From the ECS State Policy Database Private Schools

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. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary MO Signed into law 07/2012 P-12 CTE, Private Schools and Agricultural Education S.B. 599- CTE and Private Schools The State Board of Education must establish standards for agricultural education that may be adopted by a private school accredited by an ag... More... MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Reporting Requirements for Nonpublic Schools H.F. 2949 Adds children in nonpublic schools to public school and homeschooled children that must submit information about the child and annual tests ... More... CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Nonpublic School Teaching Experience and Professional Certification H.B. 6434 From Education Committee Summary - Allows teachers to continue to use, or in the case of student teaching to start using, teaching experienc... More... ME Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Private School Students May Participate in Public School Extracurricular Activities H.P. 662 Provides that a student enrolled in an equivalent instruction program in a private school that enrolls fewer than 30 students is eligible to... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certain Teacher Certification Requirements in Private Schools H.B. 153 - Certain Teacher Certification Requirements in Private Schools Establishes certification requirements for teaching foreign language, music, religion, computer technology or fine arts in nontax-supported ... More... HI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Private Schools Serving Special Education Students S.B. 1503 Requires certain private special education schools and programs that provide services to students with disabilities who receive state fundin... More... OR Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Private Schools S.B. 26 Eliminates registration of private elementary and secondary schools by Department of Education (ODE) http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measur... More... FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Certain Private School Students May Participate in Public School Athletics H.B. 797 Allows a student attending a private middle school or high school to participate in interscholastic or intrascholastic sports at a public sc... More... ND Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Certification System for Public and Nonpublic Schools H.B. 1029 Establishes a certification system for the approval of public and nonpublic schools. Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires Nonpublic Schools Participating in State-funded Education Programs to Adopt Policy on Bullying H.B. 38 Requires nonpublic schools that participate in state-funded education programs to adopt by March 31, 2012, a policy prohibiting bullying, ha... More... MD Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Nonpublic Schools Must Adopt Policy Prohibiting Bullying, Harassment & Intimidation S.B. 489 Requires nonpublic schools that participate in state-funded education programs to adopt, by March 31, 2012, a policy prohibiting bullying, h... More... ME Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 School Closures/Annual Student Counts/Private Schools Annual Audit H.P. 959 Exempts certain reformulated school administrative districts that did not operate a K-12 program from the requirement to maintain such a pro... More... NY Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Assistance in Background Checks at Private Schools A.B. 6611 Allows nonpublic schools to contract with BOCES for criminal background checks. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A06611%09%0... More... CA Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Technology-Based Materials as Part of Instructional Materials A.B. 1742 Adds that a nonpublic, nonsectarian school that provides K-12 special education services must, in providing state-adopted, standards-based, ... More... KY Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Background Checks on Existing Teachers in Private Schools H.B. 447 Permits private, parochial and church schools to require a national and state criminal background check on each certified teacher once every... More... UT Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Private and Homeschool Student Participation in Extracurricular Activities S.B. 66 Provides that a minor enrolled in a private school or a home school is eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at a public sch... More... WA Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Private Schools H.B. 2996 Includes approved private schools in the Superintendent of Public Instruction's record check information rules. Chapter 100 http://apps.leg.... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 School Technology Revolving Loan Fund S.B. 611 - School Technology Revolving Loan Fund Allows nonpublic schools that are recognized by the state board of education to apply for a loan under the School Technology Revolving Loan ... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Data on Voucher Students' Performance H.B. 1 - Section 3301.0711(K), 3310.15, 3313.976(11), 3313.978(G) Section 3301.0711(K): Requires private high schools to administer the Ohio graduation tests (regardless of whether they accept voucher stude... More... DE Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 License Denial and Revocation Standards S.B. 149 Creates license denial and revocation standards for nonpublic school teachers, specialists and administrators, and for public education empl... More... OR Adopted 06/2009 P-12 PRIVATE PREKINDERGARTEN OAR 581-045-0500 to -0575 non seq. Amends rules relating to private prekindergarten through grade 12 schools. Relates to compliance with fire safety, child care and sanitation... More... CA Adopted Rule Filing 03/2009 P-12 Special Education and Nonpublic Schools Title 5 CCR Sec(s) 3001, 3051, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3063, 3064, 3065, 3066, 3067, 3068, 3069, 3070 Amends rules pertaining to special education and nonpublic schools. Clarifies requirements for certification of California nonpublic schools... More... ID Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Nonpublic Schools H.B. 51 Amends existing law relating to income taxation to provide a state income tax deduction for donations of technological equipment to private ... More... RI Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Textbooks at Non-Public Schools S.B. 2395 Adds a provision to textbook statutes stipulating that non-public schools may not change a textbook assignment in a field more often than on... More... NY Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Student with Disabilities in Homeschool Program A.B. 11463 Provides that solely for purposes of providing services to special education students and the computation of state aid, a student with disab... More... KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Transportation of Nonpublic School Students H.B. 655 By September 30 of each year, requires the secretary of the transportation cabinet to report to the general assembly's interim committee on ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 A.B. 216 Relates to special education. Requires that the educational materials, services, and programs provided by the nonpublic, nonsectarian school... More... NY Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Loan of Instructional Computer Hardware Title 8 NYCRR Sections 21.3 and 100.12 Provides for the loan of instructional computer hardware from public schools to nonpublic schools. Pages 7-10 of 34: http://www.dos.state.ny... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Background Checks of Private School Employees S.B. 143 Provides that a nonpublic elementary or secondary school may not obtain Nonpublic School Recognition status unless the school requires all a... More... NY Adopted 07/2007 P-12 Fingerprinting and Criminal History Record Check Title 8 NYCRR Sections 80-1.11, 87.1 through .10 nonseq. Sets forth the requirements and procedures for the fingerprinting and criminal history record check of prospective school employees of nonpu... More... LA Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Out-of-State Certified Teachers in Nonpublic Schools H.B. 188 Provides that any teacher who holds a valid out-of-state teaching certificate, has at least four years of successful teaching experience in ... More... ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Town Academy Advisory Council S.B. 601 Establishes the Town Academy Advisory Council in the Department of Education; provides that the members are unpaid gubernatorial appointees ... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Private School Emergency Drills and Inspection A.B. 250 Revises requirements relating to emergency drills for pupils in private elementary and secondary educational institutions. Revises provision... More... VA Vetoed, but veto overridden 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Fire Code Inspection Permit Fee Waiver H.B. 2048 Prohibits the State Fire Marshal from charging a fee for permits issued for the inspection of schools operated or conducted under the auspic... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Nonpublic school student transportation H.B. 2302 Permits local school boards to enter into agreements with nonpublic schools in the school division to provide student transportation for a f... More... UT Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Non-traditional Student Participation in State Achievement Tests R277-604 Provides definitions, criteria and procedures for private school students, home school students, electronic high school (EHS) students, and ... More... LA Adopted 08/2006 P-12 Approval of Nonpublic Schools LAC 28:LXXIX.109 and 303 Specifies the process for obtaining school approval, including how long schools must be in existence before they can apply for approval. Cha... More... NY Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Authorizes Fingerprint Background Checks A.B. 11399 Authorizes nonpublic and private elementary and secondary schools to require their prospective employees to submit fingerprints through the ... More... UT Adopted 08/2006 P-12 Special Needs Scholarships Funding & Procedures R277-602 Provides new definitions and makes changes within the Parents/Guardian Responsibilities section of rule concerning funding and procedures fo... More... NY Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Private Schools Eligible for Tax Abatements A.B. 11797 Includes private elementary or secondary school as eligible premises for purposes of tax abatements in New York city.... More... LA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Adoption Awareness S.B. 111 Requires inclusion of adoption awareness in health course or another course required for high school graduation. Provides that adoption awar... More... IA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Services to Special Education Students in Nonpublic Schools S.B. 2272 - Section 19 Requires service activities to students enrolled in nonpublic schools to be similar to those undertaken for public school students. Allows ... More... WI Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Use of Inhalers in Private Schools A.B. 1132 Provides that no private school or private school employee is civilly liable for injury to a pupil caused by a private school employee who p... More... IL Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Nonpublic Special Education Facilities 23 IAC 401.5, 10, 20, 30, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 210, 220, 230,240, 250, 260, 270, 280 Clarifies rules to acknowledge that facilities may be established not only by nonpublic entities but also public out-of-state schools and pu... More... NE Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Part-time Enrollment of Private School Students L.B. 821 From fiscal note: LB 821 requires school districts to allow the part-time enrollment of students who are residents of the district who are e... More... LA Adopted 12/2005 P-12 Summer School and Private Providers LAC 28:CXV.2504 Allows students to attend summer school from private providers if the summer school applications from the private provider are approved by t... More... LA Adopted 12/2005 P-12 Private Summer School Providers LAC 28:LXXIX, Chapter 1-31 Relates to private schools. Adds programs of study and revises summer school policy. Pages 8-34 of 106: http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/... More... CA Signed into law 09/2005 P-12 Driver's Ed at Private High Schools A.B. 846 Rewrites Section 51220.6 of the Education Code, relating to driver education. Specifies that a private school is not required to offer drive... More... MD Rule Adoption 07/2005 P-12 Educational Programs In Nonpublic Schools COMAR 12A.09.10.01 thru .20 Proposes to amend rules to the Board of Education. Brings educational programming standards in these institutions into alignment with revisi... More... HI Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Temporary Private Preschool Licensing and Accreditation Task Force S.B. 1018 Creates a temporary private preschool licensing and accreditation task force to develop recommendations for licensing and accreditation stan... More... GA Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Prayer and Private Schools H.B. 678 Provides that state law may not prohibit a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the priv... More... AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Distance Learning H.B. 2566 Amends the name of the Arkansas Distance Learning Development Project to the Arkansas Distance Learning Development Program. Allows courses ... More... DE Rule Adoption 01/2005 P-12 Non-Public School Educator Licensure and Certification 14 DAC 278 Establishes regulation regarding non-public school educator licensure and certification to provide a system for non public school educators ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Foster Children: Education A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions) Requires the Department of Education to ensure that the California School Information Services' system meets the needs of pupils in foster c... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Special Education in Private Schools A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions) Require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to conduct an investigation onsite at any time without prior notice when there is substanti... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Nonpublic Schools Serving Special Education Students A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions) Requires a master contracts with nonpublic, nonsectarian schools for the provision of special education and related services to include that... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Private Schools: Driver's Education Instruction S.B. 524 Provides that the satisfactory completion of a course in automobile driver education offered by a private secondary school satisfies the ins... More... DE Rule Adoption 09/2004 P-12 School Transportation 14 DAC, Section 1105, 1.0 - 22.7 Amends regulation by adding a new section that includes the responsibilities of non-public, non- profit schools for the administration of th... More... MS Rule Adoption 08/2004 P-12 Nonpublic School Accreditation (Uncodified) Amends rules concerning nonpublic school accreditation. MISSISSIPPI REG 9256 (SN)... More... WI Vetoed 03/2004 P-12 Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Amendments A.B. 836 Requires a private school participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to conduct a criminal background check on each new employee... More... WI Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Milwaukee Parental Choice Program A.B. 847 Relate the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program; requires a private school to conduct a criminal background check on all persons employed as in... More... WY Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Licensing of Religious Schools S.B. 25 Relates to private school licensing; clarifies exemptions from licensing requirements for religious schools; imposes additional requirements... More... SD Adopted, On November 2004 Ballot 02/2004 P-12 Provision of Certain Services to All Children HJR 1003/Constitutional Amendment B Proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election amendments to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of South D... More... IL Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Voluntary Non-public Schools Registration S.B. 1014 Amends the School Code. Provides for the voluntary registration and recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools. Requires ass... More... DE Rule Adoption 10/2003 P-12 Definitions of Public School and Private School 14 DAC 255 Amends regulation 255, Definitions of Public School and Private School, reflecting changes made to the Delaware Code Title 14 Section 2703A,... More... NY Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Private School Bus Drivers Safety Regulations S.B. 392 Applies the safety regulations of the commissioner of education presently applicable to public school bus drivers to private school bus driv... More... DE Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Non Public School Teachers S.B. 162 Allows teachers, specialists and administrators employed by non-public schools in the state to voluntarily become licensed and certified; es... More... OR Vetoed 06/2003 P-12 Students Not Taught In Public Schools S.B. 761 Repeals examination requirements that apply to children who are taught by a private teacher, parent or legal guardian; allows exemption from... More... ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Course Credits and Diploma Eligibility S.P. 328 (LD 987) Makes the law regarding transfer of credit for equivalent instruction at nonapproved private schools consistent with earned credit for home ... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Requirement to Report School Employee Nonrenewal or Termination Due to Alleged or Actual Misconduct H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Requires any local board, superintendent or head of any nonpublic school to report to the state educational examiners board every instance o... More... KS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Personal Finance Literacy Program S.B. 74 Requires the state board to assist in the implementation of personal financial literacy instructional programs, to include consumer financia... More... MS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Private School Use of Criminal Background Check System H.B. 742 Adds that any nonpublic school accredited or approved by the state board may use the procedures established in statute for criminal backgrou... More... SD Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Nonpublic School Student Transportation S.B. 224 Allows school districts to provide transportation to nonpublic school students if no additional public funds are expended to provide the tra... More... HI Approved by voters 11/2002 P-12 Postsec. Use the proceeds from bonds to assist private elementary/secondary schools & colleges/universities CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 Proposes a Constitutional amendment to allow the State to issue Special Purpose Revenue Bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assist ... More... CO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Criminal Background Checks H.B. 1459 Expands inquiry process at nonpublic schools from applicants to include employees of such schools. If nonpublic school employee is subject o... More... TN Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 State Standards Apply to Private Providers S.B. 2380 Applies the state board's of education child care standards to programs operated by private schools. Any funds or personnel involved in the ... More... GA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Regional Educational Service Agencies H.B. 136 Relates to services to member local school systems by regional educational service agencies; provides that a regional educational service ag... More... HI Constitutional Amendment Filed with Office of Lieutenant Govenor 05/2002 P-12 Postsec. Bond Proceeds to Assist Not-for-Profits H.B. 2848, H.B. 2166 Proposes constitutional amendments to authorize the state to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assi... More... FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Education Code Re-Write: Private Schools and Home Education S.B. 20E Creates Office of Private Schools and Home Education. New section defines home education program and private school. Inserts "directory" lan... More... MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Postsec. Purchasing of Materials for Private K-12 and Postsecondary Schools H.B. 779 Authorizes the Department of General Services to purchase materials, supplies and equipment on behalf of specified private elementary and se... More... IA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Numerous Program Changes H.B. 2515 Adds one nonvoting student member to state board, making total board membership 10, provides for application process and appointment of stud... More... IA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Various Modifications S.B. 2259 Allows nonresident pupil's participation in extracurricular activities pursuant to a court-ordered decree or order of custody. Modifies tuit... More... NJ To governor 12/2001 P-12 Transportation in Llieu of Payments A.B. 2928 Extends transportation services to nonpublic school pupils who reside in certain regional school districts that provide aid in-lieu-of payme... More... NV Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Exemption from Accreditation S.B. 223 Exempts elementary and secondary education institutions operated by churches, religious organizations and faith-based ministries from requir... More... OH Signed into law 12/2000 P-12 Technology for Students in Nonpublic Schools H.B. 768 Expands the use of computer hardware and instructional materials purchased by school districts for use by students enrolled in nonpublic sch... More... NJ Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Transportation of Certain Nonpublic School Students A.B. 1337, AB 1674 Provides transportation or in-lieu-of payments to certain nonpublic school pupils in certain school districts. Permits the purchase of such... More... NE Rejected by voters 05/2000 P-12 English Language Requirement in Private Schools V. 4 (LR 20-1999); Constitutional amendment; eliminates the English language requirement in private, denominational, and parochial schools.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Private School Funding H.B. 2282 Relates to industrial development financing; makes private school eligible for funding.... More... TN Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Non-Public School Teachers H.B. 2680 Allows teachers at non-public schools to receive professional licensure on same basis as similarly qualified public school teachers.... More... VA Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Transfer of Credits, Accreditation H.B. 987 Provides that the Board of Education recognizes, for purposes of facilitating the transfer of academic credits for students who have attende... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2000 P-12 Services to Nonpublic Schools A.B. 3270 Requires a board of education providing certain services to nonpublic school pupils to provide consultation with representatives of the nonp... More...