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 |
| CA | Signed into law 09/2012 | Postsec. | From bill summary: Requires that an otherwise qualifying institution that becomes ineligible for initial and renewal Cal Grant awards due either to (1) a 3-year cohort default rate at or above 15.5% or (2) a graduation
rate of 30% or less for students taking 150% or less of the expected time to complete degree requirements, must regain its eligibility for the academic year for which it satisfies these requirements. Page 16 of 48: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1001-1050/sb_1028_bill_20120926_chaptered.pdf
Title: S.B. 1028 - Regaining Institutional Eligibility for Cal Grant Awards
Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov
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| ME | Signed into law 06/2011 | Postsec. | Requires all postsecondary institutions, including institutions offering accredited postsecondary educational and degree programs on the Internet, to report annually to the Department of Education the retention rates of the students for each degree program and the graduation rates for students who complete 2 year or associate's degree programs in 2, 3 or 4 years and for students who complete 4 year or bachelor's degree programs in 4, 5 or 6 years. Requires the Department of Education to report this information annually to the Legislature and publish the report on the department's publicly accessible website. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC232.asp
Title: S.P. 156
Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org
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| NC | Signed into law 06/2011 | Postsec. | Requires the Commission on Workforce Development, acting as the lead agency, with the cooperation of other participating agencies, including but not limited to, the North Carolina Community College System, The University of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to initiate the "No Adult Left Behind" Initiative (Initiative) geared toward achievement of major statewide workforce development goals. Provides that the Initiative may also include community-based nonprofit organizations that provide services or assistance in the areas of worker training, workforce development, and transitioning North Carolinians between industries in the current global labor market. Provides that the first goal of the Initiative is to increase dramatically to forty percent (40%) the percentage of North Carolinians who earn associate degrees, other two-year educational credentials, and baccalaureate degrees. Permits specific fields of study may be selected for the most intense efforts. Directs the Commission on Workforce Development to, as the lead agency along with the North Carolina Community College System and The University of North Carolina as key cooperating institutions: (1) Collaborate to provide model evening-weekend certificate and degree programs designed specifically for working adults and other nontraditional students; (2) Work together to promote systemic changes designed to increase access and foster success among adult workers and other nontraditional students; and (3) Make it a priority to provide model evening-weekend certificate and degree programs in high-demand disciplines, occupations, and fields closely linked to economic development or that are the focus of public initiatives. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/HTML/S166v5.html
Title: S.B. 166
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us
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| WV | Signed into law 05/2011 | P-12
Postsec. | Clarifies the duties and responsibilities of the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC). Sets deadlines in coming years for working toward fulfilling pay levels included in a state-determined salary schedule. Provides that a tutition and fee increase greater than five percent for resident students requires the approval fo the HEPC. Requires, by July 1, 2015, the governing board of each state institution of higher education under the jurisdiction of the HEPC, including the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, to attain a graduation rate for full-time undergraduate students that equals or exceeds the peer-established graduation rate (W. Va. Code §18B-1A-3). http://www.legis.state.wv.us/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB330%20SUB1%20ENR.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=330
Title: S.B. 330
Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us
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| NM | Signed into law 03/2010 | P-12
Postsec.
Community College | Enacts the Hispanic Education Act; creates the Hispanic Education Office of the Public Education Department; provides for powers and duties; creates an advisory council. Provides for the study, development and implementation of educational systems that affect the educational success of Hispanic students to close the achievement gap, increase graduation rates, and increase college participation and completion; encourages and foster parental involvement; provides mechanisms for all stakeholders to work together to improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students.
http://nmlegis.gov/Sessions/10%20Regular/final/HB0150.pdf
Title: H.B. 150; S.B. 132
Source: http://nmlegis.gov/
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| WA | Signed into law 03/2010 | Community College
Postsec. | Requires the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to develop policies for awarding academic credit for learning from work and military experience, military law enforcement training, career college training, internships and externships, and apprenticeships. Chapter 71
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6357-S.PL.pdf
Title: S.B. 6357
Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov
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| TN | Signed into law 01/2010 | Postsec.
