From the ECS State Policy Database Proficiency-Based Approaches

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 IA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Permits high school credit to be awarded to students that demonstrate competency in the subject areas required to be offered by accredited schools and allows students to receive credit on a performance basis through the administration of an assessment. Creates a competency-based instruction task force and requires the task force to submit reports with findings and recommendations by January 13, 2013, and November 15, 2013. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/SF2284.pdf Title: S.F. 2284 - Division I Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us LA Adopted 05/2012 P-12 Amends §907, "Secondary Class Times and Carnegie Credit," and §1103, "Compulsory Attendance" to accommodate the newly developed Louisiana Seat Time Waiver (LSTW). §907 permits districts to submit applications to the department of education for a waiver of the instructional time requirement for Carnegie credit. Requires the waiver application to contain a brief description of the program and an assurance that all other requirements for Carnegie credit and graduation requirements will be met. Pages 80-81 of 199: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1205/1205.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXV.907 and 1103 Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov TN Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Requires virtual schools to maintain teacher-pupil ratios set by the state board of education and to provide the same length of time for learning opportunities as required for other schools, but allow a student to move at the student's own pace. Provides students shall demonstrate mastery, competency, and completion of a course or subject area to be given course credit. Allows technology access to be provided through computer labs. Makes an online course a requirement for graduation from high school beginning with the students entering ninth grade in the 2013-2014 school year. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB3062.pdf Title: H.B. 3062 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov GA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Section 5: Delays until 2013-14 school year deadline by which the state board, in consultation with the board of regents of the University System of Georgia and the state board of the Technical College System of Georgia, must adopt policies and guidelines for the awarding of high school credit based on demonstration of student proficiency. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127601.pdf Title: H.B. 713 - Demonstration of Subject Area Competency Source: www.legis.ga.gov FL Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Permits students other than secondary students to participate in the Credit Acceleration Program (through which a student not enrolled in a course may earn credit via a passing score on a state end-of-course assessment). Provides district reporting requirements (for FTE reimbursement) for a student who passes a statewide, standardized end-of-course assessment without being enrolled in the corresponding course. Bill text: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7059er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7059&Session=2012 Final bill analysis: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=h7059z.KINS.DOCX&DocumentType=Analysis&BillNumber=7059&Session=2012 Title: H.B. 7059 - Credit for Passing Score on EOC w/o Taking Course Source: myfloridahouse.gov MN Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Provides that school boards may consider how to: (1) assist schools in adapting instruction to individual students needs/abilities and establishing goals and standards for individual students, (2) coordinate the pace of instruction with the needs/abilities of individual students, (3) provide data and research in developing/improving innovative, cost-effective individualized instruction and assessment, (4) help evaluate instructional alternatives to age-based progression, (5) motivate students and teachers, and (6) expand use of technology to support individualized instruction and assessment. [Article 2, Sec. 7, Subd. 1a] Provides for a written education site achievement contract between a school board and site decision-making team for: (1) setting individualized learning, achievement measures and goals, (2) recognizing student needs/abilities through effective assessment systems, (3) using student data to diagnose academic strengths and weaknesses, specific skills and concepts that need to be introduced or developed, (4) assisting the education site if progress in achieving goals is not realized. Allows a school board that enters into such contract and demonstrates at least three years of improved student achievement to enter into similar contracts with other school sites in the district. [Article 2, Sec. 7, Subd. 4-4a] https://www.revisor.mn.gov/data/revisor/law/2012/0/2012-239.pdf Title: H.F. 2949 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/ AZ Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules to define competency-based educatational pathways for college and career readiness. Establishes competency-based college-ready educational pathways for students eligible for a high school diploma through their fulfillment of a competency-based program. Pathways include 1) enroll in a community college; 2) remain in high school and enroll in AP programs available through the school district or charter school; 3) enroll in a full-time career and technical education program; or 4) if accepted for admission, enroll in a postsecondary institution that offers baccalaureate degrees. Each option includes a provision that directs per-pupil funding to continue to be provided to the school district or charter school from which the students earned the high school diploma until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade 12 or as long as that student is enrolled in a full-time alternative program and designates where those funds should be distributed. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/2r/laws/0149.pdf Title: S.B. 1255 Source: azleg.gov OR Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 Introduces an "accelerated learning entity" to assist school districts and high schools in providing accelerated learning options or standardized testing related to accelerated learning options that lead to college credit. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is charged with assisting school districts and high schools in increasing the availability of accelerated learning options. http://www.leg.state.or.us/12reg/measpdf/hb4000.dir/hb4013.en.pdf Title: H.B. 4013 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us ME Issued 02/2012 P-12 As part of the Maine Department of Education's plan to implement a student centered, proficiency based model for education, the governor has instructed the DOE to develop a strategic plan to adopt and implement the policies defined by the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning. http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Gov_Executive_Orders&id=348673&v=article2011 Title: 2012 ME EO 1 Source: http://www.maine.gov