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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 OR Signed into law 08/2013 P-12 Accelerated College Credit Programs S.B. 222 Establishes the Accelerated Learning Committee and outlines committee membership. Directs the committee to examine methods to encourage college credit attainment in high school, emphasizing alignment of funding, assessments, and procedures that encourage effic... More... ME Signed into law 07/2013 P-12 Postsec. An Act To Create an Educational Collaborative To Implement a Program That Enables Career and Technical Education Students To Earn College Credits while Attending High School, (LD 1412) S.P. 506 Establishes a collaborative board composed of representatives of career and technical education programs, high schools and publicly supported postsecondary institutions in the State to implement a program that enables career and technical education students to... More... ME SIGNED 07/2013 P-12 Eligibility for State Subsidy for Postsecondary Courses H.P. 53 Makes a student eligible to receive a state subsidy for postsecondary courses if the student is receiving home instruction in a program that meets requirements and the eligible institution: has space available for the student; has determined that the student ... More... RI Signed into law 07/2013 P-12 Statewide Dual Enrollment Act 168 (S.B. 639 - Sub. B) Requires the board of education to prescribe by regulation a statewide dual enrollment policy that would allow students to enroll in courses at postsecondary institutions to satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the aforementioned postse... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Postsec. Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program H.B. 3662 Creates the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program. Provides the purposes of the program are to provide selected districts, and public and private or independent institutions of higher education, with the opportunity to establish innovative programs designed... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Postsec. Dual Credit Funding S.B. 31 Prohibits the higher education coordinating board from including in its instruction and operations formula semester credit hours for dual credit earned at the institution, unless the credit is in a course in the institution's core curriculum, a career and tech... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Dual Credit for Certain CTE Courses H.B. 842 Permits a program implemented under the college credit program to provide a student with the opportunity to earn credit for a course or activity, including an apprenticeship or training hours, that (1) allows a student to concurrently earn credit toward a high... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 District Not Responsible for Tuition under College Credit Program S.B. 435 Removes sunset date on provision that district may not be required to pay tuition or other associated costs under the college credit program, through which students may earn the equivalent of 12 credit hours in high school. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodo... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Postsec. Texas Fast Start Program S.B. 441 Directs the Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to establish and administer the Texas Fast Start Program to identify and develop methods to support, and to provide support for, competency-based, rapid-... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Postsec. Enrollment Assistance Duties of Institutions of Higher Education H.B. 2550 From fiscal note: Relates to the consolidation of the Higher Education Enrollment Assistance Program and the Higher Education Assistance Plan, and the transfer of certain enrollment assistance duties to institutions of higher education. Requires institutions o... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Skills Development Fund Dollars to Support Certain Dual Credit Programs H.B. 3028 Permits the Texas Workforce Commission to use up to 5% of the general revenue appropriated to the skills development fund for that biennium, along with funds available to the commission from other sources, to be awarded to a public junior college, public state... More... TX Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 College Preparatory Courses H.B. 5 - College Preparatory Courses Repeals references to college preparatory courses in science and social studies. Repeals references to end-of-course assessments for college-preparatory courses in English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Directs each district to partner with ... More... VT to governor 06/2013 P-12 Flexible Pathways to Secondary School Completion S. 130 Provides state-funded dual enrollment, expansion of Early College programs, expansion of work-based learning, virtual/blended learning. Requires personal learning plans for all students by 7th grade. The definitions section should be of particular interest to ... More... VT Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Flexible Pathways to High School Graduation Act 77 (S.B. 130) Creates a Flexible Pathways Initiative within the Agency of Education to expand opportunities for secondary students to complete high school and achieve postsecondary readiness.  Among other things, the act provides the opportunity for each high school student... More... IN Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Postsecondary Enrollment Opportunities S.B. 406 Replaces existing statutes concerning concurrent enrollment courses, dual credit courses, and early college programs with a single postsecondary enrollment opportunities program. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2013/PDF/SE/SE0406.1.pdf... More... MD Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Postsec. Dual Enrollment Costs S.B. 740 Prohibits a public institution of higher education from charging tuition to a dually enrolled student. Requires the local board of education to pay a specified amount for up to four courses in which the student is enrolled. For each course in excess of four, t... More... MN Signed into law 05/2013 P-12 Dual Enrollment Transportation H.F. 630 Allows a school district to provide transporation for a pupil participating in an articulated program operated under an agreement between the school district and the postsecondary institution. Page 6 of 214. http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS88/HF0630.4.... More... CO Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Postsec. ASCENT (Concurrent Enrollment) H.B. 1219 - ASCENT (Concurrent Enrollment) Directs the concurrent enrollment advisory board to make recommendations for a funding allocation model, to be approved by the state board by July 2013, in the event the number of qualified students exceeds available appropriations. Repeals certain provisions ... More... WA Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Regarding Academic Acceleration for High School Students H.B. 1642 Encourages school board of directors to adopt an academic acceleration policy for high school students. Enrolls students who meet the state standard on the high school statewide student assessment in the next most rigorous level of advanced courses offered by... More... 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 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