Community College | Enacts the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010. Revises previously established provisions to require the Tennessee higher education commission (THEC) to construct a statewide master plan that directs higher education to be accountable for increasing the educational attainment levels of Tennesseans. This bill also requires THEC, in consultation with the respective governing boards, to approve institutional mission statements concurrent with the adoption of each revised statewide master plan. Each institutional mission statement must characterize the institution's distinctiveness in degree offerings and address institutional accountability. Removes the requirement for THEC to develop county and regional profiles. Specifies that funding recommendations made by THEC must reflect the priorities of the approved master plan. The master plan must address the state's economic development, work force development, and research needs; ensure increased degree production within the state's capacity to support higher education; and use institutional mission differentiation to realize statewide efficiencies through institutional collaboration and minimized redundancy in degree offerings, instructional locations, and competitive research. Requires the Board of Regents to establish a comprehensive, statewide coordinated community college system. Requires the THEC to develop and the Regents to implement a common course-numbering system by fall 2011 and to ddress transfer/articulation by identifying 60 hours of coursework that will transfer as a block from two-year to four-year colleges. After July 1, 2012, four-year institutions may no longer provide remedial or developmental instruction to any student unless it corrdinates its efforts with a two-year college to teach the student (who then must enroll at both institutions).
Under present law, THEC must develop policies and formulae or guidelines for fair and equitable distribution and use of public funds among the state's institutions of higher learning that are consistent with and further the goals of the statewide master plan, taking into account enrollment projections, recognizing institutional differences as well as similarities in function, services, academic programs and levels of instruction. This bill deletes the requirement that the developed policies and formulae or guidelines "take into account enrollment projections, recognizing institutional differences as well as similarities in function, services, academic programs and levels of instruction." Under present law, the policies and formulae or guidelines must also support and enhance regional collaboration and student access through financial aid, while being mindful of the funding capacity of the state. This bill removes this requirement. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB7006.pdf
Link to fiscal note: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Fiscal/HB7008.pdf
Title: S.B. 7006, H.B. 7008
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov
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| RI | Signed into law 11/2009 | Postsec.
Community College | Authorizes the Bachelors Degree in Three program, a new educational initiative designed to expedite the process so that students can earn a bachelors degree at a state college or university within three years. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/billtext09/senatetext09/s1052.pdf
Title: S.B. 1052
Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us
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| OH | Signed into law 07/2009 | Postsec. | Section 371.20.95 (A): In FY 2010, directs the chancellor of the board of regents, in consultation with representatives of state colleges and universities, to conduct a study to identify the socioeconomic, demographic, academic, personal and other factors that identify a student as being "at-risk" of academic failure, and recommend how these factors may be used to determine funding allocations after FY 2010. Requires the study to be completed by April 15, 2010. Authorizes the chancellor to use the results of the study to recommend additional weights to be used in determining the FY 2011 State Share of Instruction allocations. Requires the chancellor to report any such formula changes to the Controlling Board by August 30, 2010.
Page 2955 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf
Title: H.B. 1 - Section 371.20.95(A)
Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us
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| TX | Signed into law 06/2009 | P-12
Postsec. | Amends various provisions in Section 29.098 related to intensive summer programs for public school students and to college readiness programs at public institutions of higher education. Adds provisions in 61.0762 that allow the higher education coordinating board to develop summer bridge programs in social sciences; clarifies that the goal of all such such summer bridge programs (including those in English language arts, science and math) is to reduce the need for developmental education. Eliminates provision requiring the board by rule to develop financial assistance programs for educationally disadvantaged students who take college entrance and college readiness exams. Requires the board to develop a pilot program to award grants to postsecondary institutions for intensive programs to address the needs of students at risk of dropping out of college; specifies that an institution may be awarded a grant only if at least 50% of the students in the program demonstrate certain indicators. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB02258F.pdf
Title: S.B. 2258
Source: www.legis.state.tx.us
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| FL | Signed into law 05/2009 | P-12
Postsec.
Community College | Provides that in order to qualify as a resident for community college and state university tuition purposes, a person/parent or guardian must have maintained legal residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to his or her initial enrollment in an institution of higher education.
To encourage each undergraduate student who enrolls in a state university to complete the student's respective baccalaureate degree program in the most efficient way possible while providing for access to additional college coursework, state universities shall require a student to pay an excess hour surcharge equal to 50 % of the tuition rate for each credit hour in excess.
Permits the Legislature to provide an annual appropriation to support Florida private colleges and universities. Such appropriations may be used to provide access to Florida residents
seeking a postsecondary education, to fulfill the state's need for graduates in specific disciplines, and to support medical research.
http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2009-060.pdf
Title: S.B. 1696
Source: http://laws.flrules.org
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| IL | Adopted 01/2009 | Postsec. | Provides exemptions from program approval requirements. Requires any institution offering online instruction where the core academic support services, including admission, evaluation, assessment, registration, financial aid, academic scheduling, and faculty hiring and support, are located in Illinois, to be approved by the state board of higher education.
Adds that as part of the criteria for postsecondary program approval, the institution must be prepared to provide students with (1) a statement regarding the transferability of college credits, including the fact that the decision to accept transfer credits is currently made by receiving institutions; (2) a statement as to how the institution will advise students on the nature of the transfer process, including the importance of consulting with institutions to which the student may seek to transfer; (3) evidence of articulation arrangements with institutional counterparts, when these arrangements exist; and (4) a statement of the institution's most recent graduation rates as provided by the institution to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The approval process also is amended such that, if the institution requires the student to sign an enrollment agreement or a similar agreement, the agreement must provide consumer information, including an explanation of all criteria and requirements for retention, progress towards degree, and graduation of the student; the institution's tuition, cancellation and refund policies; and a statement of the purpose and amount of any fees assessed.
Adds that any institution applying for a certificate of approval or authorization to operate in the state must specify its accreditation status. Requires new institutions without accreditation from an accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to provide a clearly defined plan to move from candidate to affiliate status. Provides the plan should include the name of the accrediting organization, the basic outline of the accreditation process, and the projected time line for obtaining affiliate status within five years after the date of state higher education board approval, unless the higher education board waives the original time line because it is found to be an unrealistic expectation.
Creates new provision that initial authorization to operate in Illinois for institutions new to the state is for five years. In the fifth year of operation, requires the executive director of the board to direct staff to conduct a review. Provides circumstances under which the board may deny a continuation of the initial approval or offer a limited extension.
Adds a requirement that, prior to submission of the request for approval of a new degree program, the institution seeking approval complete a notice of intent that includes the degree and program name, description of the program, demographics of the intended students and estimated enrollment.
Adds provisions allowing an institution to temporarily suspend a program after receiving state higher education board approval.
Pages 57-80 of 209: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume33_issue1.pdf
Title: 23 IAC 1030.10, 1030.20, 1030.30, 1030.60, 1030.70, 1030.80,1030.ILLUSTRATION A
Source: www.cyberdriveillinois.com
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| LA | Signed into law 07/2008 | Postsec.
Community College | Establishes the Grants for Grads Program and the Grants for Grads Fund for assistance to college graduates in the purchase of their first home. Provides that eligible graduates must be Louisiana residents who have received an associate, baccalaureate, master's, or other postgraduate degree and who intend to live and work in Louisiana for at least five years after college graduation or completion of a postgraduate degree. Establishes maximum awards for individual and married grantees. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=502056
Title: H.B. 1156
Source: www.legis.state.la.us
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| CT | Signed into law 06/2007 | Postsec.
Community College | Concerns graduation rates at institutions of higher education; develops a plan to increase graduation rates at state institutions of higher education.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/sa/pdf/2007SA-00009-R00SB-01216-SA.pdf
Title: S.B. 1216
Source: Connecticut Legislature
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