From the ECS State Policy Database Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling

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 NC Signed into law 06/2013 P-12 Back to Basics H.B. 146 Require the state board of education to ensure instruction in cursive writing and memorization of multiplication tables as a part of the basic education program. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2013/Bills/House/PDF/H146v3.pdf... More... ID Adopted 03/2013 P-12 Education, Cursive Writing H.C.R. 3 States the findings of the legislature and requests that the state board commence rulemaking to require that cursive handwriting be taught in the state public elementary schools. http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2013/HCR003Bookmark.htm... More... SC Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Suspends Writing Assessments H.J.R. 4823 - Sec. 3 Requires the state department of education, for the 2010-2011 school year, to suspend the writing assessments in grades 3, 4, 6 and 7; Provides that writing assessments may be administered only to students in grades 5 and 8 and that writing assessments may not... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Writing and Social Studies Assessments H.B. 1 - Section 265.20.18 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Prohibits the administration of the elementary writing and social studies assessments during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, unless the superintendent of public instruction determines the department has sufficient funds to p... More... UT Adopted 04/2009 P-12 Exemption from U-PASS Testing Requirements R277-705 Adds a new section regarding student achievement testing exceptions. Provides the state board may exempt a district or charter school from U-PASS testing requirements if a district or charter school pilots an assessment system that incorporates: (1) online cla... More... KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Improving Writing S.B. 1 Section 17 Provides that whereas the quality of writing instruction is directly related to how well teachers are prepared in their teacher preparation programs and how confident they are in the writing process; and whereas some teachers have expressed tentativeness and d... More... KY Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Transition in Writing Program S.B. 1 Section 16 Provides that whereas writing is an essential skill for all public school students to master; and whereas the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years will be a transitional period for revising the content standards in all academic content areas and subsequently revis... More... UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Online Writing Assessment H.B. 334 Modifies the State Performance Assessment System for Students by requiring online writing assessments in grades 5 and 8. Encourages a school district or charter school, as applicable, to administer an online writing assessment to students in grade 11. Allows t... More... SD Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Writing Assessments H.B. 1035 Revises the required grade levels for assessment of writing skills by every public school district. Changes from grades 5 and 9 to "at least two grade levels." http://www.legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/bills/HB1035enr.pdf... More... IL Adopted 04/2006 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements 23 IAC 1.440 Changes reference to "career education" to "career and technical education." Clarifies differences between courses high schools must offer, courses students must take, and courses students must pass to graduate. Clarifies that all high school students must t... More... IN Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Overhaul of State Testing System H.B. 1240 Mandates that the department and the state board review the current statewide testing program and develop a long term plan that is subject to the approval of the state board for the transition to a testing program with the following objectives: (1) To ... More... SC Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 02/2004 P-12 Basic Skills Assessment Program H.B. 3875 (Joint Resolution) Approves regulations of the Board of Education; relates to basic skills assessment program writing text; relates to minimum standards of student achievement.... More... CO Vetoed 05/2003 P-12 Writing Assessments S.B. 309 Concerns a suspension of the administration of statewide assessments in writing. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/C2AD9B7F773A7D3287256CCB00775965?Open&file=309_enr.pdf... More... CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Cursive handwriting standards S.B. 1770 States that the Legislature encourages school districts to comply with the State Board of Education's English Language and Arts Writing Arts Strategies on cursive handwriting standards whereby pupils are expected to write fluidly and legibly. Encourages school... More... TN Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Writing Assessment H.B. 2900 Relates to comprehensive writing assessment scheduling.... More... TN Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Reading and Writing Proficiency S.B. 1881/H.B. 1921--Omnibus Bill Requires the state board of education to establish by rule and policy a reading initiative for kindergarten through grade 8 that includes at a minimum: (1) clear content and performance standards for student reading proficiency; (2) specific qualifications, re... More... NM Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Testing in Reading, Writing S.B. 673 Adds statewide testing in reading writing. Requires the department of education to involve local school district personnel, especially certified elementary reading specialists, in the development of methods on a statewide basis to measure student reading perfo... More... ME Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Maine Writing Project H.B. 1708 (LD 2414); Supports and expands the Maine Writing Project to improve student achievement in writing, which is a major feature of the State educational assessment.... More...