From the ECS State Policy Database State Policymaking

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 HI Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 From bill preface material: The recent change in educational governance from an elected school board to a gubernatorally-appointed provides a unique opportunity to review sections of state statute to assist in creating a more effective educational delivery system. This Act places decision making at the best level, (i.e., board policy level or the department administrative level), to add clarity to or resolve conflicting or inconsistent language among different sections of law and to amend or repeal various sections of chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that: --Have been accomplished and are no longer necessary; --Impede rather than assist the department of education in meeting its core mission; --Fall under the purview of the board of education, such as policy, staffing, and programmatic decisions; --Are mandated by federal law and do not require codification in state law; or --Are covered by another section of state statute, administrative rules, or board of education policy. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB2540_CD1_.pdf Title: S.B. 2540 - Revision of Certain Education Code Provisions Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov LA Adopted 06/2012 P-12 Urges and requests the state superintendent of education or the state board of elementary and secondary education, as appropriate, to report electronically every 60 days to each member of the legislature on the status of implementation of certain education reform measures contained in Act No. 2 of the 2012 regular session (i.e., implementation of the local charter authorizers, the course provider program, and the parent petition process). Requires such electronic reporting to begin by August 31, 2012, and for each report to include specified information. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=809916 Title: H.R. 175 Source: www.legis.state.la.us GA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 To amend Code Section 28-5-42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to introduction of bills having significant impact upon anticipated revenues or expenditures and furnishing of fiscal notes. Requires a 10-year projection of costs for bills that would create a new program or funding category and that would have a significant impact upon the department of education's anticipated revenues or expenditures. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/127855.pdf Title: H.B. 1178 Source: www.legis.ga.gov VA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Extends the delay of the implementation of statutes and regulations upon which the accreditation of schools in the Commonwealth is based that were not already in effect on June 30, 2008, with the exceptions of the graduation and completion rate index and the economics and financial literacy requirement, until July 1, 2013, unless such statutes or regulations are also specifically required by federal code, federal regulation, or court action. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0744+pdf Title: H.B. 96 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ DE Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Removes the Sunset Provision from last year's public education unit count law so it does not sunset on April 1, 2012. http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+164/$file/legis.html?open Title: S.B. 164 Source: www.legis.delaware.gov/ OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Postsec. Prohibits a state agency or state institution of higher education from entering into a contract with a lobbyist for more than $50,000 in a calendar year without the approval of the controlling board. Provides that this does not apply to an employment contract through which a lobbyist is employed directly by a state agency or state institution of higher education. Pages 61-62 of 1000: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_HB_153_EN_part1.pdf Title: H.B. 153 - Lobbyists for State Agencies and Postsecondary Institutions Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us HI Adopted 06/2011 P-12 Requests that the board of education undertake a two-year review of its bylaws and policies, as well as applicable sections of state statutes and administrative rules, and make changes that would help the board, department of education and administrators create a more effective educational delivery system. Also directs the board of education to submit its findings, including any changes made to its bylaws and policies, to the legislature before the 2012 legislative session, and to submit a report, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature before the 2013 legislative session. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Bills/SCR79_SD1_.HTM Title: S.C.R. 79-11 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov MN Vetoed 05/2011 P-12 Amends the definition under the nonpublic pupil aid statute to include electronic books in the definition of textbooks. Amends the definition under the nonpublic pupil aid statute to include electronic books in the definition of individualized instructional or cooperative materials. Requires cooperatives to allocate compensatory revenue to the school site generating the revenue in the same way that school districts allocate compensatory revenue to a school site. Requires public postsecondary systems, as part of their annual report to the department on remedial instruction, to include summary data on the number and percentage of recent high school graduates who completed rigorous courses and the number of recent high school graduates who graduated as students with disabilities. Allows home school students to be tested using a nationally recognized college entrance exam. Requires the person in charge of providing instruction to a child to provide information to the resident superintendent on the student in the first school year in which the child receives instruction after the age of seven, within 15 days of when a parent withdraws a child from public school, within 15 days of moving out of a district, and after a new resident district is established. Requires the person in charge of providing