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From the ECS State Policy Database 2013 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 2013. 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 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--Common Core/National Tests Assessment--End-of-Course At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Compulsory Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower) Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Brain Research Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Cheating Choice of Schools 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--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--Curriculum/Standards Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Computer Science Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Data-Driven Improvement Demographics--Enrollments Economic/Workforce Development Economic/Workforce Development--Value of an Education Education Research Equity Federal Finance Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Facilities Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Lotteries Finance--Performance Funding 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--Regional Entities 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 Health--Teen Pregnancy 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 Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Instructional Approaches--Teaching Across Disciplines Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools 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--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers 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 Early Intervention (0-3) P-3 English Language Learners (ELL) P-3 Ensuring Quality P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits 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 Public/Private Partnerships P-3 Special Ed./Inclusion P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development P-3 Technology Parent/Family Parent/Family--Parent Rights Partnerships--University/School Postsecondary Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Accountability--Licensing/Program Review and Approval Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid CA To governor 09/2013 Postsec. Cal Grant Program Eligibility A.B. 1287 From bill summary: Specifies eligibility criteria that, commencing with the 2014–15 academic year, apply to Cal Grant award recipients who were determined to be ineligible for a renewal award because they exceeded the maximum household income or asset level, o... More... OR Signed into law 09/2013 Postsec. Authority over Oregon Community Colleges H.B. 3120 (Section 4) Shifts oversight, rulemaking, and policy making authority over community colleges from the state board of education to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Directs that a governing board of a community college district to identify educational ... More... CA Signed into law 08/2013 Postsec. Student Loan Interest Rates A.J.R. 20 Requests that Congress and the President enact legislation that prevents the doubling of interest rates for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and creates a long-term legislative solution to maintain affordable and reliable federal student loan rates while preservi... More... ME Became law without governor's signature 07/2013 P-12 Postsec. Marketing for the Job Creation Through Educational Opportunity Program H.P. 926 Requires the department to notify superintendents about the program annually and encourage the superintendents to publicize the availability of the program among students, parents and school staff. Requires the Department of Labor to require that publicly fund... More... PA Signed into law 07/2013 Postsec. Scholarships for Distance Learning H.B. 1141 - Sec. 2599.5 Budget bill with many provisions. Of note: New Section 2599.5 establishes the Distance Education Program to approve distance education programs and to provide grants to students who enroll in approved programs. Requires the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assist... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 K-12 Education Budget Adjustments H.B. 2003 Caps District Additional Assistance at $5,000,000. Increases Charter Additional Assistance by 1.8%. Repeals the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. Revises the definition of accommodation school and amends language for computing state aid to accommodation sc... More... ME Became law without governor's signature 06/2013 Postsec. Amends Postsecondary Tuition Waivers for Children of Veterans H.P. 469 Amends postsecondary tuition waivers for children of veterans. Rather than allowing 6 academic years from the date of first entrance to complete 8 semesters, this bill amends to 120 credit hours. Adds learning disability or other hardship as reasons for extens... More... ND Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Academic Scholarship Eligibility H.B. 1258 Amends the eligibility requirements for the North Dakota academic scholarship to include 2 units of the same foreign (or native) language or 2 units of career and technical education from a coordinated plan of study recommended by the department of career and ... More... NE Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Financial Aid Section L.B. 331 Redefines award and eligible student for purposes of the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Act (50% of the tuition and mandatory fees for a full time, resident, undergraduate student for the last completed award year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and family i... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Tuition Equalization Grant Requirements S.B. 490 From fiscal note: Relates to the expiration of the Tuition Equalization Grant requirements for grants awarded before the 2005-06 school year. (Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, for fiscal year 2012, only a small number o... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Pilot Program to Improve Student Loan Default Rates and Financial Aid Literacy S.B. 680 Directs the higher education coordinating board to establish and administer a pilot program at selected postsecondary educational institutions to ensure that students are informed consumers with regard to all aspects of student financial aid, including the con... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Private Institution Participation in the Tuition Equilization Grant Program S.B. 976 From fiscal note: Allows the higher education coordinating board to temporarily approve a private or independent institution of higher education to participate in the tuition equilization grant program. Bill text: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/bi... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Veterans in Higher Education S.B. 1158 Amends eligibility requirements for tuition exemption for spouses and children of veterans; requires veteran to either be totally and permanently disabled or meet the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability. Transfers oversight of program from ... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 Postsec. Conditions on Tuition and Fee Exemptions/Waivers S.B. 1210 From fiscal note: Relates to conditions on the receipt of tuition and fee exemptions and waivers at public institutions of higher education. Permits a person, after initially qualifying for an exemption or waiver for all or a part of tuition or fees, to contin... More... IL Passed 05/2013 Postsec. Federal Student Loan Rates H.R. 332 Urges the United States Congress to prevent student loan rates from doubling. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/98/HR/PDF/09800HR0332lv.pdf... More... MD Signed into law 05/2013 Postsec. Maryland First Scholarship for First Generation Students H.B. 526 Creates the Maryland First Scholarship program for first–generation students (students whose parents have not earned a degree from an institution of higher education). Specifies eligibility requirements, annual maximum amount and length of time students are el... More... MT Signed into law 05/2013 Postsec. Scholarships for Montana Purple Heart recipients H.B. 447 Provides higher education scholarships for eligible Montana Purple Heart recipients. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billpdf/HB0447.pdf... More... ND Signed into law 05/2013 Postsec. Homeschool Student Eligibility for Scholarships H.B. 1291 Makes home schooled students eligible for North Dakota scholarships. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/63-2013/documents/13-0109-05000.pdf?20130510113114... More... TN Signed into law 05/2013 Postsec. Financial Aid S.B. 36 Relates to postsecondary financial assistance for students with intellectual disabilities. Details initial and continued eligibility requirements. Stipulates that eligible postsecondary programs will consist of a two-year individualized program of study design... More... AR Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Lottery Scholarship H.B. 1489 Provides that college students eligible for the state lottery scholarship will forfeit the award if they do not make satisfactory academic progress in the first semester of matriculation. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Bills/HB1489.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Lottery Scholarship S.B. 1002 Expands scholarship eligibility to General Education Development (GED) recipients. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Bills/SB1002.pdf... More... GA Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. HOPE Scholarship Changes H.B. 372 Provides that students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 at the end of certain semester (30 and 60 hours) and quarter (45 or 90 hours) checkpoints. Provides that students may requalify for the HOPE grant only once, by reaching a 2.0 GPA at the same c... More... ME Became law without governor's signature 04/2013 Postsec. Insurance on Student Loans S.P. 131 Preamble sets out the need for this provision: Whereas, Maine students and families need more options to finance higher education as soon as they can be made available; and Whereas, if the availability of student loans is uncertain, students may choose not to... More... MS Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship for Students with Speech-Language Impairments. H.B. 896 Establishes the Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship for Students with Speech-Language Impairments Program, and requires all compulsory-school-age children to be screened for speech-language impairment. Mandates department of education to act as the... More... ND Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Free Tuition for Dependents of Disabled Veterans H.B. 1219 Once a dependent has qualified for free tuition to North Dakota higher education institution, expands the reasons why the person may not be disqualified to include "because the veteran through whom the benefit was obtained had a one hundred percent service - c... More... NM Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Teacher Loan Repayment H.B. 53 From the bill analysis: Adds a new section to the public school code to enact the teacher loan repayment act and creates the non-reverting teacher loan repayment fund in the state treasury, to be administered by the higher education department. The purpose of... More... NM Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. New Mexico Scholars Act Scholarship Eligibility S.B. 301 Doubles the max family income limit to $60,000 which will be adjusted annually on January 1 to reflect any change from the previous year's then-current consumer price index for all urban consumers. Amends language that refers to commission and changes it to de... More... TN Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Community College Need-based Financial Aid H.B. 188 Requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) to administer a need-based grant program for students seeking an associate's degree or certificate from a public, two-year postsecondary institution. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/108/Bill/HB0188.p... More... WA Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Authorizing Recognition of Institutions of Postsecondary Study to retain Federal Financial Aid Eligibility H.B. 1683 Requires that schools be recognized as institutions of postsecondary study provided that the schools admit as regular students only those individuals who have earned a recognized high school diploma or the equivalent of a recognized high school diploma, or who... More... WV Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Special Scholarships S.B. 394 Provides scholarships for dependent children of state troopers who die in performance of duty. Indicates award amount. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB394%20ENG.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&i=394... More... AR Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Changes to Lottery Scholarship H.B. 1295 Amends financial aid award amounts for students. Now college students will receive progressively higher award amounts based on number of years completed. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Bills/HB1295.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Governor's Scholars Program H.B. 1629 Ensures home-schooled students are not placed at a disadvantage based on weighting formula used to award students with Governor's Scholarship. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Bills/HB1629.pdf... More... ID Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Scholarships S.B. 1027- Combines the Peace Officers and POW/MIA scholarships into one sectio, repeals the Idaho Robert R. Lee Promise Scholarship Program, repeals the Idaho Minority and "At-Risk' Student Scholarship Act, and modifies Opportunity Scholarship provisions for greater eff... More... ID Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Repealing of Student Education Incentive Loan Forgiveness Program SB 1027- Repeals the student education incentive loan forgiveness program, which aimed to help keep Idaho teachers in Idaho after completing their degree. Bill text: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2013/S1027.pdf Repealed text: http://www.legislature.idaho... More... MS Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Increases Student Eligibility for Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program to 20. H.B. 672 Increases the maximum amount of students eligible for the Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program to 20. However, scholarships awarded under the program will be provided only to students who have been accepted into a Dyslexia Therapy Master's Degree Cohort Prog... More... NE Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Waiver of Education-related Fees for Dependents of Veterans L.B. 180 Provides for waiver of tuition and fees for dependents of veterans who have been disabled or died of a service-connected disability. http://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB180.pdf... More... NM Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Military War Veteran Scholarship Fund H.B. 247 Partially from bill analysis: Defines military war veteran and permits the higher education department to administer the fund and make disbursements from it to reimburse postsecondary educational institutions under the exclusive control of the state for milita... More... SD Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Allows Certain Early Graduate Scholarship Recipients to Use the Remainder of their Scholarship Award for Graduate Studies. H.B. 1198 Amends §13-55-33 so that if a scholarship recipient completes an undergraduate degree within three full years of attendance and subsequently enrolls in an eligible graduate program and attains full-time graduate status, then the recipient is entitled to the re... More... SD Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Program S.B. 233 Creates the South Dakota Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Program which sets various eligibility requirements such as GPA and also requires that a student will agree in writing to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical teaching needs area for five year... More... SD Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Creation of a Need-Based Grant Fund S.B. 237 Establishes a $1,500,000 to the need-based grant fund and amends the elements for the needs-based financial aid. The grant amount is increased to a minimum of $500 and max of $2,000 and removes the recommendation to the executive director for his approval, di... More... UT Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Higher Education Tuition Waivers S.B. 51 Primarily from bill summary: Removes the cap on the number of waivers allotted to institutions of higher education for nonresident students who meet certain academic and admission requirements. Establishes considerations for a institution president to deem a s... More... UT Signed into law 03/2013 Postsec. Higher Education Scholarship Requirements S.B. 100 Effective July 2013, authorizes the board of regents to cancel a New Century scholarship or Exemplary Academic Achievement scholarship at any time if the student fails to meet any of specified academic criteria. Requires an applicant for a New Century scholars... More... MT Signed into law 02/2013 Postsec. Eliminates Student Loan Advisory Council S.B. 87 Eliminates the student loan advisory council. The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) has had difficulties finding individuals to serve on the council and therefore the council has rarely met (at most twice per year). http://data.opi.mt.gov/... 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--Intellectual Property 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 Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional 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 Proficiency-Based Approaches Promotion/Retention Purposes of Public Education Reading/Literacy Religion Remediation (K-12) Rural Scale-Up/Replication Scheduling/School Calendar 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/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--Personnel (Non-Teaching) School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Staffing Ratios School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Social/Emotional Learning and Non-Cognitive Skills 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--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Incentives Students--K-12 Exchange Students Students--Mobility 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--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds. 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--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 Contracts (Not Tenure) Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Technology Technology--Computer Skills Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Internet Safety Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source