ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
2013 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 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
+ 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
CASigned into law 08/2013P-12Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities
A.B. 1266
From legislative counsel's digest: Requires that a student be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his/her gender identity, irrespective of the ...

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ILTo governor 06/2013P-12Catastrophic Accident Insurance Coverage for Students in Interscholastic Athletics
S.B. 2178
Requires a district maintaining grades 9-12 to provide catastrophic accident insurance coverage for students who sustain an injury while participating in school-sponsored interscholastic athletic events sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA)...

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NJSigned into law 06/2013P-12Health of Student Athletes
S.B. 1912
Codifies existing State Board of Education regulations that require that prior to the participation of any student enrolled in grades six to 12 on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad, the student must have a physical examina...

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SCSigned into law 06/2013P-12Concussions
H.B. 3061
Requires the state department of education to develop, distribute model policies concerning nature, risk of concussions sustained by student athletes. Directs each school district to develop its own policy, to require review of policy by student athletes and t...

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TXSigned into law 06/2013P-12University Interscholastic League and Sports Officials
H.B. 1775
Permits the University Interscholastic League to require a sports official, as a condition of eligibility to officiate a league-sponsored contest, to be registered with the league, have completed education requirements regarding league rules, be a member in go...

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VTSigned into law 06/2013P-12Concussions
S. 4, Sections 1-4
Defines "Collision sport" as football, hockey, lacrosse, or wrestling and "Contact sport" as a sport, other than football, hockey, lacrosse, or wrestling, defined as a contact sport by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Defines "Health care provider" as an at...

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CTSigned into law 05/2013P-12Hiring Standards for Athletic Directors
H.B. 6383
Creates hiring standards for school and school district athletic directors and requires that all directors hired on or after October 1, 2013 meet the new standards. Establishes duties for all school and school district athletic directors.Requires directors to ...

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MTSigned into law 05/2013P-12Concussion Protection
S.B. 112
SB 112 requires each school district in the state offering organized youth athletic activities to adopt policies and procedures to inform athletic trainers, coaches, officials, youth athletes, and parents or guardians of the nature and risk of brain injuries, ...

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NHSigned into law 05/2013P-12Preventing Head Injury and Concussion
H.B. 180
Amends the definitions of "student athlete" and "student sports" for purposes of management of head injury and concussion.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2013/HB0180.pdf...

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WVSigned into law 05/2013P-12Concussions
S.B. 336
Establishes protocols, protections to limit and treat injury to youth athletes and students. Defines rules for concussion identification, treatment. forth certain minimum provisions of rules.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB33...

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ARSigned into law 04/2013P-12Extracurricular Activities
H.B. 1789
Allows home-schooled students to participate in interscholastic activities.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2013/2013R/Bills/HB1789.pdf...

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COSigned into law 04/2013P-12Extracurricular Participation Across School Districts
H.B. 1047
Existing provisions permit a student to participate in activities only at the student's school of attendance or through the student's nonpublic home-based educational program, unless the school of attendance or nonpublic home-based educational program does not...

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COSigned into law 04/2013P-12Home School Students Participation In Activities
H.B. 1095
Prohibits a district, school, or interscholastic organization or association from requiring a homeschooled student who is participating in an extracurricular activity at a school selected by the district to enroll in a course or complete course credits as a co...

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DCAdopted 04/2013P-12Generating Revenures for Athletic Programs & Activities
L.B. 1078
Authorizes, on an emergency basis, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to solicit sponsorships from individuals or organizations to generate revenue for state athletic programs and activities in exchange for advertisements in agency publication...

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NDSigned into law 04/2013P-12Amends Concussion Management Program
H.B. 1028
Amends concussion management program requirements. Explicitly states that the duty to remove a student under the conditions set forth in this subsection extends to:
(1) Each official; (2) The coach of a student; and (3) Any other individual designated by the s...

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TNSigned into law 04/2013P-12Concussion Training
S.B. 882
Requires school to adopt guidelines, other pertinent information as approved by the Department of Health to inform and educate coaches, school administrators, youth athletes and their parents or guardians of the nature, risk and symptoms of concussion and head...

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TNSigned into law 04/2013P-12Student Athletics
S.B. 240
Allows home school students to participate in extracurricular athletics if the student meets the academic and conduct standards required of other participants. Prohibits, subject to certain conditions, charging home school students participation fees.
http://w...

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WASigned into law 04/2013P-12Entities that Provide Recreational or Educational Programming for School-Aged Children.
H.B. 1547
Requires that any entity that provides recreational or educational programming for school-aged children utilizes a drop-in model for programming, where children are able to attend during any or all program hours without a formal reservation. Allows for the ent...

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VASigned into law 03/2013P-12Athletics for Military Families
H.B. 1497
Prohibits public elementary or secondary schools from joining an organization governing interscholastic programs that does not deem eligible for participation a student (i) who moved out of the school's attendance area because his parent is a full-time, active...

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+ 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