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 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 to governor 06/2013 VT 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... Signed into law 05/2011 GA P-12 Certification in "Soft Skills" H.B. 186 - Certification in "Soft Skills" Authorizes the Governor's Office of Workforce Development to establish certification in soft skills, which may include, but not be limited to, skills relating to punctuality, ability to learn, and ability to work in a team, as a discrete and complementary comp... More... Signed into law 05/2011 OK P-12 Reporting Achievement on Transcripts H.B. 1680 The measure requires districts to report on transcripts all levels of students' achievements on end-of-instruction tests, rather than just end-of-instruction tests on which they score proficient or higher. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/hB/... More... Adopted 11/2009 IL P-12 Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision 23 IAC 1.20, .30, .100, .240, .420, .465, .480, .510, .737 Partially from "Notice of Adopted Amendments" in Illinois Register (changes from this rulemaking but not listed below are technical in nature or echo recent changes in legislation): Section 1.20: Revised to distinguish among the appropriate levels of sign-of... More... Signed into law 07/2009 OH P-12 Governor's Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative H.B. 1 - Section 3306.31 and 265.70.80 Specifies that the following provisions apply to any district with a three-year average graduation rate at or below 80%. Requires each such district's local board to implement actions prescribed by the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative in each ... More... Signed into law 06/2009 TX P-12 Diplomas for Students Demonstrating Early Readiness for College H.B. 3 - Section 32 Requires any research university that chooses to participate in the pilot program to: (1) Post on its Web site the benchmarks students must meet (1) in subject areas for which the higher education coordinating board has adopted college readiness standards, (2)... More... Signed into law 06/2009 TX P-12 Special Accreditation Investigations H.B. 3 - Section 59 - Part II Adds to circumstances under which special accreditation investigations must be conducted. Directs the commissioner to authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted when: (1) A significant pattern of decreased academic performance has develope... More... Signed into law 05/2009 MN P-12, Postsec., Community College High School-to-College Developmental Transition Programs S.B. 2083 Establishes a program to offer research-based high school-to-college programs to prepare students for college. Requires an evaluation for participating programs with a working group to develop methods and timelines for data collection and analysis of program e... More... Signed into law 08/2008 MA P-12 Dropout Prevention S.B. 2766 Improves dropout prevention and reporting of graduation rates; requires providing public school districts with a standardized format for the accurate reporting of graduation and dropout data to facilitate the implementation of a longitudinal data collection sy... More... Signed into law 06/2007 NV P-12, Postsec. Dropout Reporting, Exit Exam Alternatives, Competency Based Credits S.B. 312 Expands the annual reports of accountability information to include the rate of pupils who drop out of school in grades 6, 7 and 8. Requires the State Board to prescribe alternative criteria that a pupil may satisfy to receive a standard high school diploma if... More... Signed into law 05/2007 NV P-12 High School Reform A.B. 212 Provides for high school reform. Requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a policy for each public school of the school district in which ninth grade pupils are enrolled, to develop a 4-year academic plan for each of those pupils. Requir... 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 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 03/2007 NM P-12 High School Diplomas for Military Children S.B. 687 Provides that a New Mexico resident high school student who is required to move out of state because the student's parent is a member of the New Mexico National Guard or a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and the parent is transferred to an out-... More... Signed into law 05/2006 FL P-12 Florida Secondary School Redesign Act H.B. 7087 - Section 19 Defines secondary schools as those serving grades 6-12. Specifies that the following guiding principles must be used in the annual preparation of each secondary school's improvement plan: (a) Struggling students, especially those in failing schools, need th... More... Signed into law 05/2006 FL P-12 Career and Professional Academies H.B. 7087 (Section 27) Creates career and professional academies, defined as a research-based program that integrates a rigorous academic curriculum with an industry-driven career curriculum. The academies may be offered by public schools, school districts, or the Florida Virtual Sc... More... Signed into law 06/2005 LA P-12 High School Redesign Commission H.B. 434 Creates the High School Redesign Commission for the purpose of making recommendations for the development of statewide policies, guiding principles, and programs that address the current and future economic needs of the state and promoting student success in h... More... Signed into law 05/2005 CO P-12, Postsec. College Preparatory Courses/Exam Scores and Remediation H.B. 1027 Beginning in spring 2006, requires the commission on higher education to send an annual notice concerning college preparatory courses to the parent of every 11th-grade student prior to the start of grade 12 if the student took the ACT or prior to the start of ... 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 04/2005 IN P-12, Postsec. Core 40 Curriculum S.B. 200 Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, requires, with certain exceptions, a student to complete the Core 40 curriculum in order to graduate from high school. Beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year, requires, with certain exceptions, a student to have co... More... Signed into law 03/2005 VA P-12 Credits for Industry Certification S.B. 1045 Directs the Board of Education to provide for the award of verified credits for passing scores on industry certifications, state licensure examinations, and national occupational competency assessments approved by the Board of Education. School boards shall re... More... Signed into law 09/2004 CA P-12 Principal Training Program A.B. 164 Authorizes training plans for high school principals to include professional development activities that include coaching, mentorship, assistance and intensive support customized to meet the individual needs of high school administrators. http://www.leginfo.ca... More... Signed into law 05/2004 TN P-12, Postsec. Uniform Grading System S.B. 2205 Directs the state board to establish a task force comprised of superintendents, principals, teachers, and representatives of school boards and higher education no later than June 30, 2004. The task force is to make recommendations to the board including, but n... More... Signed into law 03/2004 WA P-12, Postsec. Higher Education Remedial Education S.B. 5139 Requires the higher education coordinating board, the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state board for community and technical colleges to convene a work group to (a) Discuss standards and expectations for the knowledge and skills hig... More... 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