instruction to a child to annually submit a letter of intent to continue to provide instruction. Allows a district that cancels at least two instructional school days in the previous school year because of a flood, tornado, or fire to begin the next school year before Labor Day. Directs local school boards to allow recent high school graduates to report electronically to the board on the quality of district instruction, curriculum, and services and on the delivery of the instruction, curriculum, and services and strikes references to district facilities and administration. To improve instruction and curriculum and better understand graduates' need for postsecondary remedial instruction, requires a board to forward a summary of its evaluation findings to the commissioner upon request. Restates the goal so that the legislature seeks to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3. Adds identification requirements for students who are not reading at grade level. Requires reading assessments identify and evaluate students' areas of academic need related to literacy. Requires schools at least annually to give the parent of each student who is not reading at or above grade level timely information about the student's reading proficiency, services being provided to the student, and strategies for parents to help their student succeed in reading. Requires the district to provide reading intervention to accelerate student growth. Requires a school district to adopt a local literacy plan to have every child reading at or above grade level no later than the end of grade 3. States what the plan must include and requires that the plan be posted on the district website. Provides for numerous other K-12 reforms. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/showPDF.php Title: H.F. 1381 Source: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/ WA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Modifies the state board of education's responsibilities with regard to performance standards for the statewide student assessment. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2115-S.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 2115 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov TN Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Requires the Comptroller's Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) to compile the activity, reports, and recommendations of certain groups involved in education reforms and make a report to the Governor and the Education Committees of the General Assembly. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB0963.pdf Title: H.B. 963 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov AZ Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Prohibits an individual acting on behalf of a university from using university personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources to advocate in support for or against pending or proposed legislation. Chapter 158. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1116h.pdf Title: S.B. 1116 Source: http://www.azleg.gov UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Amends the definition of "agency" to include a school, a school district or a charter school. Prohibits a school, a school district or a charter school from expending state-appropriated money to pay a contract lobbyist. http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/sbillenr/sb0123.pdf Title: S.B. 123 Source: le.utah.gov MS Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 PROVIDE THAT THE SALARY OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SHALL BE SET BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RATHER THAN FIXED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2011/pdf/SB/2600-2699/SB2684SG.pdf Title: S.B. 2684 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us NY Issued 01/2011 P-12 Establishes the Mandate Relief Redesign Team to look for ways to reduce the costs of mandated programs on schools and local governments by determining how school districts and local governments may be given greater ability to control costs. Directs the team to look at the reason for delays in state reimbursement for mandated programs, and to look at the practice of cost-shifting of mandated programs. Calls for the team to identify opportunities for eliminating or reducing unfunded and underfunded mandates imposed by the state on local governments and school districts. Directs the team to begin its work no later than January 7, 2011 and to provide the governor with its first report of findings and recommendations by March 1, 2011. Directs the team to submit quarterly reports on its continuing review thereafter, and to make its final recommendations to the governor by the end of the 2011-12 state fiscal year, at which time it will be relieved of all responsibilities and duties. http://www.governor.ny.gov/executiveorder/6 Title: E.O. 6 Source: www.governor.ny.gov FL Signed into law 07/2010 Postsec. Repeals Section 1004.87 creating the Florida College System Task Force. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7037er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7037&Session=2010 Title: HB 7037 - Sec 22 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov FL Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Repeals Section 1002.335 creating the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission. Repeals provision related to appealing charter school applications to the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7037er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7037&Session=2010 Title: HB 7037 - Sec 23 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov SC Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Establishes South Carolina as a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which seeks to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/319.htm Title: S.B. 319 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.gov ME Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Directs the state department of education to develop and maintain the Maine Statewide Longitudinal Data System, a continuing program of information management, the purpose of which is to compile, maintain and disseminate information concerning the educational histories, placement, employment and other measures of success of participants in state educational programs. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC448.asp Title: S.P. 491 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Creates until November 30, 2009, the Legislative Task Force on Achieving Classroom Excellence. Requires the task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005 and subsequent amendments. Requires the task force to study topics including, but not limited to, the following: 1. The requirements of the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005, as amended; 2. Possible alternative assessments and alternative methods for meeting the requirements of the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005, as amended; 3. Policies to reduce the high school drop-out rate; 4. Policies to enhance completion of the requirements for high school graduation and increase postsecondary program enrollment and completion; and 5. The potential of blending services offered by common education, career and technology education, and higher education.Sets membership. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/SB/SB1168_ENR.RTF Title: S.B. 1168 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us MS Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Deletes the automatic repealers on the State Education Reform Act of 2006; reenacts provisions of law relating to the administration of public school districts and the State Department of Education; deletes the automatic repealer on provisions concerning school attendance officers and the Office of Dropout Prevention. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2009/pdf/SB/2300-2399/SB2328SG.pdf Title: S.B. 2328 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us NJ Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Eliminates role of the Board of Education in the appeal of Commissioner of Education decisions in disputes arising under the State school laws; provides that an appeal of a commissioner's decision would go directly to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court; provides that after an appeal of a determination by the School Ethics Commission or the State Board of Examiners the commissioner's decision would be considered final agency action. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A0500/45_R1.PDF Title: A.B. 45 Source: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ CO Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates a data collection development council to increase the efficiency of state government and enhance the ability of mulitiple state agencies to provide services. The data will assist policymakers and others to determine the effectiveness of state policies http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/12CF992B0A83DE6D872573CD0057FEE5?open&file=1364_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1364 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us/ MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Authorizes the commissioner to enter into an agreement with the designated authority from an adjoining state to establish an enrollment options program between Minnesota and the adjoining state. Provides provisions by which any such agreement must meet. [Sec. 10] https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getbill.php?number=HF1812&session=ls85&version=list&session_number=0&session_year=2007 Title: H.B. 1812 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us WV Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishes Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Twenty; requires the State Board of Education to create a plan that includes goals, objectives, strategies, indicators and benchmarks and specifies certain public education goals and objectives to be included in the plan; establishes goals for public higher education; defines certain responsibilities of the Higher Education Policy Commission, Council for Community and Technical College Education and state institutions of higher education. Title: S.B. 595 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MA Adopted 01/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Submits from the governor to the legislature a reorganization plan number 1 of 2008. Relates to reorganizing certain education agencies. Creates an executive office of education, headed by a cabinet secretary. Provides for the executive office to contain three departments: (1) the existing department of early education and care; (2) the existing department of education (renamed the department of elementary and secondary education); and (3) a new department of higher education, which will house personnel now serving as staff to the board of higher education. Submitted by the Governor, pending legislative approval. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04488.pdf http://mass.gov/?pageID=gov3terminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Legislation+%26+Executive+Orders&L2=Legislation&sid=Agov3&b=terminalcontent&f=legislation_legis_education_reorg&csid=Agov3 Title: Executive Order /H.B. 4488 Source: http://www.mass.gov RI Passed 07/2007 P-12 (Joint Resolution)Would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the impact of mandates on Rhode Island's school districts, and who would report back to the general assembly no later than January 8, 2008 and whose life would expire on March 8, 2008. Title: S.B. 361 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet DE Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Supports the work of Vision 2015, the Delaware Business Roundtable and the Leadership for Education Achievement in Delaware committee (LEAD), created by Governor's Executive Order 98. It also encourages the General Assembly, state agencies, school districts and Delaware's education community to cooperate fully in the research necessary to submit the requested reports in a timely manner. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/SJR+7/$file/legis.html?open Title: S.J.R. 7 Source: Delaware Legislature DE Issued 06/2007 P-12 Establishes the Leadership for Education Achievement in Delaware Committee to make recommendations to the governor, general assembly, state board of education, local school districts and department of education on strategies to continue to improve public education. Defines membership and dutites. http://governor.delaware.gov/orders/executiveorderno98.shtml#TopOfPage Title: E.O. 98 Source: http://governor.delaware.gov MO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Modifies the responsibilities of the legislative committee on education. Requires the committee to meet at least twice a year. Charges committee with monitoring, studying and analyzing the higher education system in the state, as well as monitoring the establishment of performance measures required by this act and reporting on such measures to the general assembly and the governor. Authorizes the committee to make requests of the department of economic development. Directs the committee within three years to review the impact of the newly created higher education funding act and review a new model for the funding of higher education institutions. http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/pdf-bill/tat/SB389.pdf Title: S.B. 389 [Committee on Education] Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Recodifies the law governing higher education. Changes references in provisions that cross reference to the law being recodified. Makes related changes. Repeals obsolete provisions. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision commission.) Title: S.B. 526 (omnibus) - Recodification of Higher Education Code Source: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/SE/SE0526.1.html LA Approved by voters 09/2006 P-12 Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide that no law, unless enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature, requiring increased expenditures for any purpose shall be applicable to a city, parish, or other local public school board except under certain circumstances; provides for exceptions to such prohibition; specifies an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms4&rqsdta=093006 Title: Amendment 9 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet SC Issued 05/2005 P-12 Creates the South Carolina Education Reform Council, which will examine ways to improve educational outcomes, examine problems facing the K-12 education system and identify reforms and policy recommendations in a final report to the governor no later than December 31, 2005. http://www.scgovernor.com/uploads/executiveorders/2005-08_CreatingSouthCarolinaEducationReformCouncil.pdf Title: Executive Order No. 2005-08 Source: http://www.scgovernor.com/ IN Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Title 20 recodification. Recodifies Title 20 concerning elementary and secondary education to reorganize and restate the law without substantive change. Repeals current Title 20 provisions. Makes conforming amendments. http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2005&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1288 Title: H.B. 1288 Source: www.in.gov KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Postsec. Community College Sets forth legislative intent related to early diagnosis of and intervention for elementary students struggling in reading and mathematics, state student achievement goals, provision and quality of diagnostic and intervention services to students below proficient on state math and reading assessments, and collaboration among state and local stakeholders to achieve state goals. Establishes the respective roles of the general assembly, state board of education, department of education, council on postsecondary education, education professional standards board, colleges and universities, school councils, and local boards and superintendents in achieving the state's student achievement goals. Declares an emergency. http://lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/05RS/HB301.htm Title: H.B. 93 (Section 1, multiple provisions) Source: lrc.ky.gov KY Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Postsec. Community College Defines terms, including "mathematics coach," "mathematics diagnostic assessment," "mathematics intervention program," "mathematics leader," "mathematics mentor," and "numeracy." Establishes the Committee for Mathematics Achievement to develop a multi-faceted strategic plan to improve student achievement in mathematics at all levels of schooling, prekindergarten through postsecondary and adult. Specifies that at a minimum, the plan must address: (a) Challenging curriculum that is aligned prekindergarten through postsecondary, including consensus among high school teachers and postsecondary education faculty about expectations, curriculum, and assessment; (b) Attitudes and beliefs of teachers about mathematics; (c) Teachers' knowledge of mathematics; (d) Diagnostic assessment, intervention services, and instructional strategies; (e) Shortages of teachers of mathematics, including incentives to attract strong candidates to mathematics teaching; (f) Statewide institutes that prepare cadres of mathematics leaders in local school districts, which may include highly skilled retired mathematics teachers, to serve as coaches and mentors in districts and schools; (g) Cohesive continuing education options for experienced mathematics classroom teachers; (h) Closing the student achievement gap among various student subpopulations; (i) Curriculum expectations and assessments of students among the various school levels, prekindergarten, primary, elementary, middle, and high school; (j) Content standards for adult education centers providing mathematics curricula; (k) Introductory postsecondary education mathematics courses that are appropriate to the wide array of academic programs and majors; (l) Research to analyze further the issues of transition from high school or GED programs to postsecondary education mathematics; and (m) The early mathematics testing program under KRS 158.803. Other factors may be included in the strategic plan as deemed appropriate by the committee to improve mathematics achievement of Kentucky students. Requires the committee to (a) Design a statewide professional development program that includes summer mathematics institutes at colleges and universities, follow-up, and school-based support services, beginning no later than June 1, 2006, to prepare teams of teachers as coaches and mentors of mathematics at all school levels to improve student achievement. Specifies areas the design must address. (b) Require schools and districts approved to have participants in the mathematics leader institutes to provide specified assurances to support institute participants and students who need modified instructional and intervention services in math. Establishes committee membership, terms, chairmanship, attachmetn to Kentucky Department of Education, and responsibilities. Specifies that the committee must: (a) Present a draft strategic plan addressing the requirements in subsection (1) of this section and other issues that arose during the work of the committee to the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee no later than August 2005; (b) Present the strategic plan for improving mathematics achievement to the Interim Joint Committee on Education by July 15, 2006, which shall include any recommendations that require legislative action; and (c) Provide a final written report of committee activities to the Interim Joint Committee on Education and the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2006. Also specifies that the committee will have ongoing responsibility for providing advice and guidance to policymakers in the development of statewide policies and in the identification and allocation of resources to improve mathematics achievement. In carrying out this responsibility, the committee must periodically review the strategic plan and make modifications as deemed appropriate and report those to the Interim Joint Committee on Education. Mandates that the committee collaborate with the Center for Mathematics to ensure that there is ongoing identification of research-based intervention programs for K-12 students who have fallen behind in mathematics, rigorous mathematics curricula that prepare students for the next level of schooling, research-based professional development models that prepare teachers in mathematics and pedagogy, and strategies for closing the gap between high school or GED and postsecondary mathematics preparation. 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 (Section 2) Source: lrc.ky.gov CA Vetoed--in Senate to unfinished business 10/2004 P-12 The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state and incurred by a local agency or school district to implement a new program or higher level of service. Existing law creates certain exceptions. This bill includes within that exception costs mandated by a statute or executive order that imposes a duty on a local agency or school district that was expressly included in a ballot measure approved by the voters in a local election. Repeals provisions requiring a school district that succeeds the Grant Joint Union High School District to use, for home-to-school transportation, the funding made available pursuant to voluntary desegregation programs and requires that pupils in grades 7 to 12 who apply to transfer from a school district that succeeds the Grant Joint Union High School District to another school district that succeeds the Grant Joint Union High School District to be granted a transfer according to certain priorities, among which is that the transfer would mitigate schoolsite segregation. Replaces with statement of the intent of the Legislature that, if the Grant Joint Union High School District is reorganized to create two new unified school districts, the reorganization must be implemented in a manner that provides constitutionally permissible opportunities for the voluntary racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic integration of pupils attending each school district. Requires a proposal to reorganize the Grant Joint Union High School District that is initiated by the Sacramento County Committee on School District Organization and approved by the State Board of Education before December 31, 2007, to include requirements that pupils eligible to enroll in any of grades 7 to 12, except expelled pupils, whose parents are residents of any school district that succeeds the Grant Joint Union High School District have the same rights to enroll in any secondary school in a district that succeeds the Grant Joint Union High School District as a pupil whose parents are residents of that other district, and that the successor school districts to the Grant Joint Union High School District provide free transportation to these pupils if they so request, hold joint annual meetings to review segregation issues, and grant seniority rights to employees of school districts that cease to exist as a result of the proposal who become employees of the successor districts. Requires a ballot measure to approve this proposal to clearly inform the voters that by approving the measure the voters are mandating the successor school districts to incur costs to implement the requirements described above and that these costs would not be reimbursed by the state. Makes legislative findings and declarations in this regard. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1251-1300/sb_1271_bill_20040823_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/SB_1271_veto.pdf Title: S.B. 1271 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Creates the Advisory Task Force for Education of Blind and Visually Impaired Pupils to provide input to formulate the most effective policy for the education of such pupils. Requires the Department of Education to provide outreach and technical assistance to parents, teachers, and administrators concerning issues relating to the instruction of visually impaired, blind, and deaf-blind pupils. Requires the department of education to establish a data system for submission and collection of data regarding services provided by local education agencies to such pupils. Requires contracts with test publishers for statewide tests to stipulate that the publishers will provide the test materials in formats accessible to pupils with visual disabilities. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_662_bill_20040825_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_662_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 662 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, working with a consultant in early care and education, to develop recommendations for a master plan for infant and toddler care in consultation and collaboration with a task force established by the superintendent and comprised of prescribed members. The task force would be established only after the superintendent determines that sufficient funds from sources other than the General Fund are committed to fully support the activities of the task force and the senior consultant. Specifies areas to be addressed by the recommendations; requires the recommendations resulting from the master plan process to be completed and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2005; requires the superintendent to update the recommendations at least once every 5 years. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1301-1350/sb_1343_bill_20040826_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/SB_1343_veto.pdf Title: S.B. 1343 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 08/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College The California Constitution requires the Legislature to provide for a system of common schools and includes within that system all kindergarten schools, elementary schools, secondary schools, community colleges, and state colleges, and the school districts and other agencies that maintain those schools and colleges. Articulates the Legislature's intent as to the purpose and public policy of the public school and public higher education systems. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1401-1450/sb_1418_bill_20040812_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/press_release/SB_1418_veto.pdf Title: S.B. 1418 Source: California Legislative Web site AZ Issued 08/2004 P-12 Establishes the Arizona Teacher's Excellence Program Coordination Council (AzTEP Council) to solicit, review and approve applications for federal and private grants for recruiting and placing qualified teachers in underserved communities and to oversee the administration of grants to high-needs local education entities. Establishes council membership and reporting requirements. http://www.governor.state.az.us/eo/2004_20.pdf Title: Executive Order 2004-20 Source: www.governor.state.az.us AZ Issued 06/2004 P-12 Creates the Arizona Statewide Youth Development Task Force to provide policy recommendations relating to youth and youth development issues in the state of Arizona to the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families. Establishes membership. Requires the task force to advise the governor through (1) the creation of of policy work groups on matters such as positive youth development, youth workforce development, education and youth voice and advocacy; (2) the development of more and better opportunities for positive use of time, positive use of self-expression, civic engagement and participation for youth in the state; (3) the coordination of services for Arizona's youth with community-based, faith-based, city, state and local youth-serving agencies and organizations; and (4) the ongoing review of proposed federal and state legislation and existing laws relating to youth and youth development. http://www.governor.state.az.us/eo/2004_14.pdf Title: Executive Order 2004-14 Source: www.governor.state.az.us VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Amends section 22.1-253.13:1 and 22.1-253.13:2 . Specifies that the Standards of Learning form the core of Virginia's educational program and other educational objectives. Specifies that the state board must, at a minimum, define Standards of Learning for English, mathematics, science, history and social science. Specifies that "communication" as included in the Standards of Learning comprises listening, speaking, reading and writing. To passage on public input on proposed revisions to the Standards of Learning, adds that the department must provide and maintain Web capacity to allowing K-12 educators to submit recommendations for improvements to the Standards of Learning, when under review by the state board, as well as to the related assessments. Deletes "career education schools" from language requiring local boards to implement career and technical education programs. Provisions (i) increase from one half-time to one full-time principal in elementary schools with fewer than 300 students; (ii) provide one full-time assistant principal for each 400 students in each school, regardless of grade level; (iv) lower the pupil-teacher ratio from 25:1 to 21:1 in middle and high schools, to ensure the provision of scheduled teacher planning time; (v) reduce the required speech pathologist caseload from 68 to 60 students; (vi) require two technology support positions per 1,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 divisionwide; and (viii) modify the current funding mechanism for remediation. Requires the state board to submit to the governor and the general assembly a report on the condition and needs of public education in the commonwealth and shall identify any school divisions and the specific schools therein that have failed to establish and maintain schools meeting the existing prescribed standards of quality. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+CHAP0955 Title: H.B. 1014 Source: leg1.state.va.us CO Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Postsec. Concerns reports to the Education Committees of the General Assembly pursuant to the Information Coordination Act; repeals the reporting requirements concerning the implementation of the Information Technology Grant Program; repeals reporting requirements Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program and early Childhood Loan Program; repeals reporting requirements for the Colorado School of Mines and reporting of common course numbering by state colleges. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont2/fb578adc3298f8f387256e3f005b6ca0?OpenDocument&Click=87256D6C00679B13.b925f7d822283ac087256dd3003efcdb/$Body/1.2 Title: H.B. 1380 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site SD Adopted, On November 2004 Ballot 02/2004 P-12 Proposing and submitting to the electors at the next general election amendments to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota to authorize the provision of certain services to all children of school age. The Constitution allows the Legislature to authorize the loan of nonsectarian textbooks to children of school age, including those attending sectarian schools. This amendment would also allow the Legislature to authorize participation in food and transportation services for children of school age, including those attending sectarian schools. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2004/bills/HJR1003enr.pdf Title: HJR 1003/Constitutional Amendment B Source: South Dakota State Web site AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 The General Assembly recognizes the state is responsible to provide an adequate education and to know how state revenues are spent; provides for the continuing adequacy evaluation act of 2004; provides for a study. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/HB1111.pdf Title: H.B. 1111 Source: Arkansas Legislative web site AR Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Requires financial impact statements for bills relating to education that have a fiscal impact on school district expenditures. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB8.pdf Title: S.B. 8 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site AR Signed into law 12/2003 P-12 Repeals the fiscal year allocation provision for expenses of the joint committee on K-12 educational facilities. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB10.pdf Title: S.B. 10 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site AL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Instructs the code commissioner to prepare legislation recompiling Title 16 (Education) of the Code of Alabama 1975. http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp?SESSION=1026 Title: H.J.R. 37 Source: Alabama Legislative Web site LA Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Increases membership on the state advisory commission on teacher education and certification from 11 to 13 members. Decreases from ten to nine the members who are employed by a city or parish, adds that one of these nine may be employed by some "other local public school system." Adds requirement that tenth member represent the board of regents; adds requirement that 11th and 12th members represent the Blue Ribbon Commission on Teacher Quality or its successor. (Amendments retain standing requirement that 13th member be appointed from a list of teachers nominated by the J.K. Haynes Foundation). Specifies that from the nine members who are school system employees, six must be certified, employed, and actively engaged as full-time practicing classroom teachers, and that one of these six must be the teacher appointed from the list nominated by the J.K. Haynes Foundation. Requires member who is an education faculty member be nominated by the Louisiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, rather than the Louisiana Council of Education Deans, as previously required. Adds requirement that member representing the board of regents be appointed by the commissioner of higher education. Requires the two members representing the Blue Ribbon Commission on Teacher Quality be appointed by the commission's chairperson. In section regarding the initial meeting of the state advisory commission on teacher education and certification, states that the commission must transact such other business as the state department of education considers advisable. (Former language required the commission to transact such other business as the commission considers advisable). Deletes language requiring the commission to recommend state or national standards for preservice and advanced certification programs to the board of regents, the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (retains language that the commission recommend on these areas to the state board). http://www.legis.state.la.us/bills/byinst.asp?sessionid=03RS&billid=SB126&doctype=BT Title: S.B. 126 Source: www.legis.state.la.us MT Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Establishes a K-12 public school renewal commission to propose amendments and new provisions to components of K-12 education, including governance and finance structures and the state and federal roles in public education. The commission must include at a minimum the governor, the superintendent of public instruction and specified members of the state legislature. In addition, the governor must identify between 10 and 25 entitites to send a representative to serve on the commission and name a representative from the juvenile corrections division. The commission must present its findings and recommendations to the education and local government interim committee by September 15, 2004, and may recommend legislation. Provides an appropriation. http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2003/billhtml/HB0736.htm Web site for the Montana K-12 Public School Renewal Commission: http://www.state.mt.us/gov2/css/boards/renewal/default.asp Title: H.B. 736 Source: data.opi.state.mt.us TN Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requires the Commissioner of Education to distribute in electronic format to the local boards of education, at the conclusion of each regular session of the General Assembly, copies of newly enacted public chapters pertaining to public education. Present law requires the Commission of Education to print and distribute to the local boards of education and all state, county and city school officers copies of the school law. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Fiscal/HB2014.pdf Title: H.B. 2014 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Creates The Quality Education Act of 2003; makes provisions regarding the No Child Left Behind Act. Repeals Arkansas Code, Title 6, Chapter 20, Subsection 16, the previous Arkansas system as education assessment and accountability. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2697.pdf Title: H.B. 2697 (Omnibus Bill) Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site KS Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Deletes language requiring the state board of education to publish a notice in the KS register at least 30 days in advance and hold a public hearing before adopting a rule. Deletes language referring to voting and filing procedures. http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2004/118.pdf Title: S.B. 118 Source: StateNet NM Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Adds Section 69 to create the "office of education accountability" in the legislative council service. The office is to provide an independent evaluation of the Assessment and Accountability Act and the School Personnel Act by: monitoring implementation of both acts; periodically reviewing district and school-based decision-making policies relating to the recruitment and retention of school employees; verifying the accuracy of reports of school, district and state performance; and conducting studies of other states' efforts at assessment and accountability and other educational reforms and report its findings to the New Mexico legislative council, legislative education study committee and legislative finance committee. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0212MarkedUp.pdf Title: H.B. 212 (Omnibus Bill) Source: New Mexico Legislature UT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Section 21 (53A-13-108) was added to law. The Legislature finds that a free public education should: (1)(a) prepare each student for the student's choice of higher education or gainful employment, focusing on the core academic skills of reading, writing, science, and mathematics, balanced with exposure to the arts and applied technology which will enable students to: (i) communicate effectively, both verbally and through written communication; (ii) apply mathematics; and (iii) access, analyze, and apply information; and (b) train students in the key attributes required for successful living. (2) In accordance with the findings described under Subsection (1), the State Board of Education shall study and make recommendations for: (a) aligning responsibility, authority, accountability, and funding for the State Board of Education, state superintendent, and local school districts; (b) an improved environment of academic achievement; (c) implementing competency-based progress and measurement systems that allow each student to continually progress within and between course levels at an individual optimal rate; (d) assuring that each high school senior is progressing in challenging courses; (e) developing, with employers, trades, professions, and the State Board of Regents competency standards for progress or graduation; (f) improving methods of motivating school districts to increase academic discipline, including reduced cutting of classes by students and utilizing means such as closed campuses; (g) implementing a progress-based assessment system that continually tracks individual student progress each year in each of the core academic areas by: (i) tracking student progress from year to year on a longitudinal basis, rather than aggregate levels of performance; (ii) utilizing national norm-referenced tests as benchmarks, so that the progress of Utah students can be compared to the progress of students in other states and the nation; (iii) providing progress assessment data that follow each student wherever that student attends schools in the state; and (iv) making the assessment data available to parents to permit them to make fully informed decisions regarding the districts, schools, and teachers they wish to involve in the educational process for their children; (h) developing methods to increase school choice among public schools, including intradistrict and interdistrict transfers, and expansion of alternative schools such as charter schools and New Century schools; (i) aligning the current funding mechanisms with the priorities of the strategy focusing on core academics, to include financial incentives and consequences; (j) developing a new incremental state funding mechanism for public education that: (i) motivates school districts to focus on achieving value-added progress in core academics; (ii) is tied to the progress-based assessment system described under Subsection (2)(g); (iii) provides funding details, including adjustments for mobility; and (iv) provides school districts, parents, students, and educators an economic incentive for developing economic efficiencies in the delivery of instruction; (k) remediating schools and districts that do not meet appropriate standards based on the progress-based assessment described above, including possible transfer of control to the State Board of Education; (l) developing ways to meet a variety of learning styles; (m) developing savings through building utilization and per square foot cost limitation in building construction programs; and (n) implementing other best demonstrated practices of other states and their school districts that are achieving significant improvement in core academic progress. (3) (a) By August 15, 2003, the state board must submit an initial report to the governor's office for use at the State Education Summit Meeting. (b) The State Board of Education shall make at least three annual reports on the issues described under Subsection (2) to the Education Interim Committee. (c) A final report, including any proposed legislation, shall be presented to the Education Interim Committee prior to November 30, 2003, 2004, and 2005. 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 Postsec. Establishes full-time program of internal auditing at specific state postsecondary institutions, including various community/junior colleges, the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, and the department of education. Requires each specified postsecondary institution and the department to employ an agency internal audit director and professional and support staff to conduct internal auditing. Sets forth internal audit directors' qualifications and duties. Establishes manner in which audits should be conducted as well as availability, procedures and frequency of audit reports. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/HB/0600-0699/HB0650SG.htm Title: H.B. 650 Source: StateNet KY Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Clarifies the specific qualifications for members of the State Board of Education regarding age, education, business or political ties, relation to any education department employee, etc. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/03RS/SB152.htm Title: S.B. 152 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us KY Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Specifies that the Kentucky representatives of the Southern Regional Education