From the ECS State Policy Database - Highlighted Policies

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. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. Status/Date State Level Summary 21st Century Skills Accountability Accountability--Accreditation Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results Accountability--Rewards Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions 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--Formative/Interim Assessment--Performance Based/Portfolio Assessment--Value Added 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 Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Cheating Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Innovation Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Excusal Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Geography Education Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Data-Driven Improvement Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Signed into law 06/2013 TX 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... Signed into law 06/2013 TX 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... Vetoed 09/2012 CA Community College Community College Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program A.B. 2309 From bill summary: Authorize the board of governors of the California Community Colleges, once sufficient funding becomes available, to establish a competitive grant pilot program to evaluate a public-private partnership model designed to accomplish specified ... More... Signed into law 04/2012 FL P-12 Career Themed Courses, Career Academies, and Workforce Alignment H.B. 7059 - Career Themed Courses, Career Academies, and Workforce Alignment Defines "career-themed course" as a course or series of courses leading to industry certification, and aligned with priority workforce needs established by the regional workforce board or the department of economic opportunity. Permits two or more districts to... More... Signed into law 07/2011 IA P-12, Community College Pathways for Academic Career and Employment Act H.F. 645 - Multiple Provisions "Pathways for Academic Career and Employment Act" . Establishes a pathways for academic career and employment program to provide funding to community colleges for the development of projects in coordination with the department of economic development, the depa... More... Signed into law 06/2010 TN P-12, Community College Cost of Licensing Tests for Adult Students with Financial Need H.B. 2645 Requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in conjunction with the Department of Education, to develop, implement, and administer a program for the payment of the cost of licensing tests for adult students with financial need who complete a hi... More... Signed into law 04/2010 TN Postsec., Community College No Reduction in Unemployment Benefits if Enrolling in Higher Education H.B. 2092, S.B. 1491 Prohibits the reduction or denial of unemployment benefits due to the claimant's enrollment in any institution of higher education. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB2092.pdf... More... Signed into law 07/2009 OH Postsec. Entrepreneurial Projects by Postsecondary Institutions H.B. 1 - Section 3345.35 Defines "entrepreneurial project" as an effort to develop or commercialize technology through research or technology transfer or investment by an institution of higher education or others. Defines "stock or other ownership" as equity or other ownership rights... More... Signed into law 06/2009 TN P-12 We Want to Learn English S.B. 1745 Requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWFD), in conjunction with the Department of Education (DOE), to establish and administer a grant program known as the "We Want to Learn English Initiative" for the purpose of providing resources for ... More... Signed into law 06/2009 TX P-12, Postsec., Community College Increasing Workforce in High-Demand and "Green" Occupations H.B. 1935 and H.B. 3, Section 64 Establishes the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant program and fund to award grants to public junior colleges and public technical institutes, and to eligible nonprofit organizations to: (1) Develop or support nonprofit organizations' programs that pre... More... Adopted 02/2009 OH Postsec. Co-Op/Internship Program OAC 3333-1-63 Establishes the Co-op/internship program. Defines "Cooperative education program" as a partnership between students, institutions of higher education and employers that formally integrates students' academic study with work experience in cooperating employer o... More... Signed into law 06/2008 VT P-12, Community College Access to Technical Education H.B. 885 Relates to economic and workforce development. Section 11 of this bill (The Adult technical education; workforce education and training; report) requires the commissioner of education to: (1)  Outline and review the current method or methods by which tuition ... More... Signed into law 04/2008 ME P-12, Postsec., Community College High School and Postsecondary Integration H.B. 1549 (Resolve)Directs the Department of Education to recommend to the Board of Education an innovative model of consolidated and integrated secondary and postsecondary education; concerns facilities for a regional high school, a fully integrated career and technica... More... Vetoed 07/2007 HI P-12, Postsec. Ingenuity Charter H.B. 1670 Establishes the Ingenuity Charter to facilitate the development of intellectual property, uphold high labor and environmental standards, support the teaching of innovation and its application for the common good and promote Hawaii's role as a center of innovat... More... Signed into law 05/2007 MO Postsec., Community College Higher Education Finance S.B. 389 [Postsecondary Finance] Increases the amount of the Bright Flight scholarships from $2,000 to $3,000 beginning with fiscal year 2011. Beginning with fiscal year 2011, students with test scores between the top five percent and the top three percent qualify for a scholarship of $1,000.... More... Signed into law 04/2007 IA P-12, Postsec., Community College Generation Iowa Commission H.F. 617 Establishes the generation Iowa commission within the department of economic development for purposes of advising and assisting in the retention and attraction of the young adult population in the state in both urban and rural areas. Provides that the 15-membe... More... Signed into law 04/2007 NM P-12, Postsec. High School Redesign H.B. 584/S.B. 561 Provides for high school redesign. Directs the department of education to establish a readiness assessment system to measure the readiness of every New Mexico high school student for success in higher education or a career no later than the 2008-2009 school ye... More... Signed into law 04/2007 WA Postsec., Community College Meeting the Demand for Higher and Differently Skilled Workers H.B. 1096 Finds that: (1) The economic trends of globalization and technological change are increasing the demand for higher and differently skilled workers than in the past; (2) Increasing Washington's economic competitiveness requires increasing the supply of skilled ... More... Signed into law 04/2007 WA Postsec., Community College Education of Students in High Demand Fields S.B. 5731 Establishes a committee on the education of students in high demand fields. The committee consists of: (1) two members of the House of Representatives; (2) two members of the Senate; (3) one person representing the Higher Education Coordinating Board; (4) one ... More... Signed into law 03/2007 MS P-12 Secondary School Redesign S.B. 2345 Directs state board to develop and pilot a program to redesign secondary schools in the state to function not only as curriculum and educational entities but also as workforce development centers. Contingent upon appropriations, the board will pilot a minimum ... More... Signed into law 12/2006 MI Postsec. Statewide Workforce Development System S.B. 1288 Codifies the workforce development system