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
+ 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
CASigned into law 09/2012P-12Prohibits a public school from denying enrollment or readmission to a pupil solely on the basis that he/she has had contact with the juvenile justice system. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1088_bill_20120919_chaptered.pdf
Title: S.B. 1088
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

CASigned into law 07/2012P-12Provides a pupil who is a foster child who remains in his/her school of origin has met the residency requirements for school attendance (pre-existing requirements provided a student who is a foster child meets residency requirements if the student attends a school in the district in which his/her foster home is located). http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1573_bill_20120713_chaptered.pdf
Title: A.B. 1573
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov

NHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Revises the legal residency requirements for purposes of school attendance for children of divorced parents and children whose parents share decision making responsibility pursuant to a parenting plan.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/HB1325.html
Title: H.B. 1325
Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/

OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Provides that when a student enrolls in a school operated by a school district, a school official with responsibility for admissions must provide the student's parent, during the admissions process, with a copy of the most recent public accountability report card. Pages 95-96 of 592: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_Y.pdf
Title: S.B. 316 - Public Accountability Report Card at Student Enrollment
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

AZSigned into law 05/2012P-12Limits the window during which the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) can conduct Average Daily Membership (ADM) audits to three years from the time the monitoring or audit activity begins; Allows ADE to adjust funding for a school district or charter school that was overpaid or underpaid during the audit window if ADE issues those findings within two years of the beginning of monitoring or audit activity; Requires the correction of errors in the calculation of state aid or budget limits for a school district or charter school that are discovered within the previous three years, rather than the previous year.

Revises the method for calculating ADM from one that relies on counting the total enrollment of students on four dates each year to one that counts the total enrollment of each school day through the first 100 or 200 days in session, as applicable. Specifies that high school students are classified as either full-time or fractional students based on the number of classes they take, each of which, if taught each school day for the minimum number of days required in a school year, would meet for a minimum of 123 hours per year, or the equivalent.

Adjusts the transportation support level to provide additional support to school districts that elect to offer 200 days of instruction, rather than 180.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/2r/laws/0357.pdf
Title: S.B. 1456
Source: azleg.gov

GASigned into law 05/2012P-12Requires that declarations of intent and attendance records for home study programs be submitted to the department of education rather than local school superintendents; authorizes department to provide for electronic submittal of such records. Provides that notice by local school systems to parents relating to unexcused absences may be made by U.S. mail. Requires a district to send a notice to a parent or guardian via certified mail, return receipt requested, prior to to any action to commence judicial proceedings to impose a penalty for violating truancy provision. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127589.pdf
Title: H.B. 39
Source: www.legis.ga.gov

ILAdopted 05/2012P-12Extends the School Success Task Force established during the 96th General Assembly and adds a member to the Task Force representing City of Chicago School District 299. Directs the School Success Task Force to submit a report before December 31, 2012. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HJR/PDF/09700HJ0067lv.pdf
Title: H.J.R. 67
Source: www.ilga.gov

LAAdopted 05/2012P-12Amends §907, "Secondary Class Times and Carnegie Credit," and §1103, "Compulsory Attendance" to accommodate the newly developed Louisiana Seat Time Waiver (LSTW). §907 permits districts to submit applications to the department of education for a waiver of the instructional time requirement for Carnegie credit. Requires the waiver application to contain a brief description of the program and an assurance that all other requirements for Carnegie credit and graduation requirements will be met. Pages 80-81 of 199: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1205/1205.pdf
Title: LAC 28:CXV.907 and 1103
Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov

MASigned into law 05/2012P-12Provides definitions of military terms and provides that this legislation applies to active duty members of the uniformed services, members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of 1 year after medical discharge or retirement, and members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of 1 year after death.

Requires schools to provide to parents official (or unofficial) records to students for transfer purposes. Requires receiving schools to request official student records from a student's previous school, which should be furnished within 10 days.

Provides that students have 30 days to to obtain any immunizations required by the receiving state.

Provides that students be allowed to continue enrollment at the grade level in the receiving state that is equal with the grade level from the local education agency in the sending state at the time of transition, regardless of age. When a student transfers before or during the school year, the receiving state school shall initially honor placement of the student in educational courses based on the student's enrollment in the sending state school or educational assessments conducted at the school in the sending state if the courses are offered and space is available. This does not preclude the school in the receiving state from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement and continued enrollment of the student in the courses.

Requires the receiving state to initially provide comparable services to a student with disabilities based on: (i) the student's current individualized education program; (ii) the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. section 794; and (iii) title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.A. sections 12131-12165. The receiving state is required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of incoming students with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or title II plan, to provide the student with equal access to education.

Provides that local education agency administrative officials shall have flexibility in waiving course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses or programs offered under the jurisdiction of the local education agency.

Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, may be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the local education agency superintendent to visit with that parent or legal guardian on leave or preparing for or returning from deployment.

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02254
Title: S.B. 2254
Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/

VAVetoed 05/2012P-12Allows a child receiving kinship care from a close relative to enroll in the school division where the kinship care provider resides. The bill also allows local school divisions to require one legal parent and the kinship care provider to sign affidavits detailing the kinship care arrangement as well as a power of attorney authorizing the close relative to make educational and medical decisions regarding the child.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+SB217ER+pdf
Title: S.B. 217
Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/

GASigned into law 04/2012P-12Adopts the "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children." Provides for the purpose and policy of the compact. Provides for student educational records and enrollment, placement and attendance, eligibility, graduation, and state coordination services. Creates the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Provides for the members of the interstate commission and their service. Provides for an executive committee and its membership and duties. Provides for the commission's powers, duties, organization, and operations. Provides for oversight, enforcement, and dispute resolution. Provides for financing of the interstate commission. Provides for member states, an effective date, and amendments; provides for withdrawal and dissolution; provides for binding effect and other laws. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127877.pdf
Title: S.B. 227
Source: www.legis.ga.gov

GASigned into law 04/2012P-12Clarifies that provisions for child's entry into kindergarten and 1st grade for a child who was a legal resident of one or more states two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia also apply to children residing in one or more countries two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia. Pages 3-4 of 11: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127649.pdf
Title: H.B. 706 - Age for Kindergarten or First Grade Entry for Children Moving from Abroad
Source: www.legis.ga.gov

MNSigned into law 04/2012P-12Provides clarification on the district of residence for a homeless pupil, such that the pupil resides in the district where the parent or guardian resides unless parental rights have been terminated, the parent lives out of state or is an inmate at a correctional facility or halfway house. For students in this situation their district of residence will be the district the student resided when the qualifying event occured. Allowes the Commissioner of Education to determine residence in the event of a dispute. Provides that serving districts or charter schools are responsible for transporting homeless pupils to and from their districts of residence. [Article 1, Sec. 1, Subd. 2]

Allows a homeless student to continue to enroll in a nonresident district if his/her parent or guardian moves to another district, without the approval of the nonresident district or resident district. [Article 1, Sec. 13, Subd. 2a]

Repeals a provision that required, for all school purposes, a homeless pupil be a resident of the school district that enrolls the pupil. [Article 1, Sec. 34]

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/data/revisor/law/2012/0/2012-239.pdf
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=127A.47
Title: H.F. 2949
Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/

NESigned into law 04/2012P-12Changes provisions relating to compulsory attendance. Retains upper age of 16 but lays out an explicit process and requirements for early withdrawal by a parent.
http://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB996.pdf
Title: L.B. 996
Source: http://nebraskalegislature.gov

WYSigned into law 03/2012P-12Provides for an interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children. Facilitates enrollment and placement of children of military families.
http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Enroll/SF0078.pdf
Title: S.F. 78
Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us

+ 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