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
+ 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
LAAdopted 09/2012P-12Increases the number of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses that must be made available to students at each public high school. The number of courses increases by one
each year from 2012-2013 to 2015-2016, such that at least one AP or IB course in each of four core content areas and one additional AP or IB course must be made available to students during the 2015-2016 school year. Pages 66-67 of 153: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1209/1209.pdf
Title: LAC 28:CXV.2325
Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov

LAAdopted 07/2012P-12From July 2012 Louisiana Register: Revises LAC 28:CXV §2318, "The College and Career Diploma" and §2325, "Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate." These revisions add some Advanced Placement (AP) courses to the list of courses that can be taken for the 4th science and 4th social studies requirements for the LA Core 4 curriculum (required for students who will be attending a four-year university in Louisiana). The revisions will allow these more rigorous courses to count for graduation requirements. Pages 116-117 of 411: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1207/1207.pdf
Title: LAC 28:CXV.2318 and 2325
Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov

OHSigned into law 06/2012P-12Permits a Technology Operations earmark for eTech Ohio to be used to cover student costs for taking Advanced Placement courses and courses that the chancellor of the board of regents has determined to be eligible for postsecondary credit through the OhioLearns Gateway. Provides that to the extent that funds remain available, students in public and nonpublic schools and homeschooled students who are taking Advanced Placement or postsecondary courses through the OhioLearns Gateway must be eligible to receive a fee waiver to cover the cost of participating in one course. Requires that the fee waivers be distributed until the funds appropriated to support the waivers have been exhausted. Page 393 of 401: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_N.pdf
Title: S.B. 316 - Student Fee Waivers for AP and Postsecondary Courses through OhioLearns Gateway
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us

RISigned into law 06/2012P-12Requires the establishment of clear training guidelines for teachers who will teach advanced placement classes in Rhode Island public schools. Defines "Vertical team" as a group of teachers and educators from different grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students from diverse backgrounds acquire the academic skills necessary for success in advanced placement courses and other challenging courses. Requires that advanced placement and pre-advanced placement training to teachers do all of the following: (1) Provide teachers of advanced placement and teachers in courses that lead to advanced placement with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success in advanced placement courses and examinations and other advanced course
examinations and mastery of postsecondary course content. (2) Provide administrators, including principals and counselors, with professional development that will be enable them to create strong and effective advanced placement programs in their schools. (3) Provide middle grade, junior high, and high school teachers with advanced placement vertical team training and other pre-advanced placement professional development that prepares students for success in advanced placement courses. (4) Support the implementation of an instructional program for students in grades 6-12 that provides an integrated set of instructional materials, diagnostic assessments, and teacher professional development in reading, writing, and mathematics that prepares all students for enrollment and success in advanced placement courses and in college. Requires the state board of regents to encourage districts to offer rigorous courses in grades 6-11 that prepare students for the demands of advanced placement course work. Also requires the Regents to encourage districts to make it a goal that all 10th
graders take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholars Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) so that test results will provide each high school with a database of student
assessment data that guidance counselors and teachers will be able to use to identify students who are prepared or who need additional work to be prepared to enroll and be successful in advanced placement courses, using a research-based advanced placement identification program provided by the college board.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText12/HouseText12/H7108A.htm
Title: H.B. 7108 (S.B. 2275)
Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us

RISigned into law 06/2012P-12Adds new chapter 93 designed to promote access to advanced placement courses for all students in Rhode Island public high schools by funding training in eligible schools where AP courses have not been offered in four core academic areas. Requires the department to establish rules and regulations that include but are not limited to, the following: (1) In consultation with the college board, certify those teacher-training entities that are qualified to provide training of teachers to teach advanced placement courses; (2) In certifying teacher-training entities for this program, ensure that the training times and locations will be geographically accessible for teachers from eligible school entities to attend; (3) ensure that training provided by those teacher-training entities provides teachers of advanced placement courses with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success in advanced placement courses and examinations; and (4) Starting at the end of the first year of the program, and every year thereafter, report to the general assembly on the advanced placement teacher-training program. Such reports must include, but not be limited to: (i) The number of teachers receiving training in advanced placement instructions in school entities, school districts and high schools in each of the 4 core academic areas; (ii) The number of students taking advanced placement courses at school entities in each of the 4 core academic areas; (iii) The number of students scoring a 3 or more on an advanced placement examination at school entities in each of the four (4) core academic areas; (iv) The remaining unmet need for trained teachers in school entities that do not offer advanced placement courses.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText12/SenateText12/S2356.htm
Title: S.B. 2356
Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us

OKSigned into law 05/2012P-12Specifies that participation and scores in Advanced Placement courses whether taught at a high school, technology center or regional site of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics will be used to help determine the letter grade a school will receive through the state's letter grades for schools system. It also specifies that technology center courses granted college alliance credit and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses taken at regional sites of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics also will be used to determine letter grades for schools.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/hB/HB2494%20ENR.DOC
Title: H.B. 2494
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/

MSSigned into law 04/2012P-12Amends Mississippi code to delete the requirement that the state department of education must approve all high school pre-advanced placement courses.
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2012/pdf/SB/2400-2499/SB2450SG.pdf
Title: S.B. 2450
Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/

TNSigned into law 04/2012P-12
Postsec.
Expresses need to expand postsecondary credit-earning opportunities for high school students and urges state education agencies to provide assistance to any organizations conducting a statewide study of the issue.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HJR0602.pdf
Title: H.J.R. 602
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov

+ 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