to deliver workforce development programs and services tailored to local needs; provides for works areas; provides for local workforce development boards; provides for education advisory groups and pilot projects; requ... More... Signed into law 07/2006 IL Postsec., Community College Lifelong Learning Accounts S.B. 2931 Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a pilot program to provide for and test the use of lifelong learning accounts for workers in the state's healthcare sector for education expenses. Provides that participat... More... Adopted 07/2006 OR Postsec., Community College Venture Development Fund OAR 580-043-0060 through OAR 580-043-0095 Establishes rules allowing institutions to establish venture development funds to enable commercialization of research and development for job creation, proof-of-concept funding and to provide students with opportunities to apply research to commercial activi... More... Signed into law 06/2006 IL Community College Mobile Response Workforce Training Pilot Program H.B. 5429 Requires the community college board to implement and administer a 3-year, mobile response workforce training pilot program at three community colleges to address the fact that businesses are struggling to recruit a qualified workforce because of the frequent ... More... Signed into law 05/2006 LA P-12, Postsec., Community College High School/Community College Linkages H.B. 1023 Requires the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges to work with Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to improve linkages and career and technical education pathways between high schools and community and technical colleges. Re... More... Signed into law 05/2006 VT P-12, Postsec., Community College Commission to Develop the Next Generation Initiative S.B. 312 Relates to higher education. Creates a commission to develop the next generation initiative to encourage Vermonters to live and work in Vermont. Proposes the commission consider a broad range of ideas to meet this goal, including: (1)  Strategies to ensure t... More... Signed into law 04/2006 WV Postsec., Community College Consortium for Undergraduate Research and Engineering H.B. 4690 Provides legislative findings and intent related to the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Provides legislative intent to encourage collaboration between West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, Marshall Unive... More... Signed into law 08/2005 OR Postsec., Community College Oregon Innovation Council S.B. 838 Creates the Oregon Innovation Council to provide advice to the Governor, the Legislative Assembly, public and private post-secondary educational institutions, public agencies that provide economic development and the private sector on issues related to: (a) Pr... More... Signed into law 05/2005 AZ Postsec., Community College Nursing Education Demonstration Project S.B. 1517 (Section 15-16) Establishes the Arizona partnership for nursing education demonstration project to increase the capacity of nursing education programs in the state by fostering collaboration among the state's education and health care communities and the state and federal gov... More... Signed into law 05/2005 AZ Postsec. Joint Study Committee on Medical School Education S.B. 1517 (Section 14) Establishes the joint study committee on medical school education. Requires the committee to: 1. Evaluate the medical education and training needs for health professions and careers throughout the state, including the medical and nursing fields. 2. Review and... More... Signed into law 05/2005 OH P-12, Postsec., Community College Partnership for Continued Learning S.B. 6 Establishes the "Partnership for Continued Learning" to promote systemic approaches to education.  The Partnership must (1) support regional efforts to foster collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education, (2) identify the workforc... More... Signed into law 05/2005 SC P-12, Postsec., Community College South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act H.B. 3155 Adds a new chapter (59) establishing the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act. Provides for the development of a curriculum organized around a career cluster system that must provide students with both strong academics and real-world problem s... More... Signed into law 03/2005 AR Postsec. The Mission and Scope of Higher Education S.B. 287 An act to strengthen the connection between the mission and scope of Arkansas institutions of higher education and the economic goals of the state. Requires the department of economic development to provide the department of higher education with a list of the... More... Signed into law 02/2005 AR Postsec. Centers Of Excellence At Colleges S.B. 285 Defines a "center of excellence" as a consortium of two or more institutions of higher education working in collaboration with regional economic developers to address the workforce education and training needs of a region for existing, expanding, or attracting... More... Signed into law 04/2004 VA Postsec. Barriers Between Higher Education and Industry H.B. 547 Directs the State Council of Higher Education to develop policies and strategies to eliminate the barriers between the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education and industry and enhance the development of human capital in the Commonwealth. More specifica... More... Education Research Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--District Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Performance Funding Finance--Resource Efficiency Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures 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 High School High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness 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--Constructivism Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent 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--Recruitment and Retention Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues--African American Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian No Child Left Behind No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Finance No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers No Child Left Behind--Report Cards 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 Early Intervention (0-3) 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 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool Parent/Family Partnerships--University/School Postsecondary Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid Postsecondary Affordability--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants Postsecondary Faculty Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Teaching Assistants Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--Low-Income Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Proficiency-Based Approaches Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Reading/Literacy Remediation (K-12) 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--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault 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--Libraries School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching) School/District Structure/Operations--School Size School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Social/Emotional Learning and Non-Cognitive Skills Special Education Special Education--Finance Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming) Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education 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 Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities 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--Highly Qualified Teachers Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education 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--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Technology Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban