in Armed Forces H.B. 945 Revises eligibility provisions for students who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. Provides for initial award eligibility and continuing eligibility for certain students who reenlist in the United States Ar... More... MN Signed into law 05/2012 Postsec. Omnibus - Higher Education S.F. 1573 Requires a public postsecondary institution to grant a waiver from the institution's required student health plan, if requested by a student. Adds categories of students to the types of students who are not required, under current law, to have a statement of... More... TX Adopted 05/2012 Postsec. Provisions for Scholarships for Students Graduating in the Top 10 Percent of Their High School Class 19 TAC 22.197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202 Amends provisions for Scholarships for Students Graduating in the Top 10 Percent of Their High School Class. From Texas Register: --§22.197: Provides a better definition for the term "financial need" as used in this sub-chapter. --§22.198: Lists requirements t... More... FL Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Eligibility H.B. 5201 - Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Eligibility From final bill analysis: Shortens the length of time from 3 years to 2 years that a student is eligible to accept the initial Bright Futures Scholarship after high school graduation. Clarifies that students enrolled in the Spring/Summer University of Florida ... More... FL Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Postsec. Florida Education Fund H.B. 5201 - Florida Education Fund From final bill analysis: Requires annual financial reporting by the Florida Education Fund (FEF). Deletes obsolete language regarding the Minority Participation in Legal Education fund which is no longer funded. Amends match requirements for specified matchin... More... FL Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Postsec. Bright Futures Scholarship Program H.B. 7059 - Bright Futures Scholarship Program Requires a student who graduates mid-year to apply by August 31 of the student's graduation year to be eligible for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award for the current academic year. Requires that a student who receives an initial award during t... More... HI Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Campaign Fund Scholarships S.B. 2648 Authorizes campaign funds to be used to award scholarships to full-time students attending an institution of higher education or vocational education school in a program leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential. Provides tha... More... KY Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Asset Resolution Corporation H.B. 362 Establishes the Asset Resolution Corporation to promote higher educational opportunities by providing debt resolution services for student loan obligations held by the U.S. Department of Education or other third-party entities, and any other related activity. ... More... MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Postsec. Early Graduation Scholarship Provisions H.F. 2949 Defines "eligible student" for purposes the early graduation scholarship program. Clarifies the definition of "quarter" for purposes of computing early graduation scholarship amounts. Requires the early graduation scholarship application to be received at the ... More... MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Early Graduation Military Service Award Program H.F. 2949 Clarifies eligibility for the early graduation military service award program. Establishes a deadline for submission of application and request for payment for early graduation military service award. Clarifies that once the original amount of the award has be... More... TN Signed into law 04/2012 Postsec. Lottery Scholarships - Eligibility H.B. 2861 Directs the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to study whether changes should be made to HOPE scholarship eligibility requirements for GED recipients, in light of changes that American Council on Education has made to the examination. http://www.capitol.tn... More... AK Adopted 03/2012 P-12 Postsec. Alaska Performance Scholarship 4 AAC 43.030 Revises the math and science curriculum and the social studies and language curriculum requirements for all levels of Alaska Performance Scholarships after 2015. Course options are specified for each area of study. Requires that each course is a college or ind... More... ID Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Scholarships for Spouse and Child of Military Member H.B. 386 SCHOLARSHIPS - Amends existing law relating to scholarships to revise provisions relating to eligibility of a scholarship of a spouse or child, to establish provisions relating to eligibility for a scholarship for a child of a military member, to establish pro... More... OR Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Postsecondary 'Prior Learning' Credit H.B. 4059 Calls on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall work with the State Board of Higher Education, community college districts and independent for-profit and not-for-profit institutions of higher education carry out the goal of increasing the number of... More... UT Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Postsec. Repeal of Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program H.B. 285 Repeals the Utah Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program within the state system of higher education. http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/hbillenr/hb0285.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 03/2012 Postsec. Requiring the Office of Student Financial Assistance to Provide a Counseling Curriculum S.B. 6121 Requires the office of student financial assistance to provide a financial aid counseling curriculum for institutions of higher education. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6121-S.PL.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Educational Success for Youth and Alumni of Foster Care Act. H.B. 2254 Establishes the educational success for youth and alumni of foster care act. Includes in the purpose of the passport to college promise program to improve high school graduation outcomes for foster youth. Adds or replaces requirements for the department of soc... More... TX Adopted 02/2012 Postsec. Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program 19 TAC 21.2244 Amends eligibility requirements for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program to clarify that students who have completed the equivalent of four years of ROTC training are eligible, if the institution awards ROTC credit for prior service in any branch of sp... More... TX Adopted 02/2012 Postsec. Exemption Program for Veterans and Their Dependents (The Hazlewood Act) 19 TAC 21.2099, 2100, 2102, 2107, 2108 Amends provisions of the Exemption Program for Veterans and their Dependents (The Hazlewood Act). From February 24, 2012 Texas Register (page 50 http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0224/0224adop.pdf): Clarifies that eligible veterans residing out of... More... 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--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) 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--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 Surveys Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment 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