From the ECS State Policy Database High School

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 PA Signed into law 07/2012 P-12 Gives a high school student the right to wear a military dress uniform at a graduation ceremony if the student has fulfilled all requirements and is otherwise eligible to participate in the ceremony, and has completed basic training for, and is an active member of, a branch of the United States Armed Forces. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1307&pn=3771p Title: H.B. 1307 - Multiple Provisions Source: http://www.legis.state.pa.us MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Repeals the provision that required general education revenues for a student graduating early to be paid as though the student was in attendence for the entire year. Also repeals a provision that exempted these requirements for student participation in the two early graduation programs. Article 1, Sec. 7 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/data/revisor/law/2012/0/2012-239.pdf Title: H.F. 2949 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/ KY Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Transfers the Governor's Scholars Program from the office of the governor to the education and workforce development cabinet. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12RS/HB278/bill.doc Title: H.B. 278 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov MD Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Raises from 16 to 17 the maximum age at which children are required to attend a public school regularly during the entire school year, subject to specified exceptions. To take effect July 1, 2015. Raises the maximum age from 17 to 18, with specified exception to take effective July 1, 2017. Requires the State Department of Education on or before December 1, 2012 to develop a GED Options Program and request the departmental legislation necessary to implement the Program. Requires that, the State Department of Education on or before September 1, 2013 report on: (1) successful interventions at the early childhood and elementary school level; (2) best practices for parental education and involvement; and (3) alternative educational pathways. http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/bills/sb/sb0362e.pdf Title: S.B. 362 Source: mlis.state.md.us DC To mayor 04/2012 P-12 Establishes a pilot early warning and support system to track how individual students in grades 4 through 9 in 4 feeder school groups are performing on certain indicators of high school and college readiness. The system is supposed to identify students who are at risk of leaving school prior to graduation and develop initiatives to support high school and college readiness and increase high school graduation rates. The initiatives may include:(A) College and career awareness; (B) Parent outreach and engagement; (C) Tutoring and mentoring for struggling learners, including the use of technology-based programs;(D) Transition programs for middle and high school; (E) Individualized learning plans; and (F) Data coaches. Schools within each feeder school group are required to collaborate with each other and with the Mayor's office to ensure alignment of data collection. Requires the Mayor to survey a sample of schools to identify existing initiatives used to support high school and college readiness and increase graduation rates. Requires the Mayor to create a report that includes: (1) School-level data collected through the early warning and support system ; (2) Recommendations highlighting best practices to improve high school and college readiness and increase graduation rates; and (3) A plan to expand the early warning and support system to all schools. http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20120405113239.pdf Title: Bill 19-648 Source: http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us IA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Amends regional academies. Intead of serving 9-12th grade student, such academies are allowed to serve 7th-12-grade students. Authorizes a district establishing a regional academy to collaborate and partner with, enter into an agreement or contract with one or more school districts, area education agencies, community colleges, accredited public and private postsecondary institutions, accredited nonpublic schools, businesses, and private agencies located within or outside of the state. Clarifies that the purpose of a regional academy is to build a culture of innovation for students and community, to diversify educational and economic opportunities by engaging in learning experiences that involve students in complex, real-world projects, and to develop regional or global innovation networks. If a plan is submitted to the department for approval that demonstrates how the regional acadeny will increase and assess student achievement or increase and assess competency-based learning opportunities for students, the department may waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to school districts except those specifically refrenced. Authorizes a regional academy to include in its curriculum virtual or internet-based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa communications network, career and technical courses, core curriculum coursework, other specified required courses and asynchronous learning networks. The school districts participating in are required to enter into an agreement on how the funding generated by the supplementary weighting received shalI be used and shall submit the agreement to the department for approval. Requires regional academies to included advanced level courses. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/HF645.pdf Title: H.F. 645 - Multiple Sections Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us RI Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Defines "Recovery High School" as a public school or a special education program licensed by RIDE that: (i) Serves students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency, as defined by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV-TR; and (ii) Provides both comprehensive four (4) year high school education and a structured plan of recovery. Specifies the transfer of school aid. Authorizes the commissioner to create a pilot and specifies the entities that could apply to operate such a pilot. After 2 years of operation, the pilot recovery high school will be required to submit an analysis demonstrating the educational outcomes, including, but not limited to, graduation rates, retention rates, course performance, and performance on the state assessment attained through the pilot to the commissioner. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law11/law11388.htm Title: H.B. 6055, S.B. 439 A Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Provides that the State Board of Education (SBE) is an authorized accrediting entity for public schools. Requires the SBE to adopt rigorous academic standards for accrediation taking into consideration: (1) Standards of regional and national accrediting agencies; (2) Common Core Standards; and (3) Any other appropriate information. Prohibits the State Board of Community Colleges and University of North Carolina institutions from considering accrediation of an applicatn student's secondary school as a factor affecting admissions, loans, scholarships or other educational activity at the school, unless the accrediation was conducted by a state agency. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H342v5.pdf Title: H.B. 342 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us ME Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a program of technical assistance that promotes the importance of financial literacy and encourages school administrative units to implement an integrated model for instruction in personal finance that may be used in secondary schools as part of the instruction in social studies or mathematics Requires the commissioner in consultation with certain organizations to prepare and distribute annually, in January, a report to school boards and superintendents that includes strategies and resources available to implement an integrated model for instruction in personal finance for use in secondary schools. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC154.asp Title: H.P. 161 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org NC Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Directs local boards of education to adopt and implement policies that encourage high school to work partnerships. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/HTML/H769v4.html Title: H.B. 769 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us CT Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Allows a local or regional board of education to award a diploma to a veteran of World War II or the Korean hostilities, who left high school prior to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/PA/2011PA-00017-R00HB-06319-PA.htm Title: H.B. 6319 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov GA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 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 component to the current WorkKeys assessment used in Georgia. Provides such certification is intended to assist both the existing workforce as well as the state's emerging workforce. Authorizes the office to explore local, national and international soft skills programs to develop a soft skills certification system. Provides the office is authorized and encouraged to work with the state's emerging workforce, including rising and graduating high school students, with the goal that, upon graduation, high school students have both a diploma and certification in soft skills and work readiness to enable them to be successful in postsecondary education, a career pathway, or both. Permits the office to collaborate with the department of education and the board of technical and adult education to facilitate coordination with high schools so that high school students can attain certification in soft skills and work readiness. Page 13 of 14: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/116702.pdf Title: H.B. 186 - Certification in "Soft Skills" Source: www.legis.ga.gov OK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 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/HB1680%20ENR.DOC Title: H.B. 1680 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us IN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Postsec. Provides a Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship to a student who graduates from high school before Grade 12. It provides that the amount of the scholarship is $4,000. Requires the state board of education to amend its rules to facilitate graduation from high school in less than seven semesters and allows a student to participate in an early college, a dual credit, or a dual enrollment program during any grade in high school. Student would need to complete the necessary courses by Grade 11, apply for the grant and enroll in an approved postsecondary education institution. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/HE/HE1001.1.html Title: H.B. 1001--Early Graduation Scholarship Source: http://www.in.gov AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Community College Makes various clarifying, technical and conforming changes related to the implementation of the Grand Canyon Diploma (GCD). Requires the governing body or a charter school and school district governing boards to collaborate with the organization approved by the state board of education to provide board examination systems. Changes references to a student's status with regard to the GCD from "earn a GCD" to "be eligible for a GCD". Clarifies that students cannot be prevented from enrolling in a high school after becoming eligible for the GCD. Instructs the approved provider of board examinations to "contract", rather than "collaborate" with a national organization selected by the state board of education to provide technical services to develop an interstate system of board examination systems. Mandates the periodic evaluation of the board examination systems to ensure alignment with internationally benchmarked standards selected by an interstate compact on board examination systems. Modifies the passing score requirement for the board examination systems to reflect the level of skills and knowledge needed, rather than literacy required, to succeed in college-level courses. Clarifies that community colleges are not prohibited from requiring qualified recipients of the GCD to enroll in remedial courses. States that a student who earns a GCD is responsible for tuition at a community college. Clarifies that students who choose to remain in high school without completing the next level of board examination systems may participate in extracurricular activities. Schools granting GCDs are to include in their student count, and receive per pupil funding for, those students who receive GCDs until they would have graduated at the end of grade 12 as long as the students are enrolled full-time in an Arizona community college. Directs schools to subtract 20% of their average daily membership amount and reimburse the community college if the student earned a GCD and is enrolled full-time in a community college. Allocates one half of the student funding that remains after reimbursement of the community college for offsetting the costs of board examinations and providing customized programs of assistance for students who failed the board examinations. (Note: This allocation is in addition to the current requirement that this portion of the funding also cover teacher and pupil incentives. The other half of the funding is to be used for maintenance and operations, including capital.) Directs school districts and charter schools to determine, by agreement with a community college, the funding and implementation mechanics of enrollment in a community college by recipients of the GCD. Specifies, if instruction is provided by a Joint Techical Education District (JTED) in a full-time career and technical education program that leads to a certificate awarded by an industry or recognized as meeting industry standards. ADM for that student cannot exceed 1.25, and ADM must be 1.0 for the JTED and 0.25 for the school district. Allows schools to receive per pupil funding for students who elect to remain in high school without completing the next level of board examination systems. Title: S.B. 1451 Source: Westlaw/StateNet ME Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Provides that eligible Vietnam veterans may be awarded high school diplomas; Veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict already included in the statute. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chappdfs/PUBLIC25.pdf Title: H.P. 96 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Allows local school boards to award diploma seals for all Board of Education-approved diplomas. Requirements for the standard technical, advanced technical and modified standard diplomas are established in administrative rule. This legislation bring references to the awarding of these diploma options into statute. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0209+pdf Title: H.B. 1793 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Postsec. Community College Requires the governing boards of each public institution of higher education to implement policies regarding the granting of credit for Cambridge Advanced (A/AS) examinations. Also provides that each institution's policy for course credit for Cambridge Advanced (A/AS) courses must be comparable to its policies for granting course credit for Advanced Placement courses. Clarifies that students may be awarded credit for AP and IB exam scores, rather than completion of AP and IB courses. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+HB1910ER+pdf Title: H.B. 1910/S.B. 1448 Source: Westlaw/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 States legislative findings regarding work-based learning. Authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to establish work-based learning programs, and to purchase liability insurance for pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work-based learning, off school grounds. Authorizes partnership academies, regional occupational programs, and local educational agencies to deliver work-based learning opportunities for pupils that may include work experience education, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, and job shadowing experience. Authorizes regional and local business organizations, in conjunction with school districts and community colleges, and any other representatives deemed appropriate, to develop principles and guidelines for the establishment of work-based learning programs. Provides that for purposes of defining "sufficient textbooks or instructional materials", these may include digital materials, as long as each pupil has the ability to access the digital material at home and, at a minimum, has the same content in class and to take home as all other pupils in the same class or course in the district. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2201-2250/ab_2211_bill_20100924_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2211 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Provides that cooperative innovative high schools have the same exemptions from statutes and rules as charter schools, other than those pertaining to personnel. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S1201v3.pdf Title: S.B. 1201 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us FL Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Repeals Subsection (5) of section 1003.413, which directed the commissioner of education to implement the Secondary School Improvement Award Program to reward secondary schools that demonstrate continuous student academic improvement and show the greatest student achievement gains in reading and math. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7037er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7037&Session=2010 Title: HB 7037 - Sec 25 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and adopt, by the 2010-11 school year, a policy whereby students are allowed to accelerate their academic progress, complete all high school graduation requirements established by the board, and receive a high school diploma in less than four years. Outlines the implementation of such policy by local school boards. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722811 Title: S.B. 553 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Requires each local public school system to post the four-year cohort graduation rate for each high school and for the system as a whole on its Internet website. Districts must send a written notice to the parent or other legal guardian of high school students that contains the four-year cohort dropout rate of the school and the number of students in the school that have been identified as failing pursuant to the school and district accountability system. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722458 Title: S.B. 753 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ FL Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Encourages school boards to adopt policies and procedures to provide for a student "Academic Scholarship Signing Day" by declaring the third Tuesday in April each year as "Academic Scholarship Signing Day." The "Academic Scholarship Signing Day" will recognize the outstanding academic achievement of high school seniors who sign a letter of intent to accept an academic scholarship offered to the student by a postsecondary educational institution. http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2010-203.pdf Title: S.B. 206 Source: http://laws.flrules.org GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 20-2-326 defines: --"Career academy" as (1) a specialized charter school established by a partnership between one or more local boards of education and a technical school or college or (2) a small learning community where a student receives academic instruction at his/her assigned high school, along with work-based learning opportunities at an industry center or technical school or college --"Chronically low-performing high school" as one (1) with a graduation rate below 60% for three consecutive years (using the National Governors Association methodology), or (2) that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for three consecutive years --"Choice technical high school" as a high school other than the one the student is assigned to by residence, designed to prepare a student for postsecondary education and employment. Provides a choice technical high school may be operated by a local school system or technical college. Also permits a choice technical high school to be operated as a charter school under a governance board comprised of parents, employers and representatives from the local school board --"Focused program of study" as a rigorous academic core combined with (1) a focus in math and science, (2) a focus in humanities, fine arts and foreign language, or (3) a coherent sequence of career pathway courses that prepares a student for postsecondary education or immediate employment after high school graduation. Also defines "small learning community" as a subset of high school students and teachers joined around a broad career or academic theme where teachers have common planning time to connect teacher assignments and assessments to college and career readiness standards. Provides that students voluntarily apply for enrollment in a small learning community but must be accepted, and such enrollment must be approved by the student's parent. Specifies that a small learning community also includes a career academy organized around a specific career theme and integrates academic and career instruction, provides work-based learning opportunities, and prepares students for postsecondary education and employment, in partnership with local employers, community organizations and postsecondary institutions. New Section 20-2-328 directs the state board of education, subject to legislative appropriation, to establish a competitive grant program for local school systems to implement school reform measures in selected high schools. Requires the state board to establish grant criteria, which must include that priority for grants be given to chronically low-performing high schools. Directs the state board to develop, for high schools receiving a grant, an evidence-based model for serving at-risk students, which must focus on specified elements designed to increase student achievement; reduce dropout; help students and their parents set and achieve career and educational goals; and help students learn and apply study skills, coping skills and other habits that produce successful students and adults. Requires that the at-risk model program include: (1) Diagnostic assessments (2) A process for identifying at-risk students, closely monitored by the department of education to ensure that students are properly identified and receive timely and appropriate guidance and assistance, and to ensure no group is disproportionately represented (3) An evaluation component in each high school to ensure programs provide students an opportunity to earn a high school diploma. Identifies components the at-risk model program may include to facilitate 9th grade success, such as: (1) Flexible scheduling to increase student time in language/arts and math to eliminate academic deficiencies (2) Ninth grade student-teacher ratios no higher than those in any other grade in the high school (3) Using effective teachers as leaders for teacher teams in 9th grade to improve instructional planning, delivery and reteaching strategies (4) Assigning teacher mentors to meet frequently with students to provide planned lessons on study skills and other "habits of success" to help students become independent learners and help them receive the assistance they need to pass 9th grade (5) Ninth grade career courses incorporating a series of miniprojects throughout the school year that require the application of grade-level reading, math and science skills to complete, require students to use a range of technology, and help students explore a range of educational and career options to help them formulate post high school goals and give them a reason to stay in school and work toward achieving their stated goals. Requires the state board to adopt rules for chronically low-performing high schools receiving a reform grant, to make the high schools more relevant to and effective for all students. Requires that such rules encourage high schools to implement a comprehensive school reform research-based model that focuses on eight specified elements, including setting high expectations for all students and fostering collaboration among academic and career/technical teachers. New Section 20-2-329 requires high schools receiving a reform grant per Section 20-2-328 to provide focused programs of study that, whether offered at a choice technical high school, a career academy, a traditional high school, or on site at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution: (1) Are aligned with state board-set graduation requirements, including 4 years of math and 4 years of English with an emphasis on developing reading and writing skills to meet college and career readiness standards (2) Implement a teacher adviser system (3) Provide students in grades 9-12 with information on educational programs offered in high school, two- and four-year institutions, and through apprenticeship programs and how these programs can lead to a variety of career fields. Requires that districts offer opportunities for field trips, job shadowing and other means to help students and their parents in revising, if appropriate, the student's individual graduation plan. (4) Enroll students by grade 9 into one of the following options for earning a high school diploma and preparing students for postsecondary education and a career which will include a structured program of academic study with in-depth studies in: (A) Mathematics and science; (B) Humanities, fine arts, and foreign language; or (C) A career pathway that leads to passing an employer certification exam in a high demand, high skill, or high wage career field or to an associate's degree or bachelor's degree. (5) Implement the state board-developed at-risk model program (6) Schedule annual conferences to help students and their parents set educational and career goals and create individual graduation plans Directs the state board to adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this bill. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/hb400.pdf Title: H.B. 400 - New Section 20-2-326, 328 and 329 Source: AZ Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Creates the Grand Canyon Diploma (GCD) offered to students who demonstrate readiness for college level mathematics and English according to standards prescribed by an interstate compact on board examination systems and who has passing grades on a set of required core courses. Allows school districts and charter schools to choose to offer a GCD beginning in the 2012-13 school year. States that the GCD may be awarded at the end of grade 10 or during or at the end of grades eleven or twelve to students who meet the criteria. Specifies that students who elect to pursue the GCD must participate in a board examination system that consists of internationally benchmarked instructional programs of study chosen by an interstate compact on board examination systems. Students who earn a GCD must have multiple pathways available to them and may: (1) Enroll the following fall semester in a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district in Arizona; (2) remain in high school and enroll in additional advanced preparation board examination programs designed to prepare those students for admission to high quality postsecondary instutitons that offer baccalaureate degree programs and requires these board examination programs to be selected from a list approved by an interstate compact for board examination systems; (3) enroll in a full-time career and technical education program offered on a community college campus, a high school campus, a joint technological education district campus or any combination of these campuses; and (4) return to a traditional academic program without completing the next level of board examination systems curriculum. Specifies that students who pursue but do not earn a GCD at the end of grade ten or eleven must receive a customized program of assistance during the next school year that addresses areas in which the student demonstrated deficiencies in the approved board examinations and allows these students to retake the board examinations at the next available examination administration or choose to return to a traditional academic program without completing the board examination system curriculum. Requires the State Board of Charter Schools to modify previously approved curriculum requirements for charter schools that wish to participate in the board examination system. Allows school district governing board or charter school governing body to contract with the private organization approved by the State Board of Education to provide approved board examination systems for the school or charter school. Requires the State Board of Education to select and enter into a five-year agreement with a private organization to operate and administer the board examination system prescribed in this act and sets out the requirements on the selected private organization including the development of the GCD as a high school diploma to be approved and adopted by the State Board of Education. Makes requirements of the board examination system. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this act. Requires the Arizona Department of Education, pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education, to develop a system to track the academic progress of pupils who participate in the board examination system. Chapter 333 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/hb2731s.pdf Title: H.B. 2731 Source: http://www.azleg.gov SC Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Permits high schools to offer state-funded WorkKeys (i.e., a job skill assessment system) to 10th grade students using funds appropriated for the assessment of PSAT or PLAN; Provides that the selection of the test for each student should be informed by the student's individual graduation plan, cluster selection, guidance counselor advisement, and parent or legal guardian consent. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/4823.htm Title: H.J.R. 4823 - Sec. 4 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.gov AL Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Extends eligibility for high school diplomas to honorably discharged Vietnam veterans. Title: H.B. 74 Source: www.lexis.com FL Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to study: (1) different types of diplomas in different states; (2) criteria for awarding diplomas and endorsements; (3) differences in courses for college-bound and career pathways; (4) advantages and disadvantages of offering diploma options; and (5) any barriers other states have encountered when implementing differentiated diplomas. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0004er.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/ Title: S.B. 4 - Sec. 14 Source: http://www.flsenate.gov WI Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Requires boards annually to prepare budgets for each school in the district. Requires boards to collaborate with nonprofits and government agencies to provide comprehensive social services and educational support. Requires boards to provide alternative methods of attaining a high school diploma for those pupils who are unlikely to graduate, including a prpogram allowing a pupil or former pupil to retake a course in which he/she was not initially successful. Requires boards to conduct an annual survey of parents to develop of modify parent involvement and school improvement plans. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act215.pdf Title: S.B. 437 Source: http://www.legis.state.wi.us MS Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Revises the GED program entrance requirements for students who are at least one full grade level behind his or her ninth grade cohort. Requires those students enrolled in certain subject area courses to take the end-of-course subject area tests for those courses in which they are enrolled. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2010/pdf/HB/0600-0699/HB0629SG.pdf Title: H.B. 629 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Directs the state board to provide for the waiver of certain high school graduation requirements (i) upon the Board's initiative or (ii) at the request of a local school board. Such waivers may only be granted for good cause and shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB1199ER+pdf Title: H.B. 1199 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/ VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Postsec. Requires the governing boards of each public institution of higher education to implement policies to grant a minimum of 24 undergraduate semester credit hours to entering freshman students who have successfully completed the International Baccalaureate diploma program. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+SB209ER+pdf Title: S.B. 209 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Ensures that the sequential elective requirement for the standard diploma supports the student-selected career pathway required by the Academic and Career Plan and described in Board of Education regulations. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB394ER+pdf Title: H.B. 394/S.B.629 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us VA Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Repeals the requirement for economics education and financial literacy instruction in middle and high schools. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB196ER+pdf Title: H.B. 196 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us NH Rule Adoption 02/2010 P-12 Postsec. Community College  Allows students enrolled in day high school programs to enroll in adult high school programs. Increases the number of credits needed for graduation from an adult high school to 20. Clarifies the awarding of credit through correspondence courses and completion of course competencies. Provides local programs with the authority to set attendance policies and to move the approval process for GED testing of 16 of 17 years olds from the Department of Education to local school districts or the agency overseeing a student's home schooling program. Title: Ed 700 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MA Signed into law 01/2010 P-12 Directs the department education to draft a model policy for school districts regarding the grade placement and eligibility for high school graduation of students leaving a charter school and seeking to enroll in a district school.  In drafting the model policy, the department shall confer with school districts and commonwealth charter schools. The model policy shall be made available not later than December 31, 2010. (Section 11) http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/186/st02/st02247.htm Title: S.B. 2247; (NEW BILL) Source: http://www.mass.gov KY Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Adds section providing definitions of: "full day of attendance" (student in attendance at least 65% of regularly-scheduled school day), "tardy" (student absent less than 35% of the regularly-scheduled school day), "half-day absence" (student absent 35-84% of regularly-scheduled school day), and "full-day absence" (student absent 85% or more of regularly-scheduled school day). According to the fiscal impact statement in the proposed rule change, "This change could increase individual local districts' average daily attendance (ADA) calculation, thus increasing SEEK [Support Education Excellence in Kentucky] payments to districts[;] however, any increases will still remain subject to the aggregate SEEK appropriation." Eliminates withdrawal code "W09" for a student who has graduated or completed a 504 plan or an individual education plan prior to the end of the school term or year. Adds the following withdrawal codes for indicating student enrollment status: W28 - student has reached the maximum age for education services without receiving a diploma or certificate of attainment C01 - student completes the school year in the school of the most current enrollment G01 - student graduates in less than 4 years G02 - student graduates in 4 years G03 - student graduates in 5 or more years G04 - studento graduates in 6 or more years NS - student completed the prior year with a C01 and was expected to enroll in the district but did not enroll by October 1 of the current year whose enrollment elsewhere cannot be substantiated. Adds that each student's ethnicity must be designated as either Hispanic/Latino or not Hispanic/Latino. Also clarifies that more than one racial codes may be applied to an individual student. Separates out "Pacific Islander" from "Asian" as a unique racial code. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/702/007/125reg.htm Title: 702 KAR 7:125 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov RI Signed into law 11/2009 P-12 Requires adoption and implementation of a formula to calculate information about on-time graduation from students in public high schools in the state. (Public Law No. 2009-204) http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law09/law09204.htm Title: S.B. 728 Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us IL Adopted 11/2009 P-12 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-off on the corrective plan a district must submit depending on whether a school or the district has been placed on probation. Adds a provision allowing a district's or school's status to be changed to "nonrecognized" if, at any time that a corrective action plan is in effect, the state superintendent determines that the agreed-upon actions are not being implemented in accordance with the plan or the underlying areas of noncompliance are not being remedied. Section 1.30: Updated to refer to state assessment accommodations now allowed for limited English proficient students, and now specifies when time extensions will be made available to those students (in response to P.A. 94-642, which authorized the state board to allow additional time "by rule"). Revises labels used to describe scores on the Illinois Alternate Assessment, and updates rule on review and verification of assessment information. Section 1.100: Adds details so that staff of districts and other eligible applicants will have more specific guidance as to what is expected as part of the process for receiving waivers and modifications of requirements in the school code or administrative rules. Section 1.240: Expanded to include a reference to gender identity among the prohibited bases for discrimination because it may otherwise not be clear that gender identity is encompassed in the definition of "sexual orientation". Section 1.420: Adds provision specifying that each district's plan for recording student progress and/or awarding credit must include credit for courses completed by correspondence, online or from other external sources. Specifies that a district may count four clock-hours as a day of instruction only due to a condition beyond the district's control; specifies other requirements that must be met for the state superintendent to approve a district's request to use "multiple sessions" to fulfill school day requirements. Specifies that students in attendance for at least 150 but fewer than 240 minutes of school work may be counted for a half-day of attendance; students in attendance for fewer than 150 minutes of school work are not to be counted for purposes of calculating average daily attendance. Emphasizes the meaning of the portion of the rule on library media programs that distinguishes between the services that may be performed only by certified library information specialists and the other tasks that may be inherent in districts' operation of their programs. Section 1.465 (on awarding of credit for foreign language study in an ethnic school program) and 1.480 (on correctional institution educational programs): Generally updated, including the insertion of current statutory citations. Section 1.510: Main revision conveys state board's interpretation that districts may not pick and choose among students in the same situation once they elect to transport some students. Section 1.737: Updated to complement new requirements for endorsements in safety and driver education that will take effect in 2012. Pages 324-388 of 432: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume33_issue45.pdf Title: 23 IAC 1.20, .30, .100, .240, .420, .465, .480, .510, .737 Source: www.cyberdriveillinois.com CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Provides that a pupil who has fulfilled the requirements to receive a diploma of graduation from a high school, is otherwise eligible to participate in a graduation ceremony, and has completed the basic training for, and is an active member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, has the right to wear the dress uniform issued to him or her by that military branch while participating in the graduation ceremony for his or her high school. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1451-1500/ab_1463_bill_20091011_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 1463 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Relates to the authorization of students in grade 7 or 8 to enroll in a high school course. Allows a student to participate in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a certified high school teacher who teaches in a high school of the school district where the student will attend when in high school and no high school students are enrolled in the course. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB4038lv.pdf Title: H.B. 4038 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Postsec. Provides that an applicant for the State Scholar program is eligible to be designated a State Scholar if he or she is a resident attending a Department of Defense school. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB4039lv.pdf Title: H.B. 4039 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Creates the City-Wide Council on High Schools for New York City. Provides the council has the power to: (1) Advise and comment on any educational or instructional policy involving high schools (2) Issue an annual report on the effectiveness of the city district in providing services to high school students and making recommendations on how to improve the efficiency and delivery of such services (3) Hold at least one meeting per month during which the public may discuss issues facing high schools. Establishes means by which council members must be selected and method for filling vacancies. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08903&sh=t Title: A.B. 8903 - City-Wide Council on High Schools Source: assembly.state.ny.us AZ Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Section 15-105 relates to the early graduation scholarship program. Removes the provisions on the amount of the scholarship award. A part-time student enrolled at least half-time for the academic year shall be prorated in accordance with the part-time status of the student. Provisions offering students who graduate one semester early receiving a scholarship grant in an amount not to exceed $1,000 was eliminated. Title: H.B. 2011--Section 15 Source: http://www.azleg.gov/ IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Allows school boards to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam Conflict. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB3731lv.pdf Title: H.B. 3731 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Repeals 3302.032, which directed the state board, by June 30, 2012, to select one or more methods of measuring high school graduates' preparedness for higher education and the workforce. Required district and building performance on each college-/work-ready measure to be included on district and building accountability report cards. Page 2725 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 105.01/3302.032 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 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 high school, and in each elementary or middle school in which less than 50% of students have earned a proficient score on the 4th or 7th grade English language arts or math achievement assessments. Requires each such local board to work with the department and the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative in developing its annual spending plan before submitting the plan. Requires each such local board to staff a linkage coordinator for closing the achievement gap and increasing the graduation rate. Defines "linkage coordinator" as an individual who is the primary mentor, coach and motivator for students identified as at risk of not graduating (as defined by the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative), and who coordinates those students' participation in academic programs, social service programs, out-of-school cultural and work-related experiences, and mentoring programs, based on students' needs. Provides the linkage coordinator must coordinate remedial disciplinary plans and work with school staff to gather student academic information and engage parents of targeted students. Requires that the linkage coordinator serve as the liaison between the school and the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative and participate in all professional development activities as directed by the initiative. Requires the linkage coordinator to establish and coordinate the work of academic promotion teams to address identified students' academic and social needs. Provides that such teams' membership may vary by school, and may include the linkage coordinator, parents, teachers, principals, school nurses, school counselors, probation officers, or other school personnel or community members. Directs the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative to work with each organizational unit of every district with a three-year average graduation rate at or below 80% to assess progress in implementing activities, and assist linkage coordinators, administrators and other school staff in ensuring compliance with the district's spending plan required under Section 3306.30. Specifies that items related to implementing actions in schools are subject to the state superintendent and the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative, and defines state superintendent actions if the superintendent or initiative disapprove items in the plan. Directs the department to work with the governor's closing the achievement gap initiative in reconciling the spending plan of a district with a three-year average graduation rate at or below 80% with the district's actual spending. Pages 1107-1109 and 2841 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3306.31 and 265.70.80 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us NC Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Employee Leave for Parent Conferences: - Requires local boards of education to work with business leaders to encourage local businesses to adopt personnel policies to permit parents to attend student conferences. Transitioning to High School: - Encourages local boards to implement programs (e.g., Ninth Grade Academies) that assist students in making a successful transition between the middle school and high school years. Parental Involvement in Student Achievement and Graduation Preparation: - Encourages local boards of education to adopt policies to promote and support parental involvement in student learning and achievement at school and at home and to encourage successful progress toward graduation. Suspension and Expulsion - Encourages local boards of education are encouraged to adopt policies and best practices to reduce suspension and expulsion rates and to provide alternative learning programs for continued academic progress for students who have been suspended. - Requires local boards to include in school policy on pregnant and parenting students (already required) a provision for assistance and support to encourage pregnant and parenting students to remain enrolled in school and graduate. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H187v4.pdf Title: H.B. 187 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us AZ Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Provides for the issuing of honorary high school diplomas to war veterans currently residing in the state. Chapter 19 http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/summary/s.2450vma.doc.htm Title: H.B. 2450 Source: http://www.azleg.gov/ OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Establishes standards for a modified diploma; creates an extended diploma and establishes standards for extended diplomas; prohibits a school district or public charter school from denying a student who qualifies for a modified diploma or extended diploma the opportunity to pursue a diploma with more stringent requirements; requires parent or guardian consent for the award of a modified diploma or extended diploma. Chapter 618 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2500.dir/hb2507.en.pdf Title: H.B. 2507 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Authorizes the commissioner to develop a system of distinction designations consistent with those developed for purposes of accreditation sanctions to be used in assigning distinction designations to Job Corps diploma programs. Pages 22-23 of 180: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00003F.pdf Title: H.B. 3 - Section 20 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Requires the state board to adopt rules requiring students in grades 6-8 to complete at least one fine arts course. Each time the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board revises the Internet database of the coordinating board's official statewide inventory of workforce education courses, requires the state board of education to revise the essential knowledge and skills (standards) of any corresponding career and technology education curriculum. Clarifies that a school district may not vary the curriculum for a course in the required curriculum based on whether a student is enrolled in the minimum, recognized, or advanced high school program. Pages 24-25 of 180: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00003F.pdf Title: H.B. 3 - Section 25 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 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) to demonstrate mastery of a language other than English, and (3) assessments or other means by which a student may demonstrate early readiness for college in each subject area. Assessments or other means must be equivalent to those used by the institution to place students in credit-bearing courses. (2) Partner with at least 10 school districts whose location and student compositions reflect the geographic and socioeconomic diversity of the state (3) Help school administrators, counselors and other educators in each of those school districts design the specific requirements of and implement the program. Requires a research university that partners with a school district to enter into an agreement that the district will assess a student's mastery of the subject areas for which the higher education coordinating board has adopted college readiness standards, and a language other than English. Authorizes the district to award a high school diploma if the student demonstrates mastery of and early readiness for college in each of those subject areas and in a language other than English, notwithstanding any other local or state requirements. Provides that such a student is considered to have completed the recommended high school program, and clarifies that such a student is not guaranteed admission to any institution of higher education or to any academic program at an institution of higher education solely on the basis of having received the diploma through the program. Requires a participating research university to enter into an agreement with an education research center (established by the commissioner of education and the higher education coordinating board) to evaluate the program.By January 2013, directs the education research center to provide the commissioner and the commissioner of higher education with a copy of the report and to post the report to the center's Web site. Provides the report may include an analysis of the effects of the program on the university's admissions review process. Pages 32-35 of 180: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00003F.pdf Title: H.B. 3 - Section 32 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 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 developed as a result of the promotion in the preceding two school years of students who did not perform satisfactorily on state assessments (2) Excessive numbers of students graduate under the minimum high school program (3) Excessive numbers of students eligible to enroll fail to complete an Algebra II course or any other course determined by the commissioner as distinguishing between students participating in the recommended high school program from students participating in the minimum high school program (4) Resource allocation practices as evaluated under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for significant improvement in resource allocation. Authorizes the commissioner, based on the results of a special accreditation investigation, to lower a district's or campus's accountability rating Pages 86-89 of 180: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00003F.pdf Title: H.B. 3 - Section 59 - Part II Source: www.legis.state.tx.us MO Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Allows a school term for students participating in a school flex program as established in section 160.539 to consist of a combination of actual pupil attendance and attendance at college or technical career education or approved employment aligned with the student's career academic plan for a total of 1,044. http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/pdf-bill/tat/SB291.pdf Title: S.B. 291- School Flex Program Attendance Source: http://www.senate.mo.gov MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Encourages all public higher education systems and other higher education institutions in Minnesota to offer research-based high school-to-college developmental transition programs to prepare students for college-level academic coursework. Defines program requirements. Requires annul report to the legislature that evaluates the effectiveness of programs in improving the academic performance of students who participated in the transition programs. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2083.3.html&session=ls86 Title: S.F. 2083 Source: Westlaw/StateNet MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College 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 effectiveness. Requires a report to the legislature on the effectiveness of these programs in improving the academic performance of participating students. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2083.3.html&session=ls86 Title: S.B. 2083 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MO Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Requires school districts to allow certain students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies after four years of high school attendance. http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/hb236.htm Title: H.B. 236 Source: http://www.house.mo.gov MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Ties course credits to state and local academic standards. Requires Minnesota students to successfully pass state graduation exams effective August 1, 2012, and applicable to 9th grade students beginning in the 2012-2013 school year and later. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Establishes parameters for alternative learning centers, alternative learning programs, and contract alternative programs. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Establishes a process for the commissioner and qualified experts and other stakeholders including parents and teachers to develop a model that projects anticipated high school performance on preparation and rigorous coursework measures and compares schools with similar schools. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Establishes a college and career-readiness workgroup headed jointly by MDE and the U of M to evaluate and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on the design of the state high school assessment system, levels of and mechanisms for accountability, postsecondary uses of the assessments and an implementation timeline. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Adds reporting of any business and industry-recognized endorsements attained by a student on a student's high school transcript. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB497_ENR.RTF Title: S.B. 497 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us FL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award a high school diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam War veterans. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb0316er.html&Directory=session/2009/Senate/bills/billtext/html/ Title: S.B. 316 Source: http://www.flsenate.gov TN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Requires a high school diploma awarded by any legal means including home school diplomas to be recognized as a regular public high school diploma. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB0433.pdf Title: S.B. 433 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov VT Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Strategies to expand education opportunities for high school students and others. Requires the Vermont state colleges, in consultation with various persons and organizations, to study and recommend strategies for expanding educational opportunities to prepare Vermonters to succeed in postsecondary education. Includes consideration of partnerships (higher education and K-12), a P-16 longitudinal data system (requires the commissioner of education to examine and evaluate student longitudinal data systems that are currently available and select one system to implement statewide) evidence-based models for high school improvements, etc. To the extent funds are available, requires phased implementation of the data system no later than January 1, 2010, to be complete in all districts in the state by January 1, 2017. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-405.pdf Title: H.B. 405 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us ND Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 For high schools to be approved, they must make available certain courses to students. This amendment requires more specificity in courses offered: from four units of English language arts to units from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and speech; From four units of mathematics to four units of math, including: (1) One unit of algebra II; and (2) One unit for which algebra II is a prerequisite; four units of science;, including: (1) One unit of physical science; and (2) One unit of biology; four units of social studies, including one: (1) One unit of world history and one; (2) One unit of United States history; and (3) (a) One unit of problems of democracy; or (b) One-half unit of United States government and one-half unit of economics. Allows native American language as a foreign language course choice. Adds requirement for one unit of an advanced placement course or one unit of a dual-credit course; and specifies that the requriement of two units of career and technical education come from a coordinated plan of study recommended by the department of career and technical education and approved by the superintendent of public instruction. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JARF1000.pdf Title: H.B. 1400 - Sec. 14, Course Offerings Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Creates the Smart Core Incentive Funding Program to provide a financial incentive to assist with a public high school's efforts to encourage students to complete the Smart Core curriculum and promote programs that contribute to student success, including tutoring, after-school and summer programs that may include the College Preparatory Enrichment Program, professional development for mathematics, science, literacy, foreign language, and Advanced Placement instruction and support to school counselors. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1481.pdf Title: S.B. 918 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Creates the Arkansas project graduation commission to investigate high school dropout prevention strategies, analyze the relationship between high school graduation rates and the state's economy, and to recommend strategies that will increase the overall high school graduation rate of state students by helping parents, schools, and students identify academic warning signs of dropout. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Acts/Act1306.pdf Title: H.B. 1956 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us MD Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishes a Study Group on Expanding Enrollment Options for High School Students; establishes the membership and staffing of the Study Group; specifies the duties of the Study Group; requires the Study Group to make specified reports; terminates the Study Group at the end of June 30, 2010. http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/sb/sb0689e.pdf Title: S.B. 689 Source: http://mlis.state.md.us/ UT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Repeals the funding allocation for high school emergency medical training programs. http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/hbillenr/hb0447.pdf Title: H.B. 447 Source: le.utah.gov LA Adopted 02/2009 P-12 Amends rules relating to statewide assessment standards and practices, specifically, End of Course Tests (EOCT). http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/lac/28v111/28v111.doc#_Toc222644588 Title: LAC 28:CXI.1801, 1803, 1805, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1813, 1815, 1817 Source: http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr MI Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 Revises the administration and requirements of the state merit examination; provides that pupils in grade 12 may take the exam if they did not complete it in grade 11; provides for a writing component of the test; allows use of the test as an indicator of workforce readiness; provides that a student may take the complete test only once; provides for identification of specific grade level content expectations, so that teachers will know what content will be included in the test. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/publicact/pdf/2008-PA-0349.pdf Title: H.B. 6412 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ LA Adopted 10/2008 P-12 Amends rules relating to the PreGED and Skills Option Programs and spells out requirements for districts. http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/lac/28v115/28v115.doc Title: LAC 28:CXV.2907 Source: http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/ FL Adopted 09/2008 P-12 Amends rule to review the General Educational Development (GED) testing fees to recommend an increase in the testing fees so that the Department of Education, as well as local testing centers, can operate with a minimal deficit due to increasing operating costs related to administering the GED test. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=6138371&type=1&File=6A-6.021.doc Title: FAC 6A-6.021 Source: https://www.flrules.org/ MA Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 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 system over specified periods; creates a graduation and dropout prevention and recovery commission to survey dropout prevention and recovery best practices and programs nationwide and to evaluate programs currently in use. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02766.htm Title: S.B. 2766 Source: http://www.mass.gov/ OK Adopted 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Proposes rules to require that a high school representative annually provide for review and discussion a report for each site regarding first-year college performance and remediation of local high school graduates. OKLAHOMA 15303 Title: OAC 210:35-25-4 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Provides Department of Education statutory authority to provide persons 16 years of age or older who are no longer enrolled in school a State-issued school diploma to document the attainment of academic skills and knowledge equivalent to a high school education; authorizes the Commission of Education to adopt emergency regulations to effectuate the provisions of the bill. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S2000/1910_I1.PDF Title: S.B. 1910 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ SC Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Provides that a student whose parent or legal guardian has been called to active duty more than a specified number of miles outside of his residence is eligible to attend the public schools of that school district; authorizes nonresident military personnel to enroll in programs designed to award a State high school diploma. Act 323 http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/4320.doc Title: H.B. 4320 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.net LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Adds a member of the Nonpublic School Commission to the High School Redesign Commission. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=497679 Title: H.B. 721 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CT Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Concerns high school credit for private world language courses; provides that students may earn up to two credits toward high school graduation for completion of a world language courses offered by a nonprofit provider and the student passes a test prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/Pa/pdf/2008PA-00138-R00HB-05820-PA.pdf Title: H.B. 5820 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov/ NJ Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Postsec. Enacts Alicia's Law, permits a student whose high school special education program requires instruction beyond four years to participate with his or her class in that classes graduation ceremony and to receive a certificate of attendance. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S0500/442_R1.PDF Title: S.B. 442 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ IA Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Selected provisions: • Creates the Senior Year Plus Program to increase access of high school students to college credit and advanced placement coursework. (Page 40, Line 23 through Page 64, Line 10) • Requires postsecondary institutions providing Senior Year Plus programming to supply data concerning the proportion of women and minorities enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs. The Department of Education is to annually report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15. (Page 50, Line 7) • Permits preschool programs to receive supplemental aid or modified allowable growth if approved by the School Budget Review Committee. (Page 64, Line 23) • Requires program approval by the Department of Education to receive preschool aid funding in a program's second and subsequent years. (Page 64, Line 34) • Requires nonreversion of Preschool Program funds appropriated to the Department of Education. (Page 65, Line 30) • Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly that if funding is made available for implementing a Statewide Early Childhood Professional Development System in FY 2008 or FY 2009, the System will be implemented by the Department with the collaboration of Area Education Agencies. (Page 66, Line 13) • Requires the Iowa Empowerment Board to conduct a study of the role the Empowerment Program can play in strengthening child care provided voluntarily and at no cost by family members, friends, and neighbors. The Board must convene a working group to provide advice and must submit a report to the From fiscal analysis: Significant changes to Iowa Code: • Prohibits local Community Empowerment boards from carrying forward more than 20.0% of their annual allocation to the following fiscal year. (Page 26, Line 12) • Requires local Community Empowerment boards to consider whether support services for children's health needs are being provided to child care facilities in their communities. (Page 27, Line 17) • Requires grant awards in the Before and After School Grant Program to be at least $30,000 and not more than $50,000. Increases the required local match funding for Before and After School Grants from 20.0% to a dollar-for-dollar match. Requires the local match to be cash or in-kind contributions. Eliminates an allocation of $100,000 from the Before and After School Grant Program for employment of a contractor for long-term planning and development. Specifies that programs serving middle and high school youth are eligible for the Program. Permits grants to be used for multiple fiscal years. (Page 27, Line 26 through Page 28, Line 16) • Requires Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to transfer 84.0% of Medicaid payments received to the Department of Education, with the exception of reimbursements for services provided under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (Page 28, Line 17) • Shifts funding for the Reading Recovery Program to the University of Northern Iowa, where the Program is now centered. (Page 29, Line 7) For other details, see full text section of this database record. Title: H.F. 2679 Source: http://www3.legis.state.ia.us AZ Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Postsec. Relates to the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. A. Requires each school district or charter school providing instruction in grades nine through twelve to participate in and promote to students an early graduation scholarship program. B. The commission for postsecondary education is to develop application forms, procedures and deadlines to implement and administer the earlly graduation scholarship program in conjunction with the department of education and shall select eligible students each year for participation in the program. The district or charter school is responsible for notifying the department of education and the commission for postsecondary education if the student graduates at least one semester before the student's scheduled graduation date. C. Any participating full-time student who graduates: 1) at least one year early is to receive a scholarship grant in an amount not to exceed $1,250 or the actual cost of tuition, books and fees, whichever is less, in the first academic year of postsecondary instruction and an amount not to exceed $750 of the actual cost of tuition, books and fees, whichever is less, in the second academic year of postsecondary instruction; or 2) one semester early is to receive a scholarship grant in an amount not to exceed $1000 or the actual cost of tuition, books and fees, whichever is less, in the first academic year of postsecondary instruction, and an amount not to exceed $500 or the actual cost of tuition, books and fees, whichever is less, in the second academic year of postsecondary education. In each case, the two academic years must be completed within 36 months after the student's actual graduation date from high school. D. A student who provides satisfactory proof to the commission for postsecondary education that the student has met all of the following criteria is eligible to submit an application for consideration for a scholarship grant under the early graduation scholarship program. The criteria: 1) Student has graduated from a charter school or a public high school that is part of a school district in the state at least one semester earlier than the student's class is scheduled to graduate; 2) Student has achieved a passing score on each component of the Arizona instrument to measure standards test that is required for graduation from high school; 3) Student is currently a resident of the state and has been a resident of the state for at least the past twelve months; 4) Student submits a statement from the qualifying postsecondary institution that details the cost of tuition, books and fees for that student; 5) Student has completed and submitted a free application for federal student aid. 6) Student or the student's parents annually signs a promissory note for reimbursement pursuant to subsection J of this section. E. The school district or charter school from which the student graduated is to include the student who graduates early in the student count until the student's class is scheduled to graduate and should continue to receive per pupil funding minus $2,200 for a student who graduates at least one year early or $1,700 for a student who graduates one semester early, whichever is applicable, until the student's class is scheduled to graduate. The per pupil funding received in the school district or charter school is to be placed in the maintenance and operations fund. F. The department of education shall deposit $2,200 for a student who graduates at least one year early or $1,700 for a student who graduates one semester early, whichever is applicable, of the amount of per pupil funding provided to a school district or charter school for a student who graduates at least one semester early in the early graduation scholarship fund established by this section. G. The commission for postsecondary education shall make awards from the early graduation scholarship fund for payment of tuition, books and fees at qualifying postsecondary institutions to students who are selected to participate in the early graduation scholarship program on verification of admission and enrollment by the qualifying postsecondary institutions. H. If the amount of monies available for scholarship grants in any fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarship grants to all eligible applicants, the commission for postsecondary education shall award scholarship grants to eligible students in the order in which the applications were received by the commission, except that priority shall be given to eligible students who received a scholarship in the previous year and who are still in good academic standing a the same qualifying postsecondary institution or who transferred to another qualifying postsecondary institution. The commission for postsecondary education is to maintain a waiting list for all other applicants. I. A qualifying postsecondary institution shall notify the commission for postsecondary education if a student who has received a scholarship grant is no longer in good academic standing at the qualifying postsecondary institution or is no longer enrolled at the qualifying postsecondary institution. J. Not later than 36 months after the student's actual high school graduation date, the student or the qualifying postsecondary institution shall reimburse the early graduation scholarship fund for any scholarship grant received pursuant to subsection C f this section if the student has not completed the academic year as defined in 20 United States Code Section 1088. The commission for postsecondary may waive the reimbursement requirements of this subsection for good cause shown. A student should provide proof that the student completed the first year in good academic standing from the qualifying postsecondary institution to the commission for postsecondary education before receiving monies for the second year from the early graduation scholarship fund. K. A student who receives an early graduation scholarship grant shall be allowed, at no additional cost except for fees charged to all students, to both: 1) participate in extracurricular activities until the student's high school class is scheduled to graduate; and 2) participate in the student's high school class graduation ceremonies. L. The early graduation scholarship fund is established consisting of monies deposited pursuant to subsection F of this section and all repayments that are received pursuant to subsection F of this section and all repayments that are received pursuant to subsection J of this section. The commission for postsecondary education shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. On notice from the commission, the state treasurer shall invest and divest monies in the fund as provided by section 34-313, and monies earned from the invesmtner shall be credited to the fund. The commission may retain up to five percent of the monies in the fund for administrative costs. The commission may hire up to two full-time equivalent positions for the implementation and administration of the early graduation scholarship programs. M. The commisison for postsecondary education shall submit an annual report by December 1 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house and a copy of the report shall be smitmitted to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records. The report shall contain at least the following: 1) the number of students who graduated at least one year early and the number who graduated at least one semester early for each year of implementation of the program by each school district and each charter school; 2) the number of scholarships provided pursuant to this section; 3) the average amount per scholarship provided pursuant to this section; 4) the balance in the early graduation scholarship fund; 5) the number of students using a scholarship to attend a regionally or nationally accredited public or private postsecondary institution and the number of students using a scholarship to attend a regionally or nationally accredited vocational program; 6) a description of how the commission expended monies for administrative costs of the program pursuant to subsection L of this section. N. The program established by this section ends on July 1, 2017 pursuant to section 41-3102. O. For the purposes of this section, "qualifying postsecondary institution" means a regionally or nationally accreditated public or private postsecondary educational institution in this state or a regionally or nationally accreditated vocational program in this state. Chapter No. 140 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2736h.pdf Title: H.B. 2736 Source: http://www.azleg.gov MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Requires representatives of local boards of education to provide information concerning alternative education programs and GED program requirements and testing locations to each individual who no longer attends a public high school in the county and has not obtained a high school certificate or diploma. http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/bills/hb/hb0953t.pdf Title: H.B. 953; S.B. 264 Source: http://mlis.state.md.us/ MS Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Relates to high school Redesign Pilot Program. Authorizes the State Board of Education to phase in additional sites in the pilot program to redesign State high schools. Provides the Board will 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. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2008/pdf/HB/0900-0999/HB0975SG.pdf Title: H.B. 975 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us WA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Adds that school districts may issue high school diplomas to veterans of military service in Vietnam and deletes the requirement for veterans of WWII and Korea that required them to have been scheduled to graduate between 1940 and 1955 to be issued a high school diploma. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202008/1283.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 1283 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature AZ Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Allows a charter school or school district to determine whether credits earned by a pupil formerly enrolled in a separate charter school or school district will be assigned as elective or core credits and to provide that pupil with a list that indicates which credits have been accepted as core credits and which have been accepted as elective credits; allows the pupil to request an examination in each particular course in which a core credit has been denied in order to change that determination. Chapter No. 2 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2563h.pdf Title: H.B. 2563 Source: http://www.azleg.gov LA Adopted 12/2007 P-12 Amends sections of Bulletin 741-Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators concerning the Carnegie Credit for Middle School Students. Provides students who are repeating the 8th grade because they have failed the mathematics and/or English language arts components of LEAP cannot take or receive Carnegie credit for any high school courses in a content area in which they scored Unsatisfactory on the eighth grade LEAP. Pages 2806-2807: http://doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0712/0712.doc#_Toc185922094 Title: LAC 28:CXV.2321 Source: doa.louisiana.gov/osr IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school district upon completion of elementary school, whichever is applicable, may enroll in a high school course required to receive a high school diploma under certain conditions. Provides that a school board that adopts a policy allowing a student in grade 7 or 8 to enroll in a high school course must grant academic credit to a student who successfully completes the high school course, and that credit must satisfy the high school graduation requirements for that course. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/SB/PDF/09500SB0424lv.pdf Title: S.B. 424 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Postsec. Abolishes Certificate of Initial Mastery and Certificate of Advanced Mastery. From the staff summary: The Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) were originally included in the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century in 1991, but the exact requirements and implementation dates were changed and/or delayed during several successive legislative sessions. The CIM represents standards of knowledge and skill proficiencies that students can demonstrate in English, mathematics, and science and are benchmarked to the 10th grade level. The CAM combines achievement of the CIM with additional academic proficiencies and career-related proficiencies achieved through a variety of hands-on, real-world learning experiences. HB 2263C abolishes the CIM and CAM but keeps the associated academic content standards and assessments. According to the Department of Education, many sections of the law removed by HB 2263C were never funded or implemented. Local school districts were required to make available components of the CIM but it was never required statewide for graduation (although some individual school districts did incorporate a modified CIM into local graduation requirements). The CAM is still not available to all students as the full implementation date is September 2008. The State Board of Education adopted new high school diploma requirements in January 2007. Allows school districts to prepare budgets annually or biennially. Allows assessments for a specific group of students to be waived or allows a student to request that a school district waive assessment. Allows a school district to award an alternative credential to a student who does not satisfy the requirements if the student, with additional services and accommodations, does not satisfy the requirements for a diploma. Directs department to contract with nonprofit entity to administer, with department, nationally-normed assessment to all grade 10 students to predict success of students on college entrance exams. Provides contractor selection criteria. Requires provision of assessment during 2008-2009 school year. The purpose of the assessment is to predict the success of students on, and provide practice for students taking, college entrance exams; to identify students with high potential to excel in advanced placement (AP) or other honors courses based on a research-based correlation of scores on the grade 10 assessment to advanced placement examinations; to examine students in mathematics, reading and writing; and to provide results that can be used by Oregon's higher education institutions to recruit students to attend college. Also modifies Early Childhood Improvement Program. Eliminates Learning Centers, Oregon 21st Century Schools Program, School Improvement and Professional Development Program, and Statewide Literacy Hotline. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/hb2200.dir/hb2263.c.pdf Title: H.B. 2263C - Certificates of Mastery and State Assessments Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Directs the department of public instruction to identify the various models being utilized to deliver educational and other services at the high school level to children with disabilities in the state. As a part of its study, the department must consider the efficacy of the models currently being used in the state and review the research for best practice models that are being implemented in other states. The department will report its findings and any recommended legislation or policy changes by March 1, 2008, to the joint legislative education oversight committee. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H17v4.html Title: H.B. 17 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/ NH Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Requires regional vocational schools to accept students who have completed 2 years of high school regardless of the number of credits earned; allows students to enroll in regional vocational schools when the department of education determines it would be in their best interest. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/HB0822.html Title: H.B. 822 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Implements the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force to Engage State's Youth; ensures that students experiencing education disruption will have the same opportunities to earn an approved high school diploma; relates to disruptions of homelessness, unplanned psychiatric hospitalization, unplanned hospitalization, foster care or other placement not authorized by an individualized education plan. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280025014&LD=1860&Type=1&SessionID=7 Title: H.B. 1296 Source: Maine Legislature ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Proposes changes in high school graduation requirements, assessments and overall high school program design to ensure that each student has an equitable opportunity to achieve the State's learning results and to graduate ready for college, career and citizenship. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280025007&LD=1859&Type=1&SessionID=7 Title: H.B. 1295 Source: Maine Legislature NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. 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 that pupil passes the mathematics and reading subject areas of the high school proficiency examination but has not passed the examination in its entirety after taking the examination at least three times before 12th grade. Provides that a pupil may be granted credit for a course without attending the course if he passes an examination, as prescribed by the State Board, demonstrating competency in the subject area of the course. Requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a policy for a pupil to be placed on academic probation and to earn credits required for high school while the pupil is completing the requirements for promotion to high school. Expands the age of compulsory school attendance to 18 years. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB312_EN.pdf Title: S.B. 312 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Upon the request of the parent, requires school districts to posthumously issue a high school diploma to a student who died while enrolled in the 12th grade and was on track to receive a high school diploma and the end of the school year. A school district would not be required to issue a diploma to a student if the student had been convicted at any time prior to death of a felony offense. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB01563F.pdf Title: H.B. 1563 Source: http://www.legis.state.tx.us NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 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. Requires the board of trustees of each school district that includes at least one high school in which 1,200 pupils or more are enrolled - including 9th grade pupils - to adopt a policy to provide a program of small learning communities to be carried out by each principal. Requires the state board to prescribe a uniform grading policy for all public high schools. Requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a policy that sets forth the duties, roles and responsibilities of school counselors. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB212_EN.pdf Title: A.B. 212 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us FL Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Relates to the High School to Business Career Enhancement Act and high school work experience; requires each district school board to adopt policies and procedures for the High School to Business Career Enhancement Program through which student internships shall be offered in each school district; provides internship requirements; requires background screening of employees and contracted personnel of employers participating in the program. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1161er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1161&Session=2007 Title: H.B. 1161 Source: Florida Legislature TN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Requires state department to develop alternate methods whereby adult students at adult high schools may satisfy any requirement that such students have a minimum number of contact hours to earn credit for a course. Such alternative methods may include learning programs such as independent study under the guidance of a teacher at the adult high school, computer-assisted learning programs, on-line or distance learning programs, and work experience, if appropriate, for a particular course. Any student pursuing an alternate method of satisfying a contact hours requirement shall demonstrate mastery of the course content prior to receiving credit for the course. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB0118.pdf Title: S.B. 118 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Amends laws concerning state's assessment system. Transitions from to MCA IIs to GRAD assessment program at the high school level. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [Statewide Testing and Reporting System] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Amends duties of the Independent Office of Educational Accountability as it relates to the commissioner of education's reporting requirements. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [Educational Accountability] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/ MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Amends state's high school assessment system. Phases out MCA II's and phases in Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD) exam. Establishes achievement levels necessary for passge of exam. (Sections 10 + 36) http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [High School Assessment] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MS Adopted 05/2007 P-12 Revises rules concerning the calculation of graduation, completion and dropout counts and rates in annual reports on grades 7 through 12. http://board.mde.k12.ms.us/May_2007/May_18_2007_Friday.htm Title: Board Policy Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Establishes and grants authority to the High School Completion and Success Initiative Council concerning grants and technical assistance in support of innovative research-based high school improvement programs and to enhance education practices. The High School Completion and Success Initiative Council (HSCSIC) is composed of the commissioner of education, the commissioner of higher education, and seven members appointed by the commissioner of education. The HSCSIC is to be staffed by the state education agency and the higher education agency. Requires the commissioner of education to set aside, from funds appropriated for high school completion and success, not more than 5 percent to contract for an evaluation of the programs supported by grants approved by the HSCSIC. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/pdf/HB02237F.pdf Title: H.B. 2237 (High School Provisions) Source: http://www.legis.state.tx.us WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Community College Creates a new chapter addressing skill centers. Beginning in the 2007- 08 school year, students attending skill centers will be funded for all classes at the skill center and the sending district up to 1.6 full time equivalent (FTE) students, or as determined in the omnibus appropriations act. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop procedures for determining how to report the FTEs between the resident high school and the skill center. OSPI must review and revise the guidelines for skill centers and create rules to encourage expansion of skill center programs including revising the threshold enrollment so that a program need not have a minimum of 70 percent of the students enrolled on the core campus, thereby encouraging satellite or branch campuses. Satellite and branch campuses are encouraged to address high-demand fields. OSPI must develop a ten-year capital plan for legislative review and, subject to funding, conduct additional feasibility studies and develop a master plan to connect skill centers to the K-20 network. Subject to funding, skill centers will provide access to late afternoon and evening sessions, and summer school programs. When possible, these programs will target school dropouts and students at risk of dropping out of school. Skill centers that receive this funding must participate in an evaluation of the programs. OSPI must establish and support skill centers of excellence in key economic sectors of regional significance. Once established, OSPI must develop and seek funding for a Senate Bill grant program for Running Start for career and technical programs that is targeted to high demand occupations. Grant recipients must assist in replicating the model career and technical education programs of study. OSPI must have at least one staff person to serve as the director of skill centers. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5790-S2.SL.pdf Title: S.B. 5790 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Kevin's Law: Requires that by September 1, 2007, each school district that operates a high school shall permit any student meeting the following criteria to participate in commencement exercises with the student's graduating class and be recognized for their accomplishments: (1) The student is receiving services under chapter 28A.155 RCW; (2) The student's individualized education program prescribes continued special education or related services beyond the fourth year of high school; and (3) The student has attended four years of high school. Declares that a student's participation in commencement exercises under this act shall not affect the student's possible future receipt of a high school diploma, a certificate of individual achievement or a certificate of academic achievement. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1050-S.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 1050 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov VA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Requires the state board to establish the requirements for a technical diploma. This diploma shall meet or exceed the requirements of a standard diploma and will include a concentration in career and technical education, as established in Board regulations. A student who meets the requirement for the advanced studies diploma who also fulfills a concentration in career and technical education shall receive an advanced technical diploma. The Board may develop or designate assessments in career and technical education for the purposes of awarding verified credit based on passing scores on industry certifications, state licensure examinations, and national occupational competency assessments approved by the state board. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2039ER2 Title: H.B. 2039 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. 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 year. Raises the compulsory school age in the state and changes high school graduation requirements and creates a middle and high school literacy initiative. Eliminates certificates of employment and part-time schools as they related to previous compulsory school-age law. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0561.pdf http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB0584.pdf Title: H.B. 584/S.B. 561 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us/ NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates a program allowing students to earn dual credits toward high school graduation and a post-secondary degree or certificate. Specifies student eligibility and duties of the higher education department, districts and department of education. Provides for data collection and evaluation. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0943.pdf Title: S.B. 943 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Directs the department of education to distribute available funds for mentorship programs to school districts annually on a per-teacher basis according to the number of beginning teachers on the 40th day of the school year. Also directs the department to require that teacher preparation programs collaborate with colleges of arts and sciences and high schools to develop a model to provide mentorship services with structured supervision and feedback to each of their graduates who have obtained a teaching position in a public high school, including charter schools. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0211.pdf Title: S.B. 211 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us NM Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 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-of-state location may receive a New Mexico high school diploma under specified conditions. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0687.pdf Title: S.B. 687 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us WV Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 From Fiscal Note: The purpose of this bill is to revise the standards, assessment and accountability system to accommodate the higher order thinking and learning skills consistent with the state's 21st Century Initiative. School and district improvement plans are to be electronic. The annual performance measures used for school and school system accreditation are separated from those required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The comprehensive statewide student assessment program will define a system of assessments to be administered under the direction of the state board. The assessment program is broadened to authorize formative assessments across the grade levels to support summative assessment, improve student achievement and promote 21st Century skills. The grade levels tested for calculating adequate yearly progress (AYP) would be 3 through 8 and 11.Allows the state board to require that student proficiencies be measured through the ACT EXPLORE and the ACT PLAN assessments or approved comparable assessments. Sets a uniform statewide assessment rate of at least 95% or the average of the participation rate for the current and the precenting two years is nine-five percent for the school, county and state. Another level of accreditation status is added for schools called "Distinguished" status, and the current "Seriously Impaired" status is renamed as "Low Performing" status. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/sb657%20enr.htm Title: S.B. 657 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us MS Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 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 of 15 sites to be selected through a process developed by the board and implemented during the 2007-08 school year. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2007/html/SB/2300-2399/SB2345SG.htm Title: S.B. 2345 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/ LA Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Adds Database Programming with PL/SQL, Java Programming, Database Design and Programming and Digital Media I/II to the computer/technology courses that may fulfill the 1 unit computer/technology requirement for an optional career area of concentration. Pages 8-9 of 118: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0703/0703rul.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXV.2319 Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov SD Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Adds a new section. Prohibits school districts from granting credit for distance learning courses offered through entities other than the South Dakota Virtual High School unless any of the following conditions apply: (1) The course is provided through an agreement among accredited school districts; (2) The course is a university course taken by a student who is dually enrolled pursuant to the provisions of § 13-28-37; (3) The course was previously taken through an accredited high school or other accredited provider by a student who subsequently transferred into the school district; or (4) The course is not available through the South Dakota Virtual High School and is preapproved by the secretary of education. http://www.legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/bills/HB1113enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1113 Source: http://www.legis.state.sd.us/ MS Adopted 02/2007 P-12 Amends rules concerning the dropout prevention program. Implements a plan to increase the graduation rate to 85% by 2018-19, reduce the dropout rate by 50% by 2012-13, and reduce the statewide truancy rate by 50% by 2012-13. http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/board_agenda/March_2007/March%2007%20agenda%20Fri.doc Title: Uncodified Source: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us MI Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Makes technical changes to requirements for high school graduation; provides that a parent may request a personal curriculum that modifies student standard requirements; amends provisions regarding a school psychologist; provides for an emancipated minor; provides for special education students. Public Act 623 http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/billenrolled/Senate/pdf/2006-SNB-1427.pdf Title: S.B. 1427 Source: Michigan Legislature OH Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 If the board of education offers to students of compulsory school age courses for high school credit that are taught at times outside the district's normal school day, the board shall enter into supplemental contracts with the teachers assigned to teach those courses and shall not include such assignment of duties within the teachers' regular employment contracts under that section. http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_311 Title: S.B. 311 -- Section 3319.0811 Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us UT Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Allows exceptions to the minimum number of instructional hours and schools days per year for individual students and schools; requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to ensure that accurate records of daily student attendance and school entrance and completion are maintained in each school, as well student disability status; requires each school to contract with an independent auditor to review attendance/completion records; provides new eligibility standards for funding students, including electronic high school students; provides new guidelines for indicating the high school completion or exit status of each student who leaves the state's public education system; provides new guidelines for the student identification and tracking system. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2006/b20061001.pdf (see pg. 15) Title: R277-419 Source: http://www.rules.utah.gov/main/ UT Adopted 09/2006 P-12 Requires public schools to accept credit and grades from schools accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bulletin/2006/20060701/28809.htm Title: R277-705-3 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NC Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Directs the state board of education to report on the role school counselors play in providing dropout prevention and intervention services to students in middle and high school and on the state board's implementation of its policy regarding school counselors. Provides for an analysis of the source of funds for the counselors. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S571v3.html Title: S.B. 571 Source: http://www.ncleg.net/ MA Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Allows students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies. A school age child with a disability who is completing the twelfth grade year but who has not yet earned the competency determination will be allowed to participate fully in high school graduation ceremonies and activities conducted or sponsored by the school or school committee even though the student will not receive a diploma during the ceremony. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04pdf/ht04710.pdf Title: H.B. 4710 Source: Massachusetts Legislature TN Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Postsec. Relates to lottery scholarships and grants; provides that a student that is eligible for a HOPE scholarship upon graduation from high school, completion of high school in a home school or obtaining a GED but instead enrolls in a technology center and receives a Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant shall continue to be eligible for a HOPE scholarship under specified circumstances. Public Chaptered. Chapter No. 980 http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB2981.pdf Title: S.B. 2981 Source: Tennessee Legislature NJ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Requires the Department of Education to include in its parental rights in special education booklet, information describing services available through, and contact information for, state agencies serving adults with disabilities and to require all school districts with grades 9 through 12 to designate at least one staff member to serve as a disability services resource for parents. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S1500/1220_I1.PDF Title: S.B. 1220 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us OH Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Postsec. Community College Appropriates funds for support of the Ohio Core Program. Funds will be used to: (1) Support the participation of teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels in a twelve-month intensive training program that leads to teacher licensure in a laboratory-based science, advanced mathematics, or foreign language field at the secondary education level and employment with an Ohio school district; (2) Support alternative teacher licensure programs developed by educational service centers, in partnership with institutions of higher education. Participants shall be teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels. Programs shall be consistent with the State Board of Education's alternative licensure requirements; (3) Obtain contracted instruction with institutions of higher education in mathematics, science, or foreign language for high school students that results in dual high school and college credit. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs. (4) Implement and support the Ohio Students Choosing On-line Resources for Educational Success Initiative that increases the educational options available for students in mathematics, advanced laboratory-based science, and foreign language. The eTech Ohio Commission shall work collaboratively with the Department of Education and the Board of Regents on this initiative. (5) Support up to 10 regional summer academies that focus on foreign language, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and prepare 11th and 12th grades to pursue college-level foreign language, mathematics, science, technology and engineering, with a focus on secondary teaching in these disciplines. Successful completion of these academics shall result in dual high school and college credits. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses, as determined by the Board of Regents, that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs. http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText126/126_HB_115_PS_N.html Title: H.B. 115 Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 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 the highest quality teachers and dramatically different, innovative approaches to teaching and learning. (b) Every teacher must contribute to every student's reading improvement. (c) Quality professional development provides teachers and principals with the tools they need to better serve students. (d) Small learning communities allow teachers to personalize instruction to better address student learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses. (e) Intensive intervention in reading and math must occur early and through innovative delivery systems. (f) Parents need access to tools they can use to monitor their child's progress in school, communicate with teachers, and act early on behalf of their child. (g) Applied and integrated courses help students see the relationships between subjects and relevance to their futures. (h) School is more relevant when students choose courses based on their goals, interests, and talents. (i) Master schedules should not determine instruction and must be designed based on student needs, not adult or institutional needs. (j) Academic and career planning engages students in developing a personally meaningful course of study so they can achieve goals they have set for themselves. Requires local boards to adopt policies to address: (a) Procedures for placing and promoting grade 6-12 students entering from out of state or from a foreign country, including a review of the student's prior academic performance. (b) Alternative methods for students to demonstrate competency in required courses and credits, with special support for students who have been retained. (c) Applied, integrated, and combined courses that provide flexibility for students to enroll in courses that are creative and meet individual learning styles and student needs. (d) Credit recovery courses and intensive reading and math intervention courses based on student performance on the FCAT. These courses should be competency based and offered through innovative delivery systems, including computer-assisted instruction. Districts should use learning gains as well as other appropriate data and provide incentives to identify and reward high-performing teachers who teach credit recovery and intensive intervention courses. (e) Grade forgiveness policies that replace a grade of "D" or "F" with a grade of "C" or higher earned subsequently in the same or a comparable course. (f) Summer academies for students to receive intensive reading and mathematics intervention courses or competency-based credit recovery courses. A student's participation in an instructional or remediation program prior to or immediately following entering grade 9 for the first time shall not affect that student's classification as a first-time 9th grader for reporting purposes. (g) Strategies to support teachers' pursuit of the reading endorsement and emphasize reading instruction professional development for content area teachers. (h) Creative and flexible scheduling designed to meet student needs. (i) Procedures for high school students who have not prepared an electronic personal education plan to prepare such plan. (j) Tools for parents to regularly monitor student progress and communicate with teachers. (k) Additional course requirements for promotion and graduation which may be determined by each school district in the student progression plan and may include additional academic, fine and performing arts, physical education, or career and technical education courses in order to provide a complete education program. Requires the department to: (a) By February 1, 2007, increase the number of approved applied, integrated, and combined courses available to districts. (b) By the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, make available a professional development package designed to provide the information that content area teachers need to become proficient in applying scientifically based reading strategies through their content areas. (c) Share best practices for providing a complete education program to students enrolled in course recovery, credit recovery, intensive reading intervention, or intensive math intervention. (d) Expedite assistance and decisions and coordinate policies throughout all divisions within the department to provide districts with support to implement the Florida Secondary School Redesign Act. (e) Use data to provide the Legislature with an annual longitudinal analysis of the success of this reform effort, including the progress of 6th grade students and 9th grade students scoring at Level 1 on FCAT Reading or FCAT Math. Directs the commissioner of education to create and implement the Secondary School Improvement Award Program to reward public secondary schools that demonstrate continuous student academic improvement and show the greatest gains in student academic achievement in reading and math. Pages 35-39 of 160: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 - Section 19 Source: www.myfloridahouse.gov MO Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Directs the department of education to develop a "ready to work" endorsement program by June 30, 2007. Provides that the program must include: (1) Voluntary participation by high school seniors who choose to participate; (2) Academic components; (3) Work readiness components; (4) Assessment tools and techniques for a third-party, independent, and objective assessment and endorsement of individual student achievement through an existing workforce investment service delivery system; and (5) An easily identifiable guarantee to potential employers that the entry-level employee is ready to work. Requires the department to involve representatives of the division of workforce development, employers, students, career center providers, local workforce investment boards, and school district personnel. See end of page 16: http://www.senate.mo.gov/06info/pdf-bill/tat/SB894.pdf Title: S.B. 894 Source: www.senate.mo.gov OK Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Allows districts to adopt an extended day schedule for 9th-12th grades. Requires a public hearing and certain documentation; requires revocation of authorizaiton for a program if the student achievement is not documented; provides for denial of accreditation in certain circumstances. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06bills/HB/HB2367_ENR.RTF Title: H.B. 2367 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us OR Adopted 05/2006 P-12 Postsec. Implements the Expanded Options program. Purpose of the program is to: (1) Create a seamless education system for students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 to: (a) Have additional options to continue or complete their education; (b) Earn concurrent high school and college credits; and (c) Gain early entry into post-secondary education; (2) Promote and support existing accelerated college credit programs, and support the development of new programs that are unique to a community's secondary and postsecondary relationships and resources. (3) Allow eligible students who participate in the program to enroll full-time or part-time in an eligible post-secondary institutionl; and (4) Provide public funding to the eligible post-secondary institutions for educational services to eligible students to offset the cost of tuition, fees, textbooks, equipment and materials for students who participate in the program. http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/0706_Bulletin/0706_ch581_bulletin.html Title: OAR 581-022-1362, -1370 Source: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/ TX Adopted 05/2006 P-12 Establishes the commissioner's rules concerning high school diplomas for certain veterans. TEXAS 99138 http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/commissioner/adopted/0506/061-1061-two.pdf Title: 19 TAC 2.61.FF.61.1061 Source: Texas Rules CO Became law without governor's signature 05/2006 P-12 Concerns recognition of community service performed by students; requires each school district to adopt a policy whereby a student may earn a certificate of community service to be reflected on the student's high school diploma; specifies the minimum contents of a policy to award certificates; identifies examples of community service that may qualify a student for receiving a certificate; identifies types of community service that may not qualify a student to receive a certificate. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/EC9C67F8DD2F13F78725709A005E7DC3?Open&file=1121_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1121 Source: Colorado Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Relates to student athlete recruiting; requires the High School Athletic Association to hold certain bylaws in abeyance; provides for creation of task force to review student athlete recruiting issues; provides for task force membership and duties; requires recommendations to Governor and Legislature; requires OPPAGA to conduct review of recruiting violations by the High School Athletic Association member schools. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7119er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7119&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7119 Source: Florida Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 School boards must annually approve improvement plans for all schools that address student achievement goals and strategies based on state and school district proficiency standards. The plans must include an accurate, data-based analysis of student achievement and other school performance data. Beginning with plans approved for implementation in the 2007-2008 school year, each secondary school plan must include a redesign component based on the principles established in the High School Redesign Act. For each school in the district that earns a school grade of "C" or below, or is required to have a school improvement plan under No Child Left Behind, the school improvement plan shall, at a minimum, also include: 1. Professional development that supports enhanced and differentiated instructional strategies to improve teaching and learning. 2. Continuous use of disaggregated student achievement data to determine effectiveness of instructional strategies. 3. Ongoing informal and formal assessments to monitor individual student progress, including progress toward mastery of the Sunshine State Standards, and to redesign instruction if needed. 4. Alternative instructional delivery methods to support remediation, acceleration, and enrichment strategies. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 11) Source: Florida Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 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 School. Students completing career and professional academy programs receive a standard high school diploma, the highest available industry certification, and postsecondary credit if the academy partners with a postsecondary institution. The goals of career and professional academies are to: (a) Increase student academic achievement and graduation rates through integrated academic and career curricula. (b) Focus on career preparation through rigorous academics and industry certification. (c) Raise student aspiration and commitment to academic achievement and work ethics. (d) Support the revised graduation requirements by providing creative, applied majors. (e) Promote acceleration mechanisms, such as dual enrollment, articulated credit, or occupational completion points, so that students may earn postsecondary credit while in high school. (f) Support the state's economy by meeting industry needs for skilled employees in high-demand occupations. The legislation describes the possible locations and configurations of the career academies. Each academy must: (a) Provide a rigorous standards-based academic curriculum integrated with a career curriculum. (b) Include one or more partnerships with postsecondary institutions, businesses, industry, employers, economic development organizations, or other appropriate partners from the local community. (c) Provide creative and tailored student advisement and coordinate with middle schools. (d) Provide a career education certification on the high school diploma. (e) Provide instruction in careers designated as high growth, high demand, and high pay. (f) Deliver academic content through instruction relevant to the career, including intensive reading and mathematics intervention. (g) Provide instruction resulting in competency, certification, or credentials in workplace skills. (h) Provide opportunities for students to obtain the Florida Ready to Work Certification; and (i) Include an evaluation plan developed jointly with the Department of Education. T http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 27) Source: Florida Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Legislation expands requirements for ongoing research and analysis of achievement data. The commissioner must study the cost and student achievement impact of secondary end-of-course assessments, including web-based and performance formats, and report to the Legislature prior to implementation. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 40) Source: Florida Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Legislation adds a provision for alternative assessments. For students seeking a special diploma (pursuant to s. 1003.438), the Department of Education must develop or select and implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures the skills and competencies established in the Sunshine State Standards for students with disabilities. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 40) Source: Florida Legislature FL Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Makes revisions to school grade provisions, such as the inclusion of information for students receiving a special diploma and grades for K-3 and alternative schools. Each school that has students who are tested and included in the school grading system, except an alternative school that receives a school-improvement rating pursuant to s. 1008.341, will receive a school grade; however, an alternative school may choose to receive a school grade under this section in lieu of a school-improvement rating. Additionally, a school that serves any combination of students in kindergarten through grade 3 which does not receive a school grade because its students are not tested and included in the school grading system will receive the school grade designation of a K-3 feeder pattern school identified by the Department of Education and verified by the school district. A school feeder pattern exists if at least 60 percent of the students in the school serving a combination of students in kindergarten through grade 3 are scheduled to be assigned to the graded school. A school's grade will be based on a combination of: 1. Student achievement scores, including achievement scores for students seeking a special diploma. 2. Student learning gains as measured by annual FCAT assessments in grades 3 through 10; learning gains for students seeking a special diploma, as measured by an alternate assessment tool, must be included not later than the 2009-2010 school year. 3. Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in the school in reading, math, or writing on the FCAT, unless these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance. Effective with the 2005-2006 school year, the achievement scores and learning gains of eligible students attending alternative schools that provide dropout-prevention and academic-intervention services will be used to determine the home school's grade. If an alternative school chooses to be graded pursuant to this section, student performance data for eligible students will not be included in the home school's grade but will be included only in the calculation of the alternative school's grade. School districts must require collaboration between the home school and the alternative school in order to promote student success. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7087er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7087&Session=2006 Title: H.B. 7087 (Section 45) Source: Florida Legislature PA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Amends the Public School Code of 1949. Provides for participation by students with disabilities in high school graduation ceremonies. Allows a student with a disability who satisfactorily completes an individualized education program, but whose program prescribes continued education after the fourth year of high school to participate in commencement ceremonies of the student's graduating class and receive a certificate of attendance. http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1618P3724.pdf Title: H.B. 1618 Source: Pennsylvania Legislature IL Adopted 04/2006 P-12 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 take a course in American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag for not less than one hour per week, or the equivalent. Adds policy that a student may be permitted to retake a course that he or she has already successfully completed (for example, to earn a better grade) but that credit may not be awarded more than once for completion of the same course, and the same course may not be counted more than once toward fulfillment of the state high school graduation requirements. Establishes criteria for approval of a "writing intensive" course as required for high school graduation effective with the Class of 2010. Pages 483-496 of 705 http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume30_issue18.pdf Title: 23 IAC 1.440 Source: www.cyberdriveillinois.com MS Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Directs the department of education to design and implement an alternative high school diploma for students who are interested in direct entry into the workforce immediately following high school graduation. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/HB/0200-0299/HB0214SG.htm Title: H.B. 214 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/ MD Adopted 03/2006 P-12 Proposes to adopt rules to the Board of Education. Replaces the Geometry Maryland School Assessment with the Algebra High School Assessment as the measure of high school mathematics achievement for accountability under the No Child Left Behind Act. Discontinues administration of the Geometry assessment. MARYLAND 10426 http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/subtitle_chapters/13A_Chapters.htm Title: COMAR 13A.01.04.04, .05, 13A.03.02.04, .07 thru .09 Source: Maryland Regulations VA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Directs the Board of Education to collect, analyze, and report high school graduation and drop out data using a formula prescribed by the Board.  The measure contains a delayed enactment clause providing that the amendments to § 22.1-253.13:4 will take effect October 1, 2008. A second enactment clause, which will take effect on July 1, 2006, requires the Board of Education to report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1, 2006, on the formula to be used for the uniform assessment of high school graduation rates.  In developing the formula, the Board is also required to consider the 2005 Report of the National Governors Association Task Force on State High School Graduation Data. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0584 Title: H.B. 19 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us IN Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Allows districts that before January 1, 2006 purchased U.S. savings bonds for graduates who earned an academic honors diploma to continue to do so for students graduating in 2006 and 2007. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/SE/SE0231.1.html Title: S.B. 231 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.in.gov/legislative LA Adopted 03/2006 P-12 Permits seniors who wish to retest for diploma endorsements to test during the fall retest. Provides guidelines and rules about administrative error that may occur during statewide assessment. Provides guidelines and rulesregarding cell phones and other electronic devices usage during the administration of statewide assessments. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0603/0603RUL.pdf (beginning page 5 of 57) Title: LAC 28:CXI.312, 316 and 1351 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IN Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Allows a student to demonstrate proficiency and receive credits in a subject area required for high school graduation or for an academic honors diploma in a manner other than by classroom work. Allows credit to be awarded through any of the following methods: (1) Receiving a score that demonstrates proficiency on a standardized assessment of academic or subject area competence that is accepted by accredited postsecondary institutions. (2) Receiving a high proficiency level score on an end of course assessment for a course without taking the course. (3) Successfully completing a similar course via dual enrollment. (4) Receiving a score of 3, 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement exam for a course or subject area. (5) Other methods approved by the state board. Provides that a student who demonstrates proficiency in one or more courses or subject areas may not be required to complete a minimum number of semesters to graduate or to receive an academic honors diploma. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/SE/SE0310.1.html Title: S.B. 310 Source: www.in.gov/legislative/bills MS Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Authorizes a person to be granted a high school diploma if the person withdrew from school before graduation and later achieved the equivalent requirements for graduation. Any person who has withdrawn from high school before graduation may be granted a diploma from the Mississippi public high school that the person last attended if the person has: (a) Achieved the equivalent requirements for high school graduation that existed at the time that the student would have graduated; and (b) Made a request to the public high school district that the person last attended in Mississippi that includes relevant transcripts of course work completed. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/HB/1400-1499/HB1423SG.htm Title: H.B. 1423 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us MS Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Enacts the Education Reform Act of 2006. Section 6 creates the office of dropout prevention within the state department of education. Requires each district to implement a dropout prevention program by the 2008-09 school year. Section 13 establishes the Lifelong Learning Commission and defines membership. Duties include: (2) assessing the dropout crisis in the state and recommending action steps to address it; (2) creating a set of common definitions for graduation and dropout rates which can be used to compare the commission's progress relative to other states; (3) facilitating agreements that will make the state's high school experience more meaningful; (4) encouraging more rigor and relevance in the high school experience; (5) facilitating the transferability of education from secondary to postsecondary institutions; (6) raising awareness on the need for improving the state's high schools; (7) developing a series of best practices policy actions that state policymakers and legislators can implement to achieve system-wide high school reform; and (8) convening town hall meetings around the state where students, teachers, administrators and parents can discuss high school, the senior year and impediments to greater success. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/SB/2600-2699/SB2602SG.htm Title: S.B. 2602 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us OR Adopted 03/2006 P-12 Amends rules regarding the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CAM).Clarifies requirements for the CAM. Allows school districts to make decisions that are appropriate to statutory requirements. OREGON 27089 http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_581/581_022.html Title: OAR 581-022-1110, -1120, -1210 Source: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us VA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Allows participation in a general educational development program by court order; excludes from the compulsory school attendance requirements any child who has obtained a GED certificate; adds to the list of those persons who may participate in the GED testing program, persons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school and person required by court order to participate in the testing program; does not apply to persons housed in an adult correctional facility. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+ful+CHAP0335 Title: H.B. 347 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/ LA Adopted 02/2006 P-12 Provides statewide policy and guidance for Senior Projects in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an Academic Endorsement. Requires every Senior Project to include: a. research paper of 8 to 10 pages on an approved topic of the student's choice; b. product or service related to the research requiring at least 20 hours of work; c. portfolio that documents and reflects the Senior Project process; d. presentation to a panel of three to five adults from the community and school. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0602/0602RUL.pdf (page 13 of 39) Title: LAC 28:CXV.2320 Source: http://www.doa.state.la.us MO Adopted 12/2005 P-12 Modifies high school graduation requirements effective with the Class of 2010. Increases total number of units students must earn from 22 to 24. Adds .5 unit personal finance, .5 unit health education course. Increases Communication Arts (language arts) from 3 to 4 units and math, social studies and science requirements from 2 to 3 units. Decreases total number of electives from 10 to 7. Establishes further requirements relative to high school graduation. http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/5csr/5c50-345.pdf AGENCY CONTACT: Stan Johnson, Assistant Commissioner, Division of School Improvement, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 Title: 5 CSR 50-345.300 Source: www.sos.mo.gov and Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY Signed into law 11/2005 P-12 Relates to establishing the Tech Valley High School in the Capital Region and Questar III BOCES districts to provide expanded learning opportunities in the area of technology as well as core academics to students in those districts., Title: S.B. 5729 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 10/2005 P-12 High school exit examination: pupils with disabilities. This bill would require a school district to grant a high school diploma to a pupil with a disability, if he or she is scheduled to graduate from high school in 2006 or 2007, does not qualify for that high school exit examination waiver, and meets other specified criteria, including having an individualized education program or other specified plan. The bill would require a school district, consistent with that program or plan, to provide pupils who meet the criteria the opportunity to participate in specified instruction. The bill also would require the school district to report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the number and characteristics of pupils granted diplomas in this manner. Title: S.B. 586 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 10/2005 P-12 An act to amend Sections 33054, 47605, 47605.6, 47607, 47612.5, and 51745.6 of, and to add Section 47612.6 to, the Education Code, relating to charter schools. Existing law requires that charter schools meet specified statewide standards and conduct the specified pupil assessments. This bill would require that these standards and pupil assessments include the high school exit examination, and would require a pupil completing grade 12 to successfully pass the exit examination as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation. Title: H.B. 1610 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 10/2005 P-12 An act to add Section 33318.5 to the Education Code, relating to pupils. - High school attrition rates. This bill would require the department to compile an attrition rate, in addition to the dropout rate the department compiles pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, for high school pupils according to a specified formula. Title: H.B. 1496 Source: StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2005 P-12 Defines the competencies and personal skills identified in the Secretary of Labor's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report. Establishes legislative intent to investigate how and to what degree SCANS competencies can be incorporated into teacher preparation programs to ensure that pupils are well-rounded and prepared to enter the workforce by the time they complete high school. Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to conduct a study about how any or all components of skills identified by the SCANS report can be integrated into existing teacher training programs to better prepare pupils for the workforce. Requires the commission to report the results of this study to the legislature on or before January 1, 2007. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_693_bill_20050901_enrolled.pdf Title: A.B. 693 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NY Signed into law 09/2005 P-12 Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a program for all war veterans to earn high school diplomas based on knowledge and experience gainedwhile in service if such veterans were unable to do so for any reason. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2714 Title: S.B. 2714 Source: StateNet OR Signed into law 09/2005 P-12 Amends ORS 332.114. In order to receive a high school diploma from a school district, a student must meet the requirements established by the State Board of Education and, while in grades 9 through 12, must complete: (a) At least 24 credit hours, as defined by rule of the board; (b) Three years of mathematics; and (c) Four years of English. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a school district may award a diploma to a student who does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this section if the student: (a) Has met or exceeded the academic content standards for mathematics or English established by the board; or (b) Displays proficiency in mathematics or English at a level established by the board. The requirements of section 1 of this 2005 Act apply to students who receive a high school diploma from a school district on or after July 1, 2009. http://www.leg.state.or.us/05reg/measpdf/hb3100.dir/hb3129.en.pdf Title: H.B. 3129 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us IL Signed into law 08/2005 P-12 Increases high school graduation requirements in math from 2 to 3 units, effective with the Class of 2009. Effective with the Class of 2010, adds 2 units of writing intensive courses (in addition to 3 units of language arts) to high school graduation requirements. Specifies that in 2 units of writing intensive courses, 1 of which must be in English, and the other of which may be in English or any other subject. Adds that when applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other graduation requirements. Also effective with the Class of 2010, requires 1 of the 3 units of math to be Algebra I and 1 to include geometry content. Effective with the Class of 2011, increases science requirements from 1 to 2 units. Effective with the Class of 2012, increases language arts requirement from 3 to 4 units. Requires the state board to develop and inform school districts of standards for writing-intensive coursework. Specifies that this legislation does not apply to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0676 Title: S.B. 575 Source: www.ilga.gov IL Vetoed 08/2005 P-12 Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the rules and regulations for the early release of a prisoner on account of good conduct shall also provide that an additional 60 days of good conduct credit shall be awarded to any prisoner who passes the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED) and receives a GED certificate while the prisoner is incarcerated. Requires the Department of Corrections to develop and establish a program designed to increase the number of committed persons enrolled in programs to pass the high school level Test of General Educational Development (GED) and receive GED certificates by at least 100% over the 4-year period following the effective date of this amendatory Act. Requires each institution and facility to report annually to the Director of Corrections on the number of committed persons enrolled in GED programs and those who pass the GED and receive GED certificates, and the number of committed persons who are on waiting lists for those educational programs. Effective immediately. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=0326&GAID=8&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=15772&SessionID=50&SpecSess=&Session=&GA=94 Governor's veto message: http://dev.ecs.org/clearinghouse/63/07/6307.doc Title: S.B. 326 Source: www.ilga.gov IL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Community College Transfers all powers and duties of the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Education with regard to high school equivalency testing under the School Code to the Illinois Community College Board. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0108 Title: S.B. 463 Source: StateNet LA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 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 high school and in life beyond secondary education. Provides for the purpose of the commission; for commission duties and responsibilities, membership, vacancies, compensation, and reporting requirements. Specifies that in making its recommendations, the commission must consider the following: (1) Strategies for increasing dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, including but not limited to an emphasis on the following: (a) Early entry into postsecondary education institutions. (b) The identification of funding sources for such dual enrollment opportunities. (c) Improved articulation agreements between secondary schools and postsecondary education institutions. (2) Strategies for increasing awareness among postsecondary education institutions of the reform efforts made at the high school level, including but not limited to an emphasis on the following: (a) Strengthening the value of the state's high school diploma endorsements. (b) Defining the levels of knowledge and skills necessary for students who are enrolling in courses for credit at postsecondary education institutions and encouraging secondary schools and postsecondary education systems to align their standards and assessments with such knowledge and skill levels. (3) Strategies for better integration of the WorkKeys job skill assessment system into high school preparation programs and initiatives. (4) Strategies for increasing the rigor of the high school curriculum, including but not limited to emphasis on establishing a default core curriculum and exploring the concept of testing students at the end of each course that the student completes. (5) Strategies for reducing the number of high school dropouts in the state, including but not limited to strategies and opportunities for students who have fallen behind academically to make the progress necessary in order to be eligible to graduate from high school. (6) Strategies for improving high school students' senior year in order for such year to be a meaningful and academically enriched time in preparing such students for graduation and life beyond high school. (7) Diploma options for high school students. (8) Strategies for including the American Diploma Project Network in any recommendations relative to efforts to raise high school standards to help high school students to better achieve in postsecondary education and work after graduation. (9) Any other strategies or initiatives that the commission deems important and necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=318804 Title: H.B. 434 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us LA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Postsec. AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(e)(xiii) and to enact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(e)(xiv), relative to the Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program for Students curriculum (Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) high school core curriculum requirements for Opportunity, Performance, and Honors awards for students who graduate from high school during the 2007-2008 school year and thereafter, requires that a student must have successfully completed at least 17½ units of high school course work which constitutes a core curriculum). New law retains same core curriculum list except that it requires the math or science elective unit must be selected from among the following courses: Geometry, Calculus or approved advanced math substitute, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics or Physics II. Provides that Trigonometry will no longer be included in the core curriculum for students graduating after 2004-2005. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=317491 Title: S.B. 19 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us IA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Requires the state board to develop a model core curriculum, taking into consideration the recommendations of the American college testing program, inc. Requires the state board to set a goal of increasing the number of students graduating from secondary school who have successfully completed a core curriculum, by July 1, 2009, to eighty percent of all students graduating from secondary schools in this state except that the goal shall be exclusive of students who have special or alternative means for satisfying graduation requirements under individualized educational plans developed for the students. "Core curriculum" means the minimum number of specific high school courses that a student needs to take in preparation for advanced career and vocational purposes. Adds the requirement that public and accredited nonpublic schools report the percentage of students who graduated during the prior school year and who completed a core curriculum. Requires school boards to assist eighth-graders with planning to develop a core curriculum plan, and requires boards to report each year to students in grades 9-12 and to parents regarding student progress in meeting the goals of successfully completing a core curriculum. Requires the state department to coordinate a working group to develop clear, accurate, meaningful, and unambiguous definitions for key data areas relating to, but not limited to, attrition, completion, and attendance rates. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/legislation/enrolled/SF245.html Title: S.F. 245 Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us CO Vetoed 06/2005 P-12 Recognizes the importance of supplemental online education courses, especially to smaller districts and rural schools. States that such courses are eligible to receive funding from the state education fund created in article IX of the state constitution. Requires the department, on or before October 1, 2005, to contract with a supplemental on-line course provider to provide high-quality supplemental on-line education courses statewide for purchase by districts, boards of cooperative services, charter schools and the state charter school institute. Requires the contracting provider to work with these entities to allow schools to (1) offer courses for all students in all performance ranges, including gifted and talented students and students in need of remediation; (2) resolve class scheduling conflicts; (3) provide make-up credits for students and summer school options to help students graduate earlier; (4) offer courses for expelled and home-bound students; (5) offer courses for which local teachers are not available; (6) offer courses allowing students to meet higher education admission requirements; (7) meet federal requirements for highly qualified teachers; and (8) provide teacher professional development. Requires the supplemental online course provider to be a nonprofit or not-for-profit organization or school district, have documented evidence of program evaluation, and to meet other requirements. Specifies minimum provisions of a contract for supplemental online education courses, including that the contractor must provide at least 50 online courses in specified subject areas, the teachers meet the federal requirements for a highly qualified teacher, and that, where applicable, the courses are based on the state model content standards. Requires the contractors to annually report to the department and the legislature on specified details about the program during the preceding year. Makes an allocation. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/4723DE9EE54766D487256F810074794F?Open&file=139_enr.pdf Title: S.B. 139 Source: www.leg.state.co.us TX Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Postsec. From bill analysis: The requirements of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program (scholarship program) as stated prior to 2003 provided that a student who completed high school in not more than 36 consecutive months was eligible for a scholarship in state tuition credits. But in 2003, the 78th Legislature added a requirement establishing that students who graduate early must graduate with the recommended or advanced high school curriculum in order to receive a scholarship under this scholarship program. The Act passed by the 78th Legislature failed to address the issue of students currently enrolled in the scholarship program, thereby leaving many students without the scholarship as promised. H.B. 2109 re-establishes the eligibility of students admitted under the previous scholarship program who lost eligibility when the legislature changed the requirements of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=02109&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: H.B. 2109 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2005 Postsec. From bill analysis: S.B. 1227 makes an array of amendments to the Education Code to promote access to institutions of higher education, allow for financial aid administrative savings, and make clarifying changes. Amendments to Section 56.202 create the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program to increase efficiency in the Foundation School Program and to provide assistance for tuition or tuition and mandatory fees. Amendments to Section 56.203, Education Code do the following: (a) Provide that to be eligible for an award through the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program, a person must have graduated from high school and meet certain requirements; have attended high school exclusively in one or more public high schools in the state; and be a Texas resident as defined by coordinating board rule. (b) Provide that the eligibility for the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program for a person depends on the sixth anniversary of the date that the person first becomes eligible to participate in the program, unless the person is provided additional time to participate in the program. (c) Provide that the coordinating board must adopt rules to provide a person who is otherwise eligible to participate in the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program additional time to use a state credit for tuition and mandatory fees under the program. Provides that the rules must require a person seeking an extension to show hardship or other good cause that prevents the person from enrolling in or continuing enrollment in an eligible institution during the period provided. (d) Provides that a person who does not satisfy the curriculum requirements for the recommended or advanced high school program as required to establish eligibility is considered to have satisfied those requirements if the high school from which the person graduated indicates on the person's transcript that the person was unable to complete the appropriate curriculum within the time prescribed by that subsection solely because of a reason beyond the person's control, such as lack of enrollment capacity or a shortage of qualified teachers. The heading to Section 56.204, Education Code, is amended to modify the heading to read "ENTITLEMENT." An eligible person under the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program is entitled to a state credit to apply toward tuition or tuition and mandatory fees, as applicable, at a public or private institution of higher education in Texas. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01227&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: S.B. 1227 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ TX Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 From bill analysis: Permits Job Corps Centers to offer a specialized high school diploma program to students enrolled in the federal program, in order to provide at-risk students with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma (upon passage of the exit-level statewide assessment) which will increase their opportunities for success in the job market. S.B. 1395 also provides for the funding of the program. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01395&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: S.B. 1395 Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us SC Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Postsec. Community College 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 solving skills. During the 2005-06 school year, the department of education must develop a guidance and counseling model that provides standards and strategies for school districts to use and follow in developing and implementing a comprehensive guidance and counseling program for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students in their districts. Before July 1, 2006, the department of education is required to develop state models and prototypes for individual graduation plans and the curriculum framework for career clusters of study. Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, counseling and career awareness programs on clusters of study must be provided to students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and they must receive career interest inventories and information to assist them in the career decision-making process. Before the end of the second semester of the eighth grade, eighth grade students in consultation with their parents, guardians, or individuals appointed by the parents or guardians to serve as their designee shall select a preferred cluster of study and develop an individual graduation plan. By the 2006-07 school year, middle schools and by 2007-08 high schools shall provide students with the services of a career specialist who has obtained a bachelor's degree and who has successfully completed the national Career Development Facilitator (CDF) certification training or certified guidance counselor having completed the Career Development Facilitator certification training.Provides for the traits that must be incorporated into school board policies addressing character education. Expands the report card to include dropout data. Establishes and sets membership for the Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council. Sets the functions as: (1)    advise the Department of Education on the implementation of this chapter; (2)    review accountability and performance measures for implementation of this chapter; (3)    designate and oversee the coordination and establishment of the regional centers; (4)    report annually by December first to the Governor, the General Assembly, the state board and other appropriate governing boards on the progress, results, and compliance with the provisions of this chapter and its ability to provide a better prepared workforce and student success in postsecondary education; (5)    make recommendations to the department of education for the development and implementation of a communication and marketing plan to promote statewide awareness of the provisions of this chapter; and (6)    provide input to the state board of education and others as appropriate. http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/prever/3155_20050519.htm Title: H.B. 3155 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.net CO Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Postsec. 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 grade 11 if the student took the precollegiate exam. Requires the notice to include (1) a detailed description of what constitutes an inadequate school in math, reading or writing based on the commission's higher education admission guidelines; (2) information on a student's ability to take basic, precollegiate skills courses while enrolled in a public high school; and (3) notice that the parent may contact the student's school to develop a plan for the student to address the coursework needed to meet the commission's higher education admission guidelines. Requires local boards and the state charter school institute to provide the opportunity for a student enrolled in a public school of the district or an institute charter school, respectively, to develop a plan for academic remediation upon the student's parent's request. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/1D93D263DE99C9D187256F470064073C?Open&file=1027_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1027 Source: www.leg.state.co.us NV Adopted 05/2005 P-12 Amends provisions governing high school proficiency examinations. NEVADA REG 3705 (SN) Title: NAC 389.027, .051, .056, .058, .061, .071 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Eliminates multi-tiered diplomas in Delaware, establishing instead the "State of Delaware High School Diploma" to each student graduating from a Delaware public high school, beginning with the Class of 2008. Mandates that, beginning with the Class of 2008, diplomas be awarded to students who (1) pass their high school course requirements and (2) achieve proficient scores on the state high school assessments in conjunction with other academic indicators defined by the department. For those students graduating in 2007, requires the department to award either a "State of Delaware High School Diploma" or a "State of Delaware Distinguished Achievement Diploma" utilizing the rules and regulations for issuing diplomas for the 2005-2006 school year. Requires the department, by January 2008, to establish by regulation the proficiency levels of performance on the state high school assessments, and the use of other academic indicators and their proficiency levels to receive a high school diploma. States that "other academic indicators" must include assessments such as the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Advanced Placement test scores, American College Test (ACT), local district assessments and indicators used to determine student proficiency relative to the content standards, and other assessments approved at the state level in a content area. Permits a student receiving a State of Delaware High School Diploma in 2004 or 2005 to seek a re-evaluation and upgrade to a Distinguished Achievement Diploma on the basis of the new standards, once adopted. States that if it is determined the student qualifies for a Distinguished Achievement Diploma under the standards in place at the time of his or her request, the department must retroactively award such diploma. Expresses the general assembly's intent to continue and encourage the ongoing discussions relating to Delaware high school graduation requirements and to guide the progress of change to ensure the establishment of more effective and appropriate measures of student performance and standards for high school graduation.  Also expresses the assembly's desire to offer a forum for that continued discussion to interested parties who have or will come forward with their concerns and contributions. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS143.NSF/vwLegislation/HB+3?Opendocument Title: H.B. 3 Source: www.legis.state.de.us IN Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Districts are eligible for the academic honors diploma awards according to the number of students who successfully completed an academic honors diploma program in the school year ending in the previous calendar year. Reduces the amount for which districts are eligible for each student. Adds that an amount received by a school corporation as an honors diploma award may be used only for:         (1) any:             (A) staff training;             (B) program development;             (C) equipment and supply expenditures; or             (D) other expenses;         directly related to the school corporation's academic honors diploma program; and         (2) the school corporation's program for high ability students. States that a governing body that does not comply with these provisions for a school year is not eligible to receive an award for the following school year. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/HE/HE1001.1.html Title: H.B. 1001 (Section 201) Source: www.in.gov DE Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Provides that high school diplomas issued in 2005 will be the same as were awarded in 2004. States that in 2006, the department must award a "State of Delaware High School Diploma" to a student who completes the state course requirements, or the district requirements, if these are higher than the state's. Requires the department, with the state board's approval, to determine the proficiency levels of performance on the state high school assessments, and the use of other academic indicators and their corresponding proficiency levels for a student to receive a State of Delaware Distinguished Achievement Diploma. Other academic indicators may include but are not limited to assessments such as the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Advanced Placement test scores, American College Test (ACT), local district assessments and indicators used to determine student proficiency relative to the content standards, and other assessments approved at the state level in a content area. States that in 2007, in addition to the requirements for the Class of 2006, the department must determine the proficiency levels on the state hgh school assessments and the use of other academic indicators and their corresponding proficiency levels, for receiving the State of Delaware High School Diploma and the State of Delaware Distinguished Achievement Diploma. States that students who fail to achieve a proficient level of performance on the state high school assessments may retake the assessments each succeeding year they continue in high school. Students taking the alternative assessment are exempt from this requirement. Requires the department to issue a certificate of performance to a student who has met the requirements of the student's Individualized Education Program but has not completed the high school graduation course requirements established by the state, or the district, if district credit requirements are higher than those of the state. Permits a student receiving a State of Delaware High School Diploma in 2004 or 2005 to request that his or her district or charter school reevaluate the diploma determination based on any adjustment or addition of other academic indicators for the determination of the Distinguished Achievement Diploma. States that if it is determined the student earned the Distinguished Achievement Diploma, the department must retroactively award such diploma http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS143.NSF/vwLegislation/SB+72?Opendocument 14 Delaware Code, Section 1220(a) (14 Del.C. §1220(a)) 14 DE Admin. Code 101 http://www.state.de.us/research/register/february2006/final/9%20DE%20Reg%201175%2002-01-06.htm#P8_154 Title: S.B. 72 Source: www.legis.state.de.us WV Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 House Bill 3018 includes provisions relating to alternative education programs and the Mountaineer Challenge Academy. Attendees of both are given an extra year to graduate or pass the General Education Degree (GED) tests, subject to federal law. Additionally, attendees of the Academy are considered enrolled in the referring county, but only for the purposes of funding, attendance rates and graduation rates and only to the extent permitted by federal law. Title: H.B. 3018 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Wrapup/2005/final/final.pdf OK Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Beginning with ninth-grade students enrolled in the 2008-2009 school year, three units or sets of competencies in mathematics must be completed in the ninth through twelfth grades; provided, if a student completes any required courses in mathematics prior to ninth grade, the student may take any other mathematics courses to fulfill the requirement to complete three units in grades nine through twelve after the student has satisfied other requirements. Adds a provision that allows courses offered by a supplemental education organization that is accredited by a national accrediting body and that are taught by a certified teacher and provide for the teaching and learning of the appropriate skills and knowledge in the PASS to, upon approval of the State Board of Education and the school district board of education, be counted for academic credit and toward meeting the graduation requirements. Adds Section 8, affecting students in ninth grade in 2006-2007: 1. Four units of English to include Grammar, Composition, Literature, or any English course approved for college admission requirements; 2. Three units of laboratory science, limited to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or any laboratory science course with content and/or rigor equal to or above Biology and approved for college admission requirements; 3. Three units of mathematics, limited to Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Math Analysis, Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, or any mathematics course with content and/or rigor above Algebra I and approved for college admission requirements; 4. Three units of history and citizenship skills, including one unit of American History and two units from the subjects of History, Government, Geography, Economics, Civics, or Non-Western culture; 5. Two units of the same foreign or non-English language or two units of computer technology approved for college admission requirements, whether taught at a high school or a technology center school, including computer programming, hardware, and business computer applications such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics, excluding keyboarding or typing courses; 6. One additional unit selected from paragraphs 1 through 5 of this subsection or career and technology education courses approved for college admission requirements; and 7. One unit or set of competencies of fine arts, such as music, art, or drama, or one unit of speech. A student may enroll in a curriculum that does not meet the requirements upon approval of the parent or legal guardian. School districts may require a parent or legal guardian of the student to meet with a designee of the school prior to enrollment in such a curriculum. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06SB/sb982_enr.rtf Title: S.B. 982, Section 7 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us IN Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Postsec. 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 completed the Core 40 curriculum or a curriculum that is the equivalent to be admitted to a four-year degree program in a state educational institution. Adds the following options for students who fail to pass the high school graduation exam: Completes i) the course and credit requirements for a general diploma, including the career academic sequence; ii) a workforce readiness assessment; and (iii) at least one (1) career exploration internship, cooperative education, or workforce credential recommended by the student's school; or obtains a written recommendation from a teacher of the student in each subject area in which the student has not achieved a passing score on the graduation examination. The written recommendation must be concurred in by the principal of the student's school and be supported by documentation that the student has attained the academic standard in the subject area based upon:(i) tests other than the graduation examination; or (ii) classroom work. Upon the request of a student's parent, the student may be exempted from the Core 40 curriculum requirement. Itemizes other provisions that apply to students not completing the Core 40. Requires the department of education to conduct a study to determine whether a shortage of math, science, and special education teachers exists, particularly in urban and rural areas. Makes transitional provisions maintaining the current standards until the new standards take effect. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2005/SE/SE0200.1.html Title: S.B. 200 Source: http://www.in.gov FL Emergency Rule Adoption 04/2005 P-12 Establishes emergency rules regarding course requirements. Establishes basic and adult secondary programs for 2005. Course Requirements - Grades 6-12 Basic and Adult Secondary Programs – 2005. This emergency rule was adopted to amend the present course descriptions in Rule 6A-1.09412, FAC., for intensive reading courses in middle and high school grades to include suggested time allocations and instructional activities, as well as alignment to instruction grounded in scientifically based-reading research. Rule 6A-1.09412, FAC., Course Requirements - Grades 6 -12 Basic and Adult Secondary Programs, will be amended through the rulemaking process and presented to the State Board for final approval to include the intensive reading course descriptions Title: FAC 6AER05-1 Source: StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Allows certain courses offered by supplemental education organizations to be counted for credit upon approval. http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/50th/2005/1R/HB/1600.pdf Title: H.B. 1600 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/ KS Became law without governor's signature 04/2005 P-12 Requires every accredited school to teach the subjects and areas of instruction adopted by the state board of education as of January 1, 2005. Requires every accredited high school to also teach the subjects and areas of instruction necessary to meet the graduation requirements adopted by the state board of education as of January 1, 2005. Requires the state board to design subjects and areas of instruction to achieve the following goals established by the legislature to allow for the: (1) Development of sufficient oral and written communication skills which enable students to function in a complex and rapidly changing society; (2) acquisition of sufficient knowledge of economic, social and political systems which enable students to understand the issues that affect the community, state and nation; (3) development of students' mental and physical wellness; (4) development of knowledge of the fine arts to enable students to appreciate the cultural and historical heritage of others; (5) training or preparation for advanced training in either academic or vocational fields so as to enable students to choose and pursue life work intelligently; (6) development of sufficient levels of academic or vocational skills to enable students to compete favorably in academics and the job market; and (7) needs of students requiring special education services. Bill as enacted: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/showBill.do?id=38800 Fiscal note: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/showBill.do?id=35742 Supplemental note: http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/showBill.do?id=37465 Title: H.B. 2247 (section 6) Source: www.kslegislature.org AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, provides an elective credit towards high school graduation for serving as a student mentor. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/sb1043.pdf Title: S.B. 1043 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Establishes system for districts to report all students' scores on end-of-course assessments. Requires the division of public school accountability to: (i) Match each student's end-of-course test score with the letter grade received in the corresponding course; (ii) Report each student's end-of-course test score matched with the letter grade the student received in the corresponding course to the school district; (iii) Create a report of the percentage of students who received a letter grade of "B" or above in the corresponding course and passed the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt; and (iv) Create a report of the percentage of students who received a letter grade of "B" or above in the corresponding course and did not pass the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt. Requires the division of public school accountability to annually report to the state board and the General Assembly the name, address, and superintendent of any high school in which more than 20% of the students received a letter grade of "B" or above but did not pass the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt. The report must also indicate by high school the number of students receiving a letter grade of "B" or above in the corresponding course who did not pass the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt. Requires the department to investigate the classroom practices of any district in which more than 20% of the students received a letter grade of "B" or above but did not pass the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt; and provide the superintendent and local board with written recommendations or changes that would improve classroom instruction and student performance on end-of-course assessments. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb1983.pdf Title: H.B. 1983 (multiple provisions) Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Requires a student not passing an immediately previous grades 3-8 benchmark assessment or in a secondary level end-of-course assessment to participate in remediation activities as required in the student's individualized academic improvement plan beginning in the school year the assessment results are reported. If a student with disabilities has an individualized education program that addresses any academic area or areas in which the student is not proficient on state-mandated criterion-referenced assessments, the individualized education program meets the requirements of the aforementioned academic improvement plan. Requires districts to notify the student's parent of the parent's role and responsibilities as well as the consequences for the student's failure to participate in the plan. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, requires students in grades 3-8 identified as not passing a benchmark assessment and who fail to participate in the subsequent academic improvement plan to be retained and not promoted to the next grade until the student is deemed to have participated in an academic improvement plan or the student passes the benchmark assessment for the current grade level in which the student is retained. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, mandates that any student required to take an end-of-course assessment who does not pass a particular assessment must participate in remediation activities as required in the student's individualized academic improvement plan in the school year the assessment results are reported in order to receive credit on his or her transcript for the course related to the end-of-course assessment. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, requires all initial end-of-course assessments to be administered by grade 10 for each student. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a student who does not pass an initial end-of-course assessment may receive credit for the course until the student passes a subsequent end-of-course assessment; or the student, by the end of grade twelve 12, passes an Alternative assessment directly related to the Alternative exit course. If a student does not meet the satisfactory pass levels on an initial end-of-course assessment or does not satisfy the remedial requirements, that student will not graduate with a high school diploma from an Arkansas high school or charter school. To the extent any school district is determined to have knowingly failed to administer these provisions of law or rules, the superintendent's license shall be subject to probation, suspension or revocation. Requires tthe department of education to annually make public at least 50% of the test questions on the most recent initial benchmark and end-of-course assessments. Creates Alternative Exit Course and Alternative Course Exam for students who have failed an end-of-course assessment three times. Requires such a student to take and pass an Alternative exit course and meet a satisfactory Alternative level score on a subsequent Alternative assessment to graduate from high school. Allows the Alternative exit course to be offered through a distance learning class and to be offered by the district outside the course of the normal school day. Repeals Arkansas Code § 6-15-203 on remediation and student promotion/retention. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb2824.pdf Title: H.B. 2824 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Creates the End-of-Course Success Incentive Program under the department of education. Awards schools $50.00 for each student passing the end-of-course assessment on his or her first attempt. These funds must be utilized in the schools to improve student academic performance. Allows a teacher teaching a course that has a state-required end-of-course assessment to be awarded subsidized teacher training for that particular course at a cost not to exceed $650 per teacher. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb1983.pdf Title: H.B. 1983 (multiple provisions) Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Postsec. Modifies eligibility requirements for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program, effective for applicants graduating from an Arkansas high school after December 31, 2009. Requires an applicant to have completed the Smart Core curriculum and have met the existing requirement of passing the end-of-course examinations in reading and writing literacy and mathematics. Adds that a sub-score of 19 or higher on the ACT may equate meeting the requirements for passing end-of-course examinations for applicants to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program and the Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program for a student who has not had an opportunity to take an end-of-course exam, has not passed the end-of-course exam, or attends a private school or home school. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/hb1983.pdf Title: H.B. 1983 (multiple provisions) Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us NM Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, each school district shall offer at least one honors or similar academically rigorous class each in mathematics and language arts in each high school. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/SB0069.pdf Title: S.B. 69 Source: StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, the state board of Education must require, as a condition of accreditation, that school districts provide to all students physical education programs which may include athletics. The state board must also require that public elementary schools provide instruction, for students in full-day kindergarten and grades one through five, in physical education or exercise programs for a minimum of an average of sixty (60) minutes each week. Requires the state board to disseminate information to each school district on the benefits of physical education programs and strongly encourage districts to provide physical education instruction to students in grades six through twelve. Instruction in physical education is required to be aligned with the Priority Academic Student Skills as adopted by the State Board of Education. Encourages local boards to require students to complete two units or sets of competencies of physical and health education for graduation. http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/50th/2005/1R/SB/312.pdf Title: S.B. 312 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us AZ Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Authorizes the state board to establish and collect fees for the issuance and reissuance of general equivalency diplomas and general equivalency transcripts. Requires the state board to establish policies on fee waivers for such. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=2051 Title: H.B. 2051 Source: www.azleg.state.az.us WA Emergency Rule Adoption 03/2005 P-12 Amends rules to provide for the assignment of the graduation year for each student upon entering a high school program. WASHINGTON REG 24200 (SN) Title: WAC 180-51-035 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 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 report annually to the Board of Education the number of industry certifications obtained and state licensure examinations passed, and will include this number as a category on the school's achievement report card. Currently, the Standards of Accreditation (SOA) require the accumulation of a specific number of standard and verified units of credit for standard diplomas. The verified unit of credit is awarded upon passage of the relevant Standards of Learning (SOL) test (additional tests approved by the Board of Education), as well as the course. The Standard Diploma requires 22 credits, six of which must be verified units of credit, while the Advanced Studies Diploma requires 24 credits, with nine verified units. The SOA currently require verified units of credit in specific subjects, such as English, mathematics, science, history and social science. The Modified Standard Diploma is awarded to students with disabilities who are "unlikely to meet the credit requirements for a Standard Diploma." School accreditation is based on pass rates for the SOL assessments. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0345 Title: S.B. 1045 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Specifies that the teachers' professional growth fund is to provide teachers with high quality professional development in content knowledge in reading and classroom-based screening, diagnostic, assessment and intervention strategies. States that the fund may be used to provide grants to local school districts to support staff participation in specific, statewide initiatives for the professional development of teachers and administrators in specific content areas as established by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Board of Education as established in this bill; to provide grants to colleges and universities to plan and develop statewide professional development institutes and other professional development services; and to provide grants to local school districts, to colleges and universities, or other entities to assist the Kentucky Department of Education in evaluating costs and the effectiveness of activities and initiatives established under the teachers' professional growth fund. Requires that professional development programs for which teachers may receive support from the fund provide training in the use of research-based and developmentally appropriate classroom-based screening, diagnostic, assessment, and intervention strategies. Requires that, beginning June 1, 2006, through the 2009-2010 school year, priority for the use of funds from the teachers' professional growth fund be to train and support teams of teachers from all school levels to be trained as reading coaches and mentors or as mathematics coaches and mentors in statewide institutes referenced in Sections 1 and 2 of this bill, and for selected teachers to be highly trained in providing diagnostic assessment and intervention services for students in the primary program struggling with mathematics. Requires the design of the statewide mathematics institutes to train mathematics coaches and mentors to be developed by the Committee for Mathematics Achievement. Requires the design of the professional development program to provide highly trained mathematics intervention teachers in the primary program to be developed by the Center for Mathematics in collaboration with public and private institutions of postsecondary education. Requires that the development of the statewide program to train reading coaches and mentors be coordinated by the Kentucky Department of Education with recommendations from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development and the reading steering committee established in KRS 158.794. Mandates that the design of the program reflect a consensus of the agencies involved in the development of the program. Requires the training program for reading coaches and mentors to complement other statewide reading initiatives, funded with state and federal funds, and that the program give priority to teachers in grades 4-12. Requires that the program be implemented no later than June 1, 2006. Declares an emergency. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93.htm Fiscal note: http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB93/FN.doc Title: H.B. 93 (Sections 5 and 6) Source: lrc.ky.gov OR Adopted 03/2005 P-12 Amends rules concerning the Certificate of Initial Mastery. Clarifies the requirements for the Certificate of Initial Mastery. Title: OAR 581-022-1110 and 1120, 1210 Source: StateNet KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Requires a local board of education to award an authentic high school diploma to an honorably discharged veteran who did not complete high school prior to being inducted into the United States Armed Forces during World War II or the Korean conflict. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB60.htm Title: H.B. 60 Source: StateNet KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Relates to Vietnam veterans; requires a local board of education to award a high school diploma to an honorably discharged veteran who was enrolled in, but did not complete, high school prior to being inducted into the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB230.htm Title: H.B. 230 Source: StateNet NM Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Authorizes the issuance of high school diplomas for certain Korean conflict veterans. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/05%20Regular/final/SB0198.pdf Title: S.B. 198 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Defines "organized physical activity course." Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, allows a student in grades 9-12 successfully completing an organized physical activity course meeting certain specifications to earn .5 unit of physical education credit towards high school graduation. Specifies that a student is limited to only the .5 unit of physical education credit for graduation for the organized physical activity course, and that the student is not allowed any other credit toward graduation for that same course. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/sb2.pdf Title: S.B. 2 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us SD Rule Adoption 03/2005 P-12 Creates definitions for three proposed high school courses of study. "Advanced high school program," the required course of study every student must complete, unless a student is excused, to satisfy the requirements for the recommended high school program as established by SDCL 13-33-19. (4) "Approved career and technical education course," a course that has a program approval application on file in the office of career and technical education and is taught by a teacher with vocational certification or endorsement; "Distinguished high school program," the course of study a student may choose to take to meet the eligibility requirements of the South Dakota opportunity scholarship; "Standard high school program," the minimum graduation requirements a student must take to be eligible for a high school diploma under the basic high school program as provided in SDCL 13-33-19; "World languages," the study of languages other than English. The term includes Lakota and American sign language.(Effective July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2007) Specific units of credit required for high school graduation. The units of credit required for high school graduation must include the following 13 and one-half units: (1) Four units of English/language arts, which include a minimum of the following: (a) One and one-half units of writing; (b) One and one-half units of literature, including one-half unit of American literature; and (c) One-half unit of speech; (2) Three units of social studies, which include a minimum of the following: (a) One unit of U.S. history; (b) One-half unit of U.S. government; and (c) One-half unit of geography; (3) Five units of mathematics and laboratory science, which include a minimum of two units each of mathematics and laboratory science; (4) One-half unit of laboratory computer studies; and (5) One unit of fine arts. In lieu of taking the required course in computer studies, a maximum of one-half unit of credit may be granted to a student who can demonstrate mastery of the basic course of studies for computers. Credit for certain vocational education courses may be used to partially satisfy required course credit in English, mathematics, social science, and science. Up to one unit of credit from vocational education courses may be substituted for required course credit in each of these academic areas. Required course credit earned in this manner shall be accounted for on the student transcript, identifying the vocational education courses approved and applied toward the credit. SOUTH DAKOTA REG 4078 (SN) http://www.state.sd.us/deca/gradrequirements/docs/DefofTerms.pdf Title: 24:15:03:04, 24:15:06:22, 24:15:06:36, 24:15:06:37, 24:15:01:01, 24:16:08:16, 24:16:08:59, 24:03:01:01, 24:03:06:06.01, 24:03:06:31, 24:03:06:32 Source: http://www.state.sd.us AR Signed into law 02/2005 P-12 An act to ensure the continuation of district honor roll and academic achievement recognition programs. Specifies that no district may be prohibited from identifying students for honor roll, for valedictorian and salutatorian, or for other academic honors. Allows any parent or student who does not want to have the student identified as an honor student or listed on the honor roll to submit a written request to the principal of the school requesting that the student not be identified. Requires school and district to honor such written request. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/sb250.pdf Title: S.B. 250 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us SD Signed into law 02/2005 P-12 Allows Vietnam veterans to receive honorary high school diplomas. Title: H.B. 1163 Source: StateNet IN Adopted 02/2005 P-12 Adds 511 IAC 6-7.1, effective with the graduating class of 2010, to adopt new minimum high school graduation requirements, adopt new Core 40 diploma requirements, and adopt Core 40 with academic honors and Core 40 with technical honors diplomas to replace the current academic honors diploma. Defines a career-academic sequence as a flexible sequence of career-technical and academic courses that: (1) help a student explore and prepare for a specific career area or group of related occupations; (2) are selected and defined by school corporations; (3) include progressive exposure to the world of work, with some leading to a certificate recognized by business and industry. Encourages students earning the standard diploma and any Core 40 diploma to complete a career-academic sequence. http://www.doe.state.in.us/core40/pdf/SBEfinalrule_2-3-05.pdf Title: 511 IAC 6-7.1 Source: www.doe.state.in.us IL Signed into law 01/2005 P-12 Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code to allow a child with a disability who has completed four years of high school to participate in the graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion under specified circumstances. Further amends the School Code to make changes to the ballot forms for school board elections. Amends provisions concerning enrollment of pupils below or above the compulsory school age; specifies circumstances under which a school or school district may deny enrollment to a student 17 years of age or older for one semester for failure to meet minimum attendance or academic standards. Defines "reenrolled student". Changes eligibility age for graduation incentives program to "below the age of 20". http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09300HB0757enr&GA=93&SessionId=3&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=1162&DocNum=757&GAID=3&Session= Title: H.B. 757 Source: StateNet SD Adopted 12/2004 P-12 Aligns rule to current statutes and removes State Board of Education from the exemption process. Changes new technical education program proposal deadline to April 1. Creates definitions for the proposed three high school courses of study. Defines the requirements of the proposed three high school courses of study. SOUTH DAKOTA REG 4059 (SN) Title: SDCR 24:03:01:01, 04:16, 17, 17.01, 18, 06:06.01, 31, 32, 10:42:23 Source: StateNet WA Rule Adoption 11/2004 P-12 Adopts rules relating to the high school and beyond plan and culminating graduation requirements. Requires implementation of both via a written district policy. Provides a link within the rules from the culminating project to the high school and beyond plan. WASHINGTON REG 23816 (SN) Title: WAC 180-51-061 Source: StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishes the Prison Education Reform Act. Changes the position of Superintendent of Correctional Education to the Deputy Director of Correctional Education, to report directly to the Director of Corrections. Requires deputy director to oversee and administer all prison education programs in conjunction with the Robert E. Burton Correctional Education Committee. Renames the prison education advisory committee the Robert E. Burton Correctional Education Committee, to be composed of 15 appointed members, and established within the Department of Corrections. Requires the Deputy Director of Correctional Education, in consultation with the committee to approve education programs in correctional institutions and adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the management and operation of education programs within the Department of Corrections. Requires the Deputy Director of Correctional Education, in consultation with the committee and in conjunction with parole and other aftercare programs, to develop and implement a plan for providing transitional educational services for inmates, including, but not limited to, counseling and placement services. Requires the Deputy Director of Correctional Education, in consultation with the committee, to develop a plan and make every reasonable effort to provide every inmate who has a reasonable expectation of release, with the opportunity to achieve a specified level of functional literacy, among other educational benefits, and an opportunity to obtain the equivalent of a high school education if the inmate has demonstrated the intellectual capacity to benefit from that additional education, and to provide college-level academic programs. Requires the committee to advise the Deputy Director of Correctional Education regarding specified goals and objectives, including ensuring that correctional education programs meet minimum performance standards and provide 9th grade literacy skills and marketable vocational skills, developing a procedure, in cooperation with the State Department of Education, to evaluate the effectiveness of correctional education programs, developing a mechanism to test all offenders committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections for academic achievement, and developing a 5-year comprehensive plan for a unified correctional school system. Additionally requires the committee to submit a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2007, with recommendations for further restructuring of correctional education in the state and focusing on, among other items, attaining parallel education structures between correctional and public education, funding sources, and correctional education curriculum. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1901-1950/ab_1914_bill_20040824_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1914_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 1914 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Section 2: Repeals the requirement that pupils in American government and civics courses required for high school graduation read and be taught specified documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. Requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to ensure that those documents are incorporated in the framework when the history-social science framework is revised. Requires the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure that an appropriate number of questions on the California Standards Tests relate to those documents if any portion of the California Standards Tests is revised. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2851-2900/ab_2855_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Signing message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/press_release/AB_2853_2855_2856_sign.pdf Title: A.B. 2855 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Exempts a pupil who, prior to enrollment in grade 9, completes coursework in algebra that meets or exceeds the rigor of the state board content standards for Algebra I, from the high school graduation requirement that at least one course, or a combination of the two math courses required to be completed in grades 9-12, meet or exceed the rigor of the content standards for Algebra I. However, pupil is still not exempted from the graduation requirement that he or she complete two courses in mathematics while enrolled in grades 9-12. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2501-2550/ab_2525_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Requires the governing board of a school district to appoint to its membership a preferential voting pupil member. Requires school districts with more than one high school to select a pupil member from a different high school each year on a rotating basis. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1851-1900/ab_1897_bill_20040824_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1897_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 1897 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Provides that if a high school participating in either the High Priority Schools Grant Program or the Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools Program is reorganized into more than one high school, each of those high schools shall continue to receive a specified share of the funds that the former school would have received provided certain eligibility criteria are met, including compliance with specified program requirements. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1801-1850/ab_1841_bill_20040824_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1841_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 1841 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 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.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_164_bill_20040922_chaptered.pdf Signing message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/press_release/AB_164_sign.pdf Title: A.B. 164 Source: StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Deems, for purposes of computing the average daily attendance generated by a pupil enrolled in a history or social science course required by a school district as a condition of receipt of a high school diploma, a pupil serving as a member of a precinct board for an election to be under the immediate supervision of the certificated teacher of the history or social science course. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1901-1950/ab_1944_bill_20040824_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1944_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 1944 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Establishes the High School Remediation Funding Flexibility Program for the purpose of providing funding flexibility for remediation instruction for high school pupils in grades 9 to 12 who are at risk of not passing the high school exit examination. Provides for remediation instruction class size. Requires such instruction to be in the core subject areas that are tested, and to be provided by a certificated employee who is highly qualified, as defined by the state board of education for purposes of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Authorizes a school district to participate in the program only if it received funding pursuant to the Morgan-Hart Class Size Reduction Act of 1989 continuously since the 2001-02 fiscal year, in which case, the bill would authorize the school district to use any available funds from that act for purposes of the program. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2601-2650/ab_2647_bill_20040825_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_2647_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 2647 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Postsec. Relates to the Academic Improvement and Achievement Act, which authorizes districts to submit proposals to the state superintendent to fund activities that will increase the percentage of pupils at qualifying high schools who meet the requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California. Appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the state department of education to fund the Academic Improvement and Achievement Act. Provides these funds would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2051-2100/ab_2080_bill_20040826_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_2080_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 2080 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov SD Adopted 09/2004 P-12 Eliminates requirement that evidence of completion of all required sections of the Dakota STEP assessment must appear on the student's transcript before graduation may be authorized and a signed diploma may be issued; Removes curriculum and special education directors from the administrative program group and places them in the school service program group; revises rules so they are content standards based and allows preparing institutions the flexibility to vary their courses to meet the content standards. SOUTH DAKOTA REG 4035 (SN) Title: 24:14:04:12.01, 12.02; 15:06:33, 36; 03:06:06.05, 15:01:01; 16:01:01, 05:03; 06:01, 02, 03, 07:01; 16:07:01, 02, 03, 08:01 thru 58 (Non-Seq.), 09:03 thru 05, 10:06 and 07 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 08/2004 P-12 Extends authorization to retroactively grant a high school diploma to a former pupil who is veteran of World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1501-1550/sb_1517_bill_20040823_chaptered.html Title: S.B. 1517 Source: California Legislative Web site IA Issued 08/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates the IOWA LEARNS COUNCIL. The Iowa Learns Council shall work towards the ambitious goal of 90% of Iowa children having a quality pre-school experience, and 90% of Iowa high school graduates will go on to complete at least two years of college; shall promote, gather, and share information regarding Iowa's progress to ensure seamless pathways across education sectors and the workplace; shall identify the necessary steps to ensure that Iowans--from pre-school to graduate school--are supported by a well coordinated seamless system of learning and support to provide for successes from early childhood through higher education, and into the workforce in our communities. http://www.state.ia.us/iowalearns/doc/eo30.html Iowa Learns Council report with recommendations released August 11, 2004. http://www.state.ia.us/iowalearns/reports.html Title: Executive Order No. 30 - 2003 Source: Iowa State Web site IL Signed into law 08/2004 P-12 Amends the School Code. Provides that no student shall receive a regular diploma without taking the Prairie State Achievement Exam. Provides exceptions. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0857 Title: S.B. 2769 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site TX Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Amends rules concerning exemption from the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. Exempts high school students who achieve certain standards on the Mathematics and/or English/Language Arts sections of the exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills from state mandated testing for college readiness for the corresponding sections. Allows students who achieve certain standards on certain sections of the SAT and ACT to be exempt from the assessment required under this title for those corresponding sections. TEXAS REG 95579 (SN) Title: 19 TAC 1.4.C.4.54 Source: StateNet AL Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Establishes rules amending language to include the requirements for the Alabama Occupational Diploma. http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/ed/3ED1.htm#T1 Title: AAC 290-3-1-.02 Source: Alabama State Web site AL Emergency Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Establishes rules amending language to move the requirements for the Alabama Occupational Diploma to 290-3-1-.02(8)(g). Title: AAC 290-8-9-.10 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Authorizes and directs the Department of Education to conduct alignment studies on additional academic indicators to be used for diploma granting decisions; specifies that no additional indicators will be approved until the alignment studies have been completed and the expert panel created by Executive Order 54 has been consulted; requires the Department to recommend appropriate changes to statutes concerning the use of additional indicators. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS142.NSF/vwLegislation/HJR+34/$file/1901420309.doc/?openelement Title: H.J.R. 34 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site LA Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Postsec. Provides relative to student eligibility for Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship program. Eliminates provision that completion of one-half unit of computer science, computer literacy and computer business applications is requirement only through the 2006-2007 school year. (Continues one-half unit requirement through 2007-08 school year and beyond). Deletes language that students graduating during the 2007-08 school year and thereafter must complete one and one-half units of computer science, computer literacy or business computer applications; replaces with requirement that students graduating during the 2007-08 school year and thereafter complete at least one unit as an elective from among other math or science subjects listed in core curriculum. http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/04RS/CVT7/OUT/0000LUSP.PDF Title: H.B. 32 Source: www.legis.state.la.us FL Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Relates to juvenile justice education; increases percentage of Florida Education Finance Program funding generated by students in juvenile justice programs which must be spent on instructional costs; requires school districts to provide GED exit option for such programs; requires workgroup to suggest strategies for meeting requirements of No Child Left Behind Act and for rewarding such programs for high performance; requires gender-specific information. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb1989er.html&Directory=session/2004/House/bills/billtext/html/ Title: H.B. 1989 Source: Florida Legislative Web site CO Vetoed 06/2004 P-12 Creates a High School Commission to assess the quality of education provided in the state's public high schools and to make recommendations to school districts and the general assembly by December 31, 2004. The commission should address at least the following issues: whether Colorado high school graduates are ready for postsecondary education and employment and strategies to help districts improve readiness; focusing and clarifying high school graduation requirements and expectations; improving high school students' achievement levels; the effectiveness and availability of enrollment option including choice, charter school and educational voucher programs; and the existing data systems to measure the quality of high school education, student outcomes and student growth. The commission should consider local commissions recommendations and avoid duplication of local commissions' reform recommendations. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/FCF5FBA591D5C19887256E1A0063628F?open&file=1283_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1283 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site FL Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Relates to Korean War veteran's high school diploma; amends certain prerequisites to allow award of standard high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans of Korean War who did not complete necessary graduation requirements. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1096er.html&Directory=session/2004/Senate/bills/billtext/html/ Title: S.B. 1096 Source: Florida Legislative Web site MD Rule Adoption 05/2004 P-12 Proposes rules regarding standards for kindergarten programs and graduation requirements for public high schools. MARYLAND REG 9845 (SN) Title: COMAR 13A.03.01, .01, .04, 13A.03.02, .01-.12 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Requires the Department of Education to award diplomas based on current rules and regulations for students who graduate in 2004; allows the national panel of experts to examine the performance levels and math cut scores of the Student Testing Program and determine whether changes are necessary; provides that students may request recalculation of test scores to determine their eligibility for the Distinguished Achievement Diploma. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home?Openform Title: S.B. 285 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site AL Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Concerns honorably discharged veterans who served in United States Armed Forces during certain dates and who did not receive high school diploma due to service to receive diploma. http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp?SESSION=1029 Title: H.B. 24 Source: Alabama Legislative Web site IA Vetoed 05/2004 P-12 Relates to and making appropriations from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund and providing an effective date; provides for high school mentors to teach life skills, violence prevention and character education in an effort to reduce the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&hbill=HF2577 Title: H.F. 2577 Source: StateNet TN Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Postsec. 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 not limited to, the following: consistent numerical breaks for letter grades; consideration of standards to define an honors course; appropriate weighting of courses; and determination of courses and weightings to be used in the calculation of class rank. The task force is required to report its findings to the state board of education no later than December 31, 2004. Authorizes the state board of education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of this section. The comptroller's office of education accountability is directed to evaluate the uniform grading system four (4) years after its implementation and to report its findings to the education oversight committee of the general assembly. Such evaluation must include an analysis of the relationship of grade point averages to ACT and SAT scores of high school students. Each local education agency must adopt and use the uniform grading system for students enrolled in grades 9-12. Students' grades are to be reported for the purposes of application for postsecondary financial assistance administered by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation using the uniform grading system. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0679.pdf Title: S.B. 2205 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us MS Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Authorizes local school boards to award honorary high school diplomas to Vietnam veterans who were scheduled to graduate from high school between 1964 and 1973. The State Board of Education and the State Veterans Affairs Board shall work together to develop a uniform application for persons seeking such diplomas. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2004/pdf/SB/2400-2499/SB2446SG.pdf Title: S.B. 2446 Source: StateNet MD Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Allows an individual honorably discharged from military service to apply to specified county boards of education to obtain a high school diploma if the individual withdrew from a specified full-time public or private high school under specified circumstances. Title: H.B. 474 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Creates an At-Risk Student Academic Achievement Program and fund to provide grants to public school divisions for programs to improve the achievement of at-risk students, decrease the dropout rate and increase the number of students getting advanced studies diplomas. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=041&typ=bil&val=hb1013 Title: H.B. 1013 Source: StateNet KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Amends KRS 158.145 to require that all students who drop out of school be counted in the annual state dropout index. Amends KRS 158.6455 to specify that a student must be included in a school's annual average dropout rate if the student was enrolled in the school for at least 30 days during the school year prior to the day he or she was recorded as dropping out. Requires that a student not be counted in the school's annual average dropout rate if the student is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a General Educational Development (GED) diploma program or if the student has dropped out of school and is awarded a GED diploma by a certain date. Specifies that no state or federal adult education and literacy funds may be used to pay for a high school student enrolled in a GED program. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/04RS/HB178/bill.doc Title: H.B. 178 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us OK Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Relates to curriculum requirements for high school graduation; authorizes technology center school districts to offer certain programs; requires approval of State Board of Education and district board of education; prescribes certain teacher certification requirement; provides an effective date. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003-04SB/sb1271_enr.rtf Title: S.B. 1271 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us VA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Authorizes school boards to create joint or regional schools offering a specialized curriculum leading to a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential, such as industry certification, career certificated, or degree. Title: S.B. 553 Source: StateNet WA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Postsec. 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 high school graduates need for college-level work and strategies for communicating those standards to all Washington high schools; (b) Identify the causes of current gaps in knowledge and skills of recent high school graduates; (c) Identify innovative strategies currently used by school districts and other initiatives or programs designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills for college-level work; and (d) Develop and initiate actions to address the gaps in knowledge and skills so that the need for remediation of recent high school graduates in public higher education institutions is significantly reduced. Requires the state education and higher education agencies to jointly submit a report to the legislature by December 15, 2004. The report will summarize the findings of the work group and describe actions taken by the agencies, higher education institutions, and school districts to enhance the knowledge and skills of high school graduates. The report will also recommend additional strategies, timelines, and measurable benchmarks for reducing remediation of recent high school graduates over the next three years. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5125-5149/5139-s_sl.pdf Title: S.B. 5139 Source: www.leg.wa.gov WV to governor 03/2004 P-12 Postsec. One section of H.B. 4001 requires high quality education standards and efficiency standards to include an assurance that graduates are prepared for continuing postsecondary education, training and work, and that schools and school systems are making progress toward achieving the education goals of the state. Title: H.B. 4001-- Multiple Sections Source: DE Rule Adoption 03/2004 P-12 Amends rules regarding credit requirements for High School Graduation, diplomas and certificate of performance, options for awarding credit toward high school graduation by combining them into a single regulation, graduation requirements and diplomas. Amends rules to clarify language. Repeals sections 511, 515, and 520. Title: 14 DAC 505 Source: Delaware State Web site WA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 1) The high school assessment system shall include but need not be limited to the Washington assessment of student learning, opportunities for a student to retake the content areas of the assessment in which the student was not successful, and if approved by the legislature pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, one or more objective alternative assessments for a student to demonstrate achievement of state academic standards. The objective alternative assessments for each content area shall be comparable in rigor to the skills and knowledge that the student must demonstrate on the Washington assessment of student learning for each content area. (2) Subject to the conditions in this section, a certificate of academic achievement shall be obtained by most students at about the age of sixteen, and is evidence that the students have successfully met the state standard in the content areas included in the certificate. With the exception of students satisfying the provisions of section 104 of this act, acquisition of the certificate is required for graduation from a public high school but is not the only requirement for graduation. (3) Beginning with the graduating class of 2008, with the exception of students satisfying the provisions of section 104 of this act, a student who meets the state standards on the reading, writing, and mathematics content areas of the high school Washington assessment of student learning shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. If a student does not successfully meet the state standards in one or more content areas required for the certificate of academic achievement, then the student may retake the assessment in the content area up to four times at no cost to the student. If the student successfully meets the state standards on a retake of the assessment then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. Once objective alternative assessments are authorized pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, a student may use the objective alternative assessments to demonstrate that the student successfully meets the state standards for that content area if the student has retaken the Washington assessment of student learning at least once. If the student successfully meets the state standards on the objective alternative assessments then the student shall earn a certificate of academic achievement. The student's transcript shall note whether the certificate of academic achievement was acquired by means of the Washington assessment of student learning or by an alternative assessment. (4) Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, a student must meet the state standards in science in addition to the other content areas required under subsection (3) of this section on the Washington assessment of student learning or the objective alternative assessments in order to earn a certificate of academic achievement. (5) The state board of education may not require the acquisition of the certificate of academic achievement for students in home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, for students enrolled in private schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or for students satisfying the provisions of section 104 of this act. Title: H.B. 2195 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov UT Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Modifies the membership and terms of the nominating and recruiting committee that selects candidates for membership on the State Board of Education (from 4 year terms to 2-year terms, nominated by the governor); provides definitions: "Competency" means a demonstrable acquisition of a specified knowledge, skill, or ability that has been organized into a hierarchical arrangement leading to higher levels of knowledge, skill, or ability. (b) "Competency-based education" means an education approach that requires students to acquire a competency and includes a classroom structure and operation that aid and facilitate the acquisition of specified competencies on an individual basis wherein students are allowed to master and demonstrate competencies as fast as they are able. (c) "Gain score" means the measured difference of a student's score at the beginning and end of a time period that may be aggregated at the class, grade, school, and school district levels.; requires the state board to assist school districts and charter schools to develop and implement:competency-based education; and the use of gain scores; modifies educator licensing provisions (requires an endorsement to be issued upon completion of a competency-based teacher preparation program from a regionally accredited university that meets state content standards). Includes provision that a teacher development program focused on achieving progress in core academics include instruction in explicit, systematic, and intensive phonics for teachers in grades kindergarten through 3); requires the state board to develop and use monetary and nonmonetary incentives, tools, and rewards; requires documentation verifying the qualifications of a person before a competency-based license to teach may be issued; and delays the implementation of new curriculum and graduation requirements. http://se10.utahsenate.org/ptext/enrolled.pdf/sb0185.pdf Title: S.B. 185 Source: StateNet AL Emergency Rule Adoption 03/2004 P-12 Provides emergency regulation to effective change for those eligible for a regular high school diploma in the Spring of 2004. ALABAMA REG 6513 (SN) Title: AAC 290-3-1-.02-.01; -4-2-.02-.01 Source: StateNet AL Adopted 03/2004 P-12 Allows high schools to confer the High School Diploma on students with disabilities who have failed a subject area test of the Graduation Exam in the area in which they have a disability(s), using alternate requirements for/instead of assessment in conjunction with the attainment of required course credits and all other requirements for graduation. http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/UpdatedMonthly/VolXXIIN6/p188.htm#T1 Title: AAC 290-3-1-.02 Source: Alabama State Web site AL Emergency Rule Adoption 03/2004 P-12 Allows students with disabilities who fail one portion of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and meet certain other criteria to receive the Alabama High School Diploma. http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/UpdatedMonthly/VolXXIIN6/p189.htm#T1 Title: AAC 290-4-2-.02 Source: Alabama State Web site WA Vetoed 03/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Strengthens linkages between K-12 and higher education systems. Requires the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, the council of presidents, the work force training and education coordinating board, public school secondary principals, public school district superintendent representatives, and the superintendent of public instruction to take actions to strengthen, expand, and create dual enrollment programs available to students on high school campuses by removing barriers that inhibit the availability of the programs and, where possible, by creating incentives to offer the courses and programs. These actions are not intended to decrease the number or types of dual enrollment programs available to students on college campuses. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/6550-6574/6561_pl.pdf Title: S.B. 6561 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov OH Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 · Creates an Educator Standards Board to develop and submit to the State Board of Education recommendations for statewide educator standards and carry out other functions recommended by the Governor's Commission on Teaching Success. · Directs the Department of Education to establish a state office within the Department to support the Educator Standards Board. · Requires school districts to use professional development standards developed by the Educator Standards Board. · Directs the State Board of Education and the Joint Council of the State Board of Education and the Ohio Board of Regents to create guidelines for the evaluation of principals and teachers. · Eliminates the authority of the State Board of Education to issue internship certificates. · Eliminates the authority of the State Board of Education to issue temporary educator licenses for employment as a superintendent or another administrative position. · Requires the State Board of Education to create an alternative principal license and an alternative administrator license. · Restricts the required delayed effective date for any educator licensing rule adopted, amended, or rescinded by the State Board of Education only to cases where the proposed rule, amendment, or rescission will necessitate curriculum changes in college and university teacher preparation programs. · Clarifies that an Alternative Educator License must be issued to a qualified applicant upon the request of specified school officials. · Prescribes the timing of subject area testing for applicants for the Provisional Educator License who are employed as intervention specialists under the Alternative Educator License. · Provides a qualified immunity for teacher performance assessors, trainers, and coordinators and for teacher performance assessment entities in civil actions concerning performance assessments of candidates for the Professional Educator License. · Expands the rulemaking authority of the State Board of Education with respect to allowing schools to hire teachers considered to be rehabilitated from past offenses. · Authorizes the State Board or the Superintendent of Public Instruction to issue subpoenas, take depositions, and compel production of evidence in pre-hearing investigations of educator license applicants or holders. · Requires the State Board to adopt rules establishing standards and requirements for issuing permits to individuals who are not licensed educators but who wish to be employed by school districts to direct, supervise, or coach pupil activity programs. · Establishes a Credential Review Board, appointed by the State Board of Education, to perform duties with respect to assessing alternative pathway educators and out-of-state educators. · Requires the Ohio School Facilities Commission, when reviewing design plans, to consider whether the plans reflect designs recommended by the Governor's Commission on Teaching Success. · Obligates the Board of Regents to develop regional articulation agreements for teacher education programs among state institutions of higher education by December 31, 2004. · Directs the Legislative Office of Education Oversight (LOEO) to study minimum teacher salaries in Ohio and selected other states and report findings by September 30, 2004. · Requires the Department of Education to develop proposals for several pilot programs recommended by the Governor's Commission on Teaching Success. · Charges the Department of Education with defining a "hard to staff" school within 90 days of the bill's effective date. · Implements other recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Teaching Success. · Establishes a grant program for school districts that choose to implement specific changes within a school. · Requires the Department of Education, when sufficient funding is available, to develop a pilot project in at least two school districts that contain "hard to staff" schools. · Clarifies the due dates and methodology of several studies conducted by LOEO. · Repeals the requirement that LOEO issue an annual composite report on community schools. · Repeals the requirement that the Ohio SchoolNet Commission maintain a clearinghouse of information for classroom teachers. · Generally limits school districts to spending a combined total of an amount equal to 20% of their Title I funds to pay for transportation for students transferring under public school choice and for supplemental educational services. · Requires school districts with a three-year average graduation rate of 75% or less (in addition to academic watch and academic emergency districts as under current law) to administer practice versions of the Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) to ninth grade students. · Clarifies other requirements related to the administration of practice versions of the OGT. · Requires the eighth grade social studies achievement test to be phased in beginning in the 2006-2007 school year (one year earlier than under current law). · Extends the deadline for the summer administration of the third grade reading achievement test. · Extends the deadline for adoption of diagnostic assessments by the State Board of Education to July 1, 2008. · Requires school districts to administer diagnostic assessments to intradistrict transfer students only if such students have not taken the assessments at another district school in the current school year. · Makes technical corrections to the recently enacted law denying state financial aid to college students convicted of riot-related offenses. Link to analysis: http://lsc.state.oh.us/analyses/analysis125.nsf/c68a7e88e02f43a985256dad004e48aa/28756df2eb75b85985256dc70047070f?OpenDocument Title: S.B. 2 Source: http://lsc.state.oh.us NM Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Relates to education; establishes requirements for high school graduation and student curriculum plans. Title: H.B. 522 Source: StateNet SD Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Provides for a basic high school program and a recommended high school program; requires most students to complete the recommended one; sets forth procedures for determining eligibility of school districts to receive state foundation aid. Title: H.B. 1001 Source: StateNet VT Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Repeals the governor's diploma. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT078.HTM Title: H.B. 490 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us MS Rule Adoption 01/2004 P-12 Amends rules concerning GED State Policy, with regard to, minimum requirements and eligibility for testing. MISSISSIPPI REG 9040 (SN) Title: (Uncodified) Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Amends Ark. Code § 6-15-404, adds 6-15-434, 6-15-1806, 6-15-1901, 6-15-1902, 6-15-1903 .Creates the Student Assessment and Educational Accountability act of 2003; requires the establishment of a reporting system of schools' academic performance on the state-mandated criterion-referenced exam; student performance data shall be reported to parents and the public and serve as one of the components in developing a school improvement plan; beginning with the 2004-05 school year, information on the prior school year shall be published annually by October 15 and include demographic breakdowns, graduation rate, drop-out rate, transfers under the unsafe school choice option and transfers under the Public School Choice Act; annual reports must use a school rating system and performance goals. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB33.pdf Title: S.B. 33 §§ 1, 4, 5, 6 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Postsec. Adds Ark. Code 6-15-2201. Requires postsecondary education to report on the readiness of high school students for higher education; the state board of education shall require schools and districts to develop strategies to improve student readiness for postsecondary education and reduce remediation for high school graduates. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB33.pdf Title: S.B. 33 § 10 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site MO Issued 12/2003 P-12 Postsec. Community College The Commission of the Future of Higher Education was created by Executive Order 03-07 on March 17, 2003, with a final report due by January 1, 2004. The purpose of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education shall be to develop plans to strengthen and improve postsecondary education in Missouri. The commission's objectives will include, but are not limited to: identifying ways to increase the number of Missourians prepared to pursue training and education after high school, including technical, community college, and college or university education; increasing the number of high school students who enroll in and complete such programs; enhancing the affordability of postsecondary education for students from families at all income levels; and increasing the civic and economic benefits of advanced education for individuals, their families, communities, and the state of Missouri. Report was issued December 31, 2003. http://www.mocbhe.gov/commission/pp/finalreport.pdf Title: Executive Order 03-07 Source: Missouri State Web site OH Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Grants high school diplomas to veterans of the Korean Conflict and to expand eligibility for diplomas to certain non-resident veterans who attended Ohio high schools; clarifies the educational qualifications for county sheriffs. Title: H.B. 75 Source: StateNet TX Adopted 12/2003 P-12 §74.51. Amends high school graduation requirements. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tacupdates/december2003/ch074e.pdf Title: Sec. 74.51 Source: http://www.tea.state.tx.us NY Emergency Rule Adoption 12/2003 P-12 Revises requirements for obtaining a Regents high school diploma, a Regents diploma with advanced designation, and a local high school diploma. NEW YORK REG 16393 (SN) Title: Title 8 NYCRR 100.5 Source: StateNet MI Signed into law 11/2003 P-12 Grants high school diploma to veterans who did not graduate from high school but joined the armed forces during the Korean conflict under certain conditions. http://www.michiganlegislature.com/ Title: H.B. 4613 Source: StateNet VA Emergency Rule Adoption 11/2003 P-12 Establishes emergency rules to clarify and update the definition of 'diploma candidate' to eliminate any confusion in school divisions. Increases the options for individuals to earn a diploma. VIRGINIA REG 440 (SN) Title: 8 VAC 20-680-10 Source: StateNet TX Rule Adoption 11/2003 P-12 Amends rules relating to basic education. Clarifies that commission youth are administered state educational assessments required to complete a high school diploma. TEXAS REG 90170 (SN) Title: 37 TAC 3.91.B.91.41, 91.43 Source: StateNet OK Emergency Rule Adoption 11/2003 P-12 Allows district board to make exceptions to state high school graduation requirements for students who move to this state from another state after their junior year of high school. (A) After a student from another state enrolls in an accredited Oklahoma high school the school board can make an exception to the high school graduation requirements of Section 11-103.6 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Individual exceptions can only be made when there are differing graduation requirements between the two states and completing Oklahoma graduation requirements will extend the student's date of graduation beyond the graduation date for the student's class. (B) The district must report all exceptions made to state graduation requirements for these senior students to the State Department of Education each school year. All exceptions made at each district high school will be forwarded to the State Department of Education on or before July 1 of each year. Districts may report the information on the Annual Statistical Report. This reporting provision does not include students who have individualized education programs pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and who satisfy graduation requirements through the individualized education program.OKLAHOMA REG 13004 (SN) Title: OAC 210:35-9-31 Source: StateNet TX Rule Adoption 11/2003 P-12 Establishes new rules relating to curriculum requirements. Establishes graduation requirements for students entering Grade 9 beginning with the school year 2004-2005 and thereafter. TEXAS REG 89923 (SN) Title: 19 TAC 2.74.E.74.51 thru 74.54 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 10/2003 P-12 Requires the superintendent of public instruction to develop a request for a proposal for an independent consultant to assess options and provide recommendations for alternatives to the high school exit examination for pupils with disabilities to be eligible for a high school diploma. Requires the establishment of an advisory panel for the purpose of advising the independent consultant. Provides for funding. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0951-1000/sb_964_bill_20031011_chaptered.html Title: S.B. 964 Source: California Legislative Web site MI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 10/2003 P-12 Postsec. Provides for revisions to charter school law with respect to oversight and regulations; provides for the creation of high school academies operated by nonprofit corporations under contract with a state institution of higher education. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/billenrolled/senate/pdf/2003-SNB-0393.pdf Title: S.B. 393 Source: www.michiganlegislature.org CA Signed into law 10/2003 P-12 Amends existing law that requires the superintendent of public instruction to develop a model curriculum framework for implementation of career and technical education in consultation with an advisory group. Encourages advisory group to identify career technical education courses that meet state-adopted standards and that satisfy high school graduation requirements and admissions to State higher education institutions. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0551-0600/ab_591_bill_20031001_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 591 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Revises the review day for expulsions; Provides that if a pupil completes algebra coursework in grades 7 or 8, the pupil is not exempt for the high school graduation requirement for algebra; Revises deadlines for individualized education programs; Includes other miscellaneous changes. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0251-0300/ab_300_bill_20030929_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 300 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Recodifies provisions of the Online Classroom Pilot Program for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating pupil participation in online asynchronous interactive programs. Limits eligibility to high schools. Requires a school district to submit to the department of education information verifying the time spent by a teacher and pupil online and pupil online activities. Requires the convening of a working group to assess the online classroom pilot project. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0251-0300/ab_294_bill_20030922_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 294 Source: California Legislative Web site IL Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Provides that community service may include participation in a high school or community blood drive or other blood recruitment campaign. Provides for development of units of instruction. Allows a school district to also teach students about blood donor and transplantation programs. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0547 Title: S.B. 372 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site WY Rule Adoption 08/2003 P-12 Prescribes uniform student content and performance standards for the common core of knowledge and the common core of skills specified for all public schools in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, foreign language, career/vocational education, and fine and performing arts. Modifies requirements for graduation to include the career/vocational education standards and the fine and performing arts standards. WYOMING REG 4376 (SN) Title: (Uncodified) Ch. 31 Source: StateNet MI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Sec. 107a. (1) The family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee is established to explore and make recommendations on implementing a new integrated system of delivering adult education and related family services beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, including, but not limited to: (a) Educational services, including, but not limited to, high school completion programs, adult basic education, general education development (G.E.D.) test preparation, English as a second language programs, and early childhood education. (b) Family services, including, but not limited to, even start programs, 21st century learning center grants, before- and after-school child care programs, parenting classes, and referrals for family and child services. (c) Employment and training services, including, but not limited to, career preparation programs and work readiness classes. (2) The family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee shall consist of the following: (a) Two members of the senate, 1 appointed by the senate majority leader and 1 appointed by the senate minority leader. (b) Two members of the house of representatives, 1 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. (c) A representative of the Michigan association of community and adult education. (d) A representative of the Michigan works! association. (e) Three local adult education program directors, appointed jointly by the legislative members appointed under subdivisions (a) and (b). (f) Three local Michigan works program directors, appointed jointly by the legislative members appointed under subdivisions (a) and (b). (g) The state director of adult education. (3) The timetable for the work of the family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee is as follows: (a) Not later than September 1, 2003, report on its progress to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees responsible for this act. (b) Not later than November 1, 2003, make final recommendations to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees responsible for this act. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/billenrolled/house/pdf/2003-HNB-4401.pdf Title: H.B. 4401 (multiple provisions) Source: www.michiganlegislature.org CA To governor 07/2003 P-12 Authorizes a high school district, unified school district, or county office of education, to retroactively grant a high school diploma to a former pupil who was interned in the United States by the order of the federal government during World War II. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_781&sess=CUR&house=B&author=lieber Title: A.B. 781 Source: California Legislative Web site NC Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Creates the Innovative Education Initiatives Act to develop cooperative efforts between secondary schools and institutions of higher education to reduce dropout rates, increase high school and college graduation rates and decrease the need for higher education remedial programs; creates the cooperative innovative high school programs; permits public and private colleges and private businesses or organizations to participate; provides for funding. The General Assembly strongly endorses the Governor's goal of making North Carolina's system of education first in America by 2010. With that as the goal, the Education Cabinet shall set as a priority cooperative efforts between secondary schools and institutions of higher education so as to reduce the high school dropout rate, increase high school and college graduation rates, decrease the need for remediation in institutions of higher education, and raise certificate, associate, and bachelor degree completion rates. The Cabinet shall identify and support efforts that achieve the following purposes: (1) Support cooperative innovative high school programs; (2) Improve high school completion rates and reduce high school dropout rates; (3) Close the achievement gap; (4) Create redesigned middle schools or high schools; (5) Provide flexible, customized programs of learning for high school students who would benefit from accelerated, higher level coursework or early graduation; (6) Establish high quality alternative learning programs; (7) Establish a virtual high school; (8) Implement other innovative education initiatives designed to advance the state's system of education. Requires the Education Cabinet to identify federal, state, and local funds that may be used to support these initiatives. In addition, the Cabinet is strongly encouraged to pursue private funds that could be used to support these initiatives. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html2003/bills/AllVersions/Senate/S656vc.html Title: S.B. 656 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/ NC Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Encourages early entry of motivated students into four-year college programs. Title: H.B. 601 Source: StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Provides learning opportunities for out-of-state and out-of- country transfer students and students needing additional instruction to meet high school graduation requirements; provides requirements for certain transfer students; provides for alternate assessments for the grade 10 Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test and immersion English language instruction. http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2003B/House/bills/billtext/pdf/h0023Ber.pdf Title: H.B. 23 Source: Florida Legislative Web site TX Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 S. B. 1470 amends the Education Code to permit any school district or open-enrollment charter school to apply for authorization to operate a program under the section on high school equivalency programs. The bill deletes language that restricts such authorization to school districts or open-enrollment charter schools that on May 1, 2001, were operating a similar program as authorized by the Texas Education Agency. The bill provides that a school district or open-enrollment charter school, authorized by the commissioner of education (commissioner) on or before August 31, 2003 to operate a program under Section 29.087, may continue to operate that program. The bill provides that a student is eligible to participate in a high school equivalency program if the student was ordered by a court under Article 45.054, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, or by the Texas Youth Commission to meet certain requirements. The bill provides that a student is eligible if, in addition to other conditions, at least two school years have elapsed since the student first enrolled in ninth grade and the student has accumulated less than one half, rather than a quarter, of the credits required to graduate under the minimum graduation requirements of the district or school. The bill requires that a student participating in a high school equivalency program, other than one who has been ordered to participate by the Texas Youth Commission, must have taken the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and performed satisfactorily on that test before entering the program. The bill requires the he board of trustees or the governing body operating the program to adopt a policy that establishes the level of performance considered to be satisfactory. The bill deletes certain current provisions relating to the performance on assessment instruments of students participating in the program. (From Education Committee Report) http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=78&SESS=R&CHAMBER=S&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01470&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Title: S.B. 1470 Source: StateNet OR Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Directs school districts and public charter schools to offer instruction in specified subjects that meets academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education; directs school boards to implement Certificate of Initial Mastery in mathematics, science and English; allows school districts to offer Certificate of Initial Mastery subject area endorsements in other subjects; prohibits requiring student portfolio for Certificate of Initial Mastery. Title: H.B. 2744 Source: StateNet CT Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Defines an adult as a person who is not enrolled in a public school program, eliminates the requirement that local or regional board of education eligible expenditures for adult education for computer equipment not exceed five per cent of the total expenditure for adult education during a fiscal year, requires a student to take at least one-half credit course in civics and American government before receiving a diploma. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=966&which_year=2003&SUBMIT.x=17&SUBMIT.y=14 Title: S.B. 966 Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site TX to governor 06/2003 P-12 Requires the principal or other staff to identify each student who (1) hasn't performed well on assessments; (2) is not likely to receive a diploma before the fifth year of high school and then develop a graduation plan for each student that (1) identifies educational goals; (2) includes diagnostic information, appropriate monitoring and intervention, etc.; (3) includes an intensive instruction program; (4) addresses participation of the parent or guardian; provides innovative mthods to promote the student's advancement, including flexible scheduling, alternative learning environments, on-line instruction, and other interventions that are proven to accelerate the learning process and have been scientifically validated to improve learning and cognitive ability. For a student with disabilities, this program must be designed to: (1) enable the student to attain a standard of annual growth on the basis of the student's individualized education program; and (2) if applicable, carry out the purposes of Section 28.0211. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78R/billtext/SB01108F.HTM Title: S.B. 1108 (Section 28.0212) Source: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Makes appropriation from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund for various initiatives, including for a $400,000 grant to a program that utilizes high school mentors to teach life skills, violence prevention, and character education in an effort to reduce the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00600/HF00685/Current.html Title: H.F. 685 Source: www.legis.state.ia.us VT Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 This act assigns duties appropriately carried out by staff and which are currently assigned to a supervisory union board to the superintendent; repeals law relating to calculation of the equalized yield amount which is no longer necessary; updates law relating to possession of a firearm at school to synchronize with changes in federal law; clarifies that all school districts must follow accounting procedures adopted by the state board of education; clarifies that a school district must report the balance of reserve funds in its annual report to the electorate; clarifies the process for voting for an at-large school board member for a union school district; clarifies which school board determines the district of residence for a pupil whose legal residence is unclear; establishes that school registers must be filed within the supervisory union; clarifies that when a school district has an alternate method of paying a deficit, it is not required to add the amount to its budget; authorizes school boards to purchase liability insurance through participation in an intermunicipal agreement; authorizes payment of state aid to gores and unorganized towns and establishes a tax for spending in excess of state aid; reorganizes the state advisory council on special education to comply with changes in federal law; establishes that data changes used to calculate state aid which are made due to an error or due to an actual change in information are treated the same way; stipulates that a school district which eliminates the office of auditor must have a Certified Public Accountant conduct an annual audit; establishes that a student, if necessary, may count credits earned at technical education centers toward graduation; stipulates that credits earned at a technical center shall be applied toward school graduation requirements; and provides that state aid paid for adult diploma students shall be based on a two-year average. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT036.HTM Title: H.B. 477 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Makes the law regarding transfer of credit for equivalent instruction at nonapproved private schools consistent with earned credit for home school instruction by adding the authority for a principal to require student testing before transferring credit for equivalent instruction; predicates award of a high school diploma on a student's satisfying both course credit and other requirements set by a local school board. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/LD098701-1.asp Title: S.P. 328 (LD 987) Source: StateNet NV Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Postsec. Requires state board to prescribe course to prepare pupils for high school proficiency examination and college entrance examinations. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/72nd/bills/AB/AB510_EN.pdf Title: A.B. 510 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us MD Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Allows an honorably discharged veteran to apply to obtain a high school diploma if the individual withdrew from an accredited full-time public or private school in the individual's junior or senior year to enlist in the U.S. military during World War II or the Korean Conflict. The veteran must apply to the county board in the county where the individual resides or where the school from which the individual withdrew was located. http://mlis.state.md.us/2003rs/bills/sb/sb0056e.rtf Title: S.B. 56 Source: mlis.state.md.us ME Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Regards age eligibility for enrollment in a public secondary school; authorizes the Commissioner of Education to waive on a case-by-case basis waivers of age requirements to allow students who have reached 20 years of age before the start of the school year to enroll as public secondary school students. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billdocs/LD059201.doc Title: S.P. 201 Source: StateNet AZ Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Directs Board of Education to establish guidelines to promote volunteerism in community services for students in grades 9 through 12 prior to graduation from high school; requires parental consent for participation; provides procedures for a written proposal by each student in grade 9 for community service goals; designates a faculty advisor or other school employee as a school community service program coordinator. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1278 Title: S.B. 1278 Source: Arizona Legislative Web site CT Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Postsec. Allows institutions of higher education to save resources currently used to collect information that has already been collected by Connecticut high schools; relates to proof of immunization against measles and rubella. Title: H.B. 6373 Source: StateNet IN Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Changes the required publication date and some components of school corporation annual performance reports. Provides for reports to be made available on the Internet. Requires school corporations to provide free copies of reports upon request. Removes language concerning the performance based accreditation program. Provides a method for calculating the graduation rate for high school students. http://www.in.gov/serv/lsa_billinfo?year=2003&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1120#latest_info Title: H.B. 1120 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requires school districts to provide parents of students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) with a list of classes that are required to be taught by the school district. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2339.pdf Title: H.B. 2339 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site CO Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Makes satisfactory completion of a course on federal and state civil government a requirement of high school graduation in the state; directs each school district board to convene a community forum periodically to discuss adopted standards in civics and graduation requirements. http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl2003a/sl_159.htm Title: S.B. 36 Source: Colorado State Web site WA Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 All public high schools of the state are required to provide a program, directly or in cooperation with a community or technical college, a skills center, an apprenticeship committee, or another school district, for students who plan to pursue career or work opportunities other than entrance to a baccalaureate-granting institution after being granted a 9 high school diploma. These programs may: (a) Help students demonstrate the application of essential academic learning requirements to the world of work, occupation-specific skills, knowledge of more than one career in a chosen pathway, and employability and leadership skills; and (b) Help students demonstrate the knowledge and skill needed to prepare for industry certification, and/or have the opportunity to articulate to postsecondary education and training programs. State board may grant waivers. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2003-04/Senate/5500-5524/5505-s_sl.pdf Title: S.B. 5505 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov IA Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Local boards or heads of a nonpublic school may require service learning units for a service learning endorsement on a high school diploma or as a condition of graduation (in Iowa, all high school graduation requirements are determined at the district level). Also requires local boards and authorities of nonpublic schools to consider recommendations from the appointed school improvement advisory committee (which must exist in every district in Iowa) to implement character education in the curriculum. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00100/HF00180/Current.html Title: H.F. 180 Source: http://www.legis.state.ia.us OK Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Prior to September 1, 2003, the state board must adopt rules to ensure that students who transfer into an Oklahoma school district from out of state after the junior year of high school of the student shall not be denied, due to differing graduation requirements, the opportunity to be awarded a standard diploma. The rules must allow district boards of education to make exceptions on an individual student basis to the high school graduation requirements of Section 11-103.6 of Title 70 for such students who would be unable to meet the specific graduation requirements without extending the date of graduation. Each district board of education that grants exceptions pursuant to this subsection must report to the state department of Education on or before July 1 of each year the number of students granted exceptions and reasons for the exceptions. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003-04HB/hb1065_enr.rtf Title: H.B. 1065 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us WA Emergency Rule Adoption 04/2003 P-12 Establishes emergency rules to indicate notation on the high school transcript regarding the secondary Washington assessment of student learning (WASL) results. WASHINGTON REG 21518 (SN) Title: WAC 180-51-063 Source: StateNet NM Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requires next-step plans for high school students in which the students set personal post-high-school goals; requires a final next-step plan as prerequisite for graduation. Title: H.B. 305 Source: StateNet SD Rule Adoption 04/2003 P-12 Amends rules regarding the requirement of three mathematics credits for high school graduation and the allotment for graduation credit for completion of Algebra I in 8th grade. SOUTH DAKOTA REG 3894 (SN) Title: 24:03:06:06:01 Source: StateNet MT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Provides honorary diplomas for any current or former Montana resident who 1) is a veteran of WWII, the Korean War or the Vietnam conflict, 2) did not receive a high school diploma and 3) either died in active service, was honorably discharged, or was released from active duty because of a service-related disability. http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2003/billhtml/SB0081.htm Title: S.B. 81 Source: data.opi.state.mt.us AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires high school students in grades 9 -12 to attend a full school day. Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) shall be required to schedule and attend a full school day. (b)(1) No later than January 30, 2004, the State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations that require students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to enroll in no fewer than three hundred fifty (350) minutes of planned instructional time each day as a requirement for graduation. Allows boards to develop policies that require students to be assigned to no more that one (1) class period each day for a study hall period which the student shall be required to attend and participate in a full class period of self-study or organized tutoring in the school building; and (ii)(a) No more than one (1) class period each day for organized and scheduled student extracurricular classes to be included as planned instructional time. (b) If the extracurricular class is related to a seasonal activity, the class must continue to meet after the season ends to be counted toward the requirement of planned instructional time. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1439.pdf Title: H.B. 1439 Source: State legislative web site NM Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Amends Section 22-13-1.1. Increases graduation requirements: 4 units of English, with major emphasis on grammar and literature; 3 units of math, at least one of which is equivalent to algebra 1 or higher; 2 units of science, one of which has a lab requirement, but for students entering 9th grade beginning in 2005-2006, 3 units of science -- one with a lab requirement; 3 units social science (including U.S. history and geography, world history and geography, and government & economics); 1 unit physical education or other physical activity; 1 unit communication skills or business education, with a major emphasis on writing and speaking and that may include a language other than English; 9 elective units and 8 elective units for students entering 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year. Service learning must be offered as an elective. Students may not receive a diploma if they have not passed a state graduation examination in reading, English, math, writing, science and social science. Without passage of such exam, student receives an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. May pass the test within 5 years and receive a diploma. Section 22-13-1.2 adds a requirement that end-of-course tests be aligned with the placement tests in two and four-year public postsecondary institutions. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0212MarkedUp.pdf Title: H.B. 212 (Omnibus Bill) Source: New Mexico Legislature AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Amends the compulsory attendance law to reflect changes in the general education diploma requirements.http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1457.pdf Title: H.B. 1457 Source: State legislative web site UT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Section 53A-13-108 is a new section of law requiring the state board to establish rigorous curriculum and graduation requirements for grades 9-12, beginning no later than with the graduating class of 2007. These must (1) use competency-based standards and assessments; (2) include instruction that stresses financial literacy; (3) increase requirements to exceed the existing credit requirements of 3 units in language arts, 2 units in math and 2 units in science. The state board is also required to establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective courses. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2003/bills/sbillenr/sb0154.pdf Title: S.B. 154 (Omnibus Bill) Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us MS Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires the department of education to conduct a needs assessment to determine what areas do not currently have pre-kindergarten programs, and a cost-benefit analysis creating statewide pre-kindergarten programs. Requires department to perform cost-benefit analysis of making kindergarten mandatory statewide. Requires the department to study developing an optional occupational diploma that would include course requirements to make sure that students possess mastery of skills and employment competencies. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/HB/0800-0899/HB0859SG.htm Title: H.B. 859 Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us ND Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Amends instructional time requirements for high school units to not apply to schools or school districts having block schedules approved by the superintendent of public instruction. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/58-2003/bill_text/DAUF0200.pdf Title: S.B. 2177 Source: http://www.state.nd.us NM Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Postsec. Requires that high school curricula and end-of- course test be aligned with the placement tests for state's two and four-year public educational institutions. http://legis.state.nm.us/senatedetails2.asp?District=31 Title: H.B. 186, S.B. 62 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Relates to the general educational development examination; relates to the testing age for persons not enrolled in public school and not otherwise meeting compulsory attendance requirements; directs the board of education to develop a special high school diploma for passing the GED examination; increases the residency requirement. Title: H.B. 1464 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Directs the state board to establish criteria for awarding a diploma seal for excellence in civics education and understanding of the state and federal Constitutions and the democratic model of government for the standard and advanced studies diplomas. Title: H.B. 1503 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Authorizes school districts to grant a high school diploma to veterans of the Korean War or the Vietnam War who meet eligibility requirements. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1886.pdf Title: H.B. 1886 Source: State legislative web site CO Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Permits a board of education of a school district to award a diploma to an honorably discharged veterans. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/pubhome.nsf Title: S.B. 100 Source: State legislative web site VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Allows two or more school boards to establish joint or regional high schools to offer specialized training for careers in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency and rescue services, and other occupations addressing public safety and welfare. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?031+ful+CHAP0165 Title: S.B. 1099 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us NM Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires school districts to track graduation rates for high school in the district. Title: S.B. 394 Source: StateNet ND Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 A high school diploma may be issued by a home-schooled child's school district of residence, an approved nonpublic high school, or the North Dakota division of independent study provided the child, through home education, has completed at least twenty-one units of high school coursework from the minimum required curriculum offerings established by law for public and nonpublic schools and the child's parent or legal guardian submits to the issuing entity a description of the course material covered in each high school subject, a description of the course objectives and how the objectives were met, and a transcript of the child's performance in grades nine through twelve. The issuing entity may indicate on a diploma issued under this subsection that the child was provided with home education. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/58-2003/bill_text/DAEM0200.pdf Title: H.B. 1033 Source: http://www.state.nd.us AR Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Authorizes school districts to grant a high school diploma to World War II veterans who meet eligibility requirements. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/SB4.pdf Title: S.B. 4 Source: State legislative web site MS Rule Adoption 12/2002 P-12 The section is revised to read as follows: "Policies for Subject Area Testing • Students will not be required to pass any end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the Carnegie unit was earned by the student in a Mississippi public school prior to the 2001-2002 school year. • Students entering a Mississippi public school will not be required to pass any end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the school accepts Carnegie units earned by the student in a public school of another state as fulfilling the requirements for a Mississippi high school diploma. • Students entering a Mississippi public school will not be required to pass any end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the school accepts Carnegie units earned by the student in a private school as fulfilling the requirements for a Mississippi high school diploma, provided the private school is accredited regionally or by the state of Mississippi. • Students entering a Mississippi public school will be required to pass any end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the school accepts Carnegie units earned by the student in a private school as fulfilling the requirements for a Mississippi high school diploma if the private school is not accredited regionally or by the state of Mississippi. • Students entering a Mississippi public school will be required to pass any end-of-course Subject Area Test in a course for which the school accepts Carnegie units earned by the student through home schooling as fulfilling the requirements for a Mississippi high school diploma. • Any Mississippi public school student who fails to pass a required Subject Area Test will be offered a chance to retake the test three times each year until a passing score is achieved: . At or near the end of the fall semester, . At or near the end of the spring semester, and . At or near the end of summer school. • Any Mississippi public school student shall not be awarded Carnegie unit credit unless the core objectives identified in the Mississippi Curriculum Framework have been mastered. Passage of the required Subject Area Test is a separate requirement towards graduation and shall not be criteria for awarding Carnegie unit credit." Title: MS ADC 36 000 001, Graduation Requirements, Code IHF-2 Source: WestLaw UT Adopted 12/2002 P-12 Amends rules to add the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test (UBSCT) as a requirement for high school diplomas and provides for differentiated diplomas. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, adds a tenth grade basic skills competency test and beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the use of student behavior indicators in assessing student performance. Students who do not pass the competency exam will be awarded an alternative completion diploma. http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull_pdf/2002/b20021201.pdf and http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-705.htm UTAH REG 25648 (SN) Title: R277-705 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Establishes the High School Pupil Success Act to provide grants and consultation to school districts with high schools, pursuant to a request for proposals process, to develop a reform and redesign plan for their high school systems to raise pupil achievement. Provides the program to be administered by the Department of Education along with an advisory committee made up of representatives from specified educational organizations. Title: A.B. 2531 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to advise school districts that maintain high schools about the importance of making readily available to each high school pupil the list of courses offered by the school attended by that pupil that are certified by the University of California as meeting admission requirements. Requires that State institutions of higher education assist school districts in this matter. Title: S.B. 1339 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 07/2002 P-12 Requires that a fee for applications for the high school equivalency test be submitted when registering for the test; requires that each scoring contractor provides the Superintendent of Public Instruction with the test results. Title: A.B. 2310 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet DE Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Creates a Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to implement rules and regulations governing interscholastic sports in secondary and middle schools, including private schools which agree to voluntarily become member schools in the association. Rules and regulations are to be promulgated with the consent of the state superintendent and the state board. Appeals of decisions interpreting the rules and regulations of the association shall go to the state board. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS141.NSF/vwLegislation/ Title: H.B. 475 Source: http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature MO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Revises section awarding honorary high school diplomas to certain veterans to include residents or former residents who were civilian prisoners of war. http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills02/biltxt02/truly02/HB1515T.HTM Title: H.B. 1515 Source: www.house.state.mo.us CA Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Establishes a 4-year implementation schedule for existing law which prohibits a school district, when calculating a pupil's grade point average, from assigning extra grade weighting to a course that covers a subject required for admission to the University of California or the California State University unless the University of California approves the course for extra grade weighting. Bill commences application to pupils in the grade 9 in the 2005-06 school year. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2651-2700/ab_2657_bill_20020604_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 2657 Source: info.sen.ca.gov MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Establishes appointed New Prince George's County Board of Education and requirements for membership. Provides for compensation of board members. Allows for nonvoting student member. Establishes Chief Executive Officer as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of county board. Establishes duties of CEO of the board in Prince George's County. Creates selection process for superintendent for Prince George's County. Establishes office, duties and selection process of chief academic officer, chief financial officer and chief accountability officer in Prince George's County. Establishes Parent and Community Advisory Board in Prince George's County; requires regular board and CEO consultation with the Parent and Community Advisory Board. Requires Prince George's County CEO to develop comprehensive master plan, for the board to review, approve, and begin implementation of by November 1, 2002. Requires state board and state superintendent to review and approve master plan. Establishes numerous required areas the master plan must address, including curriculum, professional development, personnel evaluation, addressing the needs of at-risk students and closing the achievement gap. Requires CEO and board to publish annual report addressing specified areas. Allows Prince George's County board or designated committee to hear appeal of CEO's decision on areas affecting specific student. Requires annual allocation of state and Prince George's County government funds through FY07 for public school construction projects. Makes project release for bidding contingent upon approval by the Interagency Committee on School Construction. Changes borders of Prince George's County. Establishes system for election, removal and compensation of Prince George's County board members, 5 representing local areas and 4 at large. Allows for voting student member; student member prohibited from voting on specified administrative and personnel issues. Terms of appointed New Prince George's County board members to expire December 3, 2006. Requires chief academic officer of Prince George's County to devise plan for teacher participation in development of curriculum, instruction, and professional development. Provides for supplementary annual state funding for Prince George's County in FYs 04-07 contingent upon and to the degree of achievement of benchmarks and outcomes in the master plan approved by the state superintendent and state board. Requires New Prince George's County Board to locate interim CEO by August 15, 2002 and permanent CEO by January 1, 2003. Requires consultant to perform comprehensive review of Prince George's County system and new board by June 1, 2006, including review of educational and management reforms made by new board. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/hb/hb0949e.rtf Title: H.B. 949 Source: mlis.state.md.us MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Allows honorably discharged veterans of the Korean Conflict to obtain a high school diploma by applying to the county board where the individual resides or where the school the individual withdrew from was located. Veteran must have left a state board-accredited full-time public or private school during the individual's senior year in high school to enlist in the armed forces during the Korean Conflict. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/hb/hb0218t.rtf Title: H.B. 218 Source: mlis.state.md.us GA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Provides that each local board of education shall issue high school diplomas to certain veterans who failed to receive diplomas due to an interruption of their education by service in the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict; provides certain requirements relating to attendance in high school. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb1068.htm Title: H.B. 1068 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Permits completion of one semester of marching band with grade C or better to be included as 1/2 credit of physical education graduation requirement. See bill section 132, page 354, line 27 ff: www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002E/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0020Eer.pdf Title: S.B. 20E Source: www.leg.state.fl.us FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Mandates the state board to adopt rules permitting any GED recipient who meets certain criteria to be awarded a standard high school diploma. See bill section 133, page 365, line 3 ff: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002E/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0020Eer.pdf Title: S.B. 20E Source: http://www.leg.state.fl.us KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Directs the local board of education to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans of World War II who were enrolled in, but did not complete, high school prior to their service in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Title: H.B. 45 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Clarifies the duties of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges in the administration of General Educational Development (GED) Testing Program. Title: S.B. 2626 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Modifies high school graduation requirements; adds certain courses which count for the core curriculum requirements; modifies credit granting requirement; directs certain school district to adopt class schedules which allow enrollment at a technology center school district. Title: H.B. 2886 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/hb2886_enr.rtf KY Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Requires high schools to provide access to campuses and to student directory information for official recruiting representatives of various military organizations to inform students of educational and career opportunities in the armed forces. Title: H.B. 110 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Directs the state board of education to provide that the requirements for the standard high school diploma must include at least two sequential electives chosen from a concentration of courses selected from a variety of options that may be planned to ensure the completion of a focused sequence of elective courses. Students may take such focused sequence of elective courses in consecutive years or any two years of high school. Such focused sequence of elective courses must provide a foundation for further education or training or preparation for employment and must be developed by the school division, consistent with state board guidelines and as approved by the local school board. Title: H.B. 1277 Source: http://hod.state.va.us/welcome.htm WY Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Requires state board to set proficiency standards. Modifies requirements for graduation; imposes different types of student proficiency with respect to performance standards; imposes assessment duties upon school districts; conforms statutory provisions accordingly; provides an effective date. As measured by each district's body of evidence assessment system, a high school diploma must provide for one of the following endorsements which shall be stated on the transcript of each student: Advanced endorsement requires a student to demonstrate advanced performance in a majority of the areas of the common core of knowledge and skills and proficient performance in the remaining areas of the specified common core of knowledge and skills. Comprehensive endorsement requires a student to demonstrate proficient performance in all areas of the common core of knowledge and skills and general endorsement requires a student to demonstrate proficient performance in a majority of the areas of the common core of knowledge and skills. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2002/engross/sf0056.pdf Title: S.B. 56 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us VA Signed into law 02/2002 P-12 Clarifies that school boards may operate comprehensive schools offering all-day academic programs and career and technical education as joint schools. Title: H.B. 334 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2001 P-12 Requires the State Department of Education to collect specified information from all public high schools on existing academic and career-related curriculum for the purposes of establishing a clearinghouse of information on academic and career-related curriculum. Requires the department to send an announcement to all school districts that the information is available upon request and to make the information available on the department's Internet website. Title: A.B. 1341 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MO Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Provides honorary high school diplomas to World War I, and World War II and Korean War veterans who left high school before graduation to serve in the United States military. Title: H.B. 441 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MO To governor 05/2001 P-12 Provides honorary high school diplomas to World War II veterans who left high school before graduation to serve in the United States military. Title: H.B. 244; H.B. 94 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TN Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Authorizes local education agencies (LEAs) to enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities to offer technical-prep high school curriculum under the following conditions: the local board of education must approve all agreements; agreements must be in writing and include course name, minimum number of student contact hours, whether the course is an elective or as part of the technical prep high school curriculum, instructor's qualifications, and any funding the local board of education provides to the non-profit organization; courses approved for credit are limited to those for which the state board offers no teaching endorsements; the nonprofit is located in the LEAs' service area and has a primary purpose of promoting educational programs with an emphasis on state of the art technology; any course offered must have prior approval of the state department acting in accordance with the state board on special courses; and any funding provided to the nonprofit by the board shall not exceed, on a per-pupil basis, regular tuition charged other attendees for the same or similar classes. The bill prohibits LEAs from entering into agreements if such agreements directly result in the elimination of an existing course offering of the local board of education. Title: S.B. 1743 Source: Tennessee Legislative Web Site: VT Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Postsec. The purpose of this act to enable technical center regions to establish alternative governance structures which meet regional technical education needs, ensure equal educational opportunities to technical education students throughout Vermont, and prepare Vermont technical education students to enter high skill jobs which pay a high salary. Title: H.B. 495 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us ME Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 (LD 21) Allows a local school board the option of granting a diploma to a veteran of World War II who was honorably discharged even though the veteran does not meet the graduation requirements. Title: H.B. 21 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Authorizes the State Board of Education to develop and issue criteria for an occupational diploma for students with disabilities. Title: S.B. 2578 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NV Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Requires the department to develop an informational pamphlet concerning the high school proficiency examination; requires boards of each school district to provide a copy to each junior high, middle school or high school within the school district for posting. The governing body of each charter school must ensure that a copy of the pamphlet is posted at the charter school. Each principal of a junior high, middle school, high school or charter school must ensure that teachers, counselors and administrators employed at the school fully understand the contents of the pamphlet. Title: A.B. 318 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us MD Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Alters the state school library funds grant program of the School Accountability Funding and Excellence Program in order to make middle schools and high schools eligible for grants under the program. Title: H.B. 434 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NM Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Expands graduation requirements to include passing a state competency test in writing. Title: S.B. 665 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 States that on or before October 1 of each year, the state department of education must issue a report on the Advanced Placement Incentive Program for the previous school year which shall include, but is not limited to, the number of: students taking an advanced placement exam and the number of exams taken; exams that receive a score of 3 or better; school sites which have received funding and the amount of awards, by type of award; school sites offering advanced placement courses and school sites with students taking an advanced placement exam; students who receive assistance with the test fee and the average amount of assistance; and an evaluation of the cost versus the benefits of this program. This provision includes fiscal support for needy students taking the International Baccalaureate tests, as well as advanced placement. Title: S.B. 790 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/docs/sb_enr.html MS Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Authorizes the State Board of Education to award high school diplomas and honorary 8th grade certificates of completion to WW II and Korean Conflict Veterans who were unable to complete their education due to their military service; requires the State Board of Education to develop a uniform application for the diploma and certificate; encourages the Board of Education to provide appropriate recognition in awarding certificates and diplomas to veterans. Title: H.B. 396 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NM Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Amends the Public School Code to require that public schools in each conference shall provide academic competitions similar to their athletic competitions. Students who participate in such competitions shall qualify for an academic letter in the subject in which they compete. Academic competition between schools will be governed by the New Mexico activities association. Title: S.B. 25 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Requires any school board that provides access to a high school's student body or other contact with its students during a school or school division-sponsored activity to persons or groups for occupational, professional or educational recruitment to provide equal access on the same basis to official recruiting representatives of the military forces. Title: S.B. 1207 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Standard 4 of the Standards of Quality; Literacy Passports, diplomas, and certificates; class rankings. Authorizes each local school board to devise, vis-a-vis the award of diplomas to secondary school students, a mechanism for calculating class rankings that takes into consideration whether the student has taken a required class more than one time and has had any prior earned grade for such required class expunged. Title: H.B. 2401 Source: http://senate.state.va.us VA Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Relates to a standard diploma; restores language in the Standards of Quality that was unintentionally deleted by legislation reorganizing in the 2000 Session; provides that the requirements for a standard diploma shall include at least two sequential electives. Title: H.B. 2674 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 07/2000 P-12 High School graduation requirements: - Abolishes the dual diploma system by repealing the Diploma of Honor and restoring the Certificate of Distinction option; - Adds attainment of competencies as method of satisfying core course requirements; - Requires courses which satisfy the core curriculum requirements in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies to have content and/or rigor equal to or above the required core course; - Allows certain courses taught in a contextual methodology; - Requires school districts to encourage students to take two units of foreign language; - States that schools are not required to offer every course listed, but must offer enough courses to meet the graduation requirements; - States that schools are required to pay for a student's concurrent enrollment course when the course is necessary for graduation and the district does not offer it; - Requires the State Department of Education to work with school districts to review and approve courses not specifically listed in statute; deletes the term "comparable", and specifies that such courses must be equal to or above the listed courses in content and/or rigor; - Specifies that academic and vocational-technical courses with integrated or embedded competencies from the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS - state curriculum) may be approved for academic credit by the State Board of Education; - Allows students on individualized education programs (IEPs) who satisfy the programming for graduation in the IEP to be awarded a high school diploma; - Allows students enrolled in alternative education programs who meet the requirements of their plans to be awarded a high school diploma; - Allows students who complete the curriculum requirements of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program to be awarded a high school diploma; Title: H.B. 2728 (Omnibus Bill) Source: 2000 Legislative Summary, Oklahoma RI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature 07/2000 Postsec. Amends the composition of the Transition Council by adding a representative from one of the regional education collaboratives.Transition from school to self-sufficient adulthood for students with disabilities Title: H.B. 7466 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Revises requirements for district grade forgiveness policies. Beginning 2000-2001 school year and thereafter, forgiveness policies limited to replacing a grade of "D" or "F" or the equivalent in required courses with a grade of "C" or higher earned subsequently in the same or comparable course. Applies to elective courses as well. Any course grade not replaced according to a district forgiveness policy shall be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average required for graduation. Title: S.B. 842 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CT Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Provides that the Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant program for high school projects that involve one or more of the following topics: computers, engineering, physics, mathematics, science or technical construction; allows local and regional boards of education to apply on behalf of a high school under their jurisdiction. Title: H.B. 5231 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2000 Postsec. Relates to rulemaking authority within the State University System; clarifies the rulemaking authority of the Board of Regents; authorizes a differential out-of-state tuition fee for certain universities; authorizes each university president to adopt rules governing the operation of the university; relates to university-owned patents, copyrights and trademarks; revises admissions standards; requires submission of a test score. Title: H.B. 1567 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet HI Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Postsec. Allows high school students to obtain college and high school course credits simultaneously. Title: H.B. 2092 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet HI Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Postsec. Adds a new chapter to establish the new economy technology scholarship act. Title: S.B. 2420 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet SC Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Relates to the eligibility requirements for a life scholarship, so as to delete requirement that students must pass all courses required for a star diploma; relates to the requirements and the promulgation of regulations for the star diploma; relates to including star diploma information in high school and higher education awareness counseling, all so as to repeal the star diploma program. Title: H.B. 4650 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CT Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 00-124., Allows local and regional boards of education to award high school diplomas to wartime veterans who did not earn their diplomas because they withdrew from school to join the armed forces. Title: S.B. 154 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WI Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Changes names of program from children at risk to "children at risk of not graduating from high school." Changes definition to "at risk of not graduating from high school because they failed the high school graduation exam," are dropouts, or are 2 or more of the following: one or more years behind their age group in the number of high school credits attained; two or more years behind their age group's basic skills levels; habitual truants; parents; adjudicated delinquents; or eighth-graders who scores are below certain basic level or who failed to be promoted to 9th grade. Title: S.B. 241 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CT Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Requires one half credit in civics as part of the 3 credit social studies requirement for high school graduation. Title: H.B. 5274 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MN Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Amends the Profile of Learning. Highlights: Allows districts to phase in the number of content standards required of students for graduation; empowers teachers to participate in the decision about student standard requirements; allows districts to permit this year's 9th & 10th graders to be 'held harmless;' makes scoring more flexible; emphasizes that state and local performance packages are not required. Allows districts to choose whether or not to use the three additional instruction days (mandated in 1996) for staff development relating to the implementation of the Profile of Learning. Title: S.F. 3286 Source: Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning MN Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Relates to education; amends state graduation requirements; amends graduation rules. Title: S.B. 3286 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Modifies the Oklahoma Advanced Placement Incentive Program. Authorizes test fee assistance for students taking multiple tests in one year. Authorizes the state board to award additional grants to school sites demonstrating successful implementation of the courses for which the first grants were awarded. Modifies awards to allow for support of preadvanced placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, and development of advanced placement vertical teams. Effective 7-1-00. Title: S.B. 1015 Source: Legislative Review, Oklahoma OK Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Effective 2002-2003 school year -- to graduate with a standard diploma, students must complete core curriculum units or sets of competencies in the following: 4 language arts (1 grammar/composition, 3 of either American, English or World Literature, Advanced English or other equal); 3 mathematics (1 algebra 1 or algebra 1 taught in a contextual methodology [applied?]; 2 from either algebra II, geometry, trigonometry or math analysis); 3 science (1 biology or biology taught in a contextual methodology, and 2 of either life, physical, earth science or technology [may include chemistry, physics, biology, physical science, earth science, botany, zoology, physiology, astronomy or applied versions of same] or qualified agricultural education courses); 3 social studies (1 U.S. History, 1/2 U.S. government or Oklahoma history and 1/2 to 1 of world history, geography, economics, anthropology or other of equal rigor); 2 arts (visual and/or music); strongly encourages 2 units or sets of competencies of foreign languages. Contextual methodology means "academic content and skills taught be utilizing real-world problems and projects in a way that helps students understand the application of that knowledge." - Title: H.B. 2728 (Omnibus Bill) Source: Lexis-Nexis SC Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 (Joint Resolution) Approves regulations of the Department of Education related to graduation requirements. Title: S.B. 1220 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Postsec. Creates a Task Force to Study College Readiness for Disadvantaged and Capable Students. Requires the task force to report its interim findings and recommendations to the governor and general assembly by January 1, 2001 and a final report of its findings and recommendations to the same by December 1, 2001. http://mlis.state.md.us/PDF-Documents/2000rs/fnotes/bil_0001/hb1091.PDF Title: H.B. 1091 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Postsec. Requires notification to parents of school courses leading to college credit; requires that each high school shall publish annually and deliver to each parent with children enrolled in school, information concerning the entrance requirements and the availability in school of programs leading to college credit, such as advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs. Title: S.B. 6559 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Directs the board of education to establish the requirements for a third diploma option, i.e., an advanced mathematics and technology diploma; provides that the diploma will be a 24-credit diploma, with 9 required verified credits (course and standards of learning test satisfactorily completed), as follows: four credits in English, two of which shall be verified credits and one of which shall be in technical writing/reading/communication skills. Title: S.B. 706 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Requires the Board of Education to include, in the requirement for verified credits for the standard and advanced studies diplomas, a provision that allows students completing elective classes into which the Standards of Learning for any required course have been integrated to take the relevant Standards of Learning assessment for the relevant required course and receive, upon achieving a satisfactory score on the specific SOL test. Title: H.B. 489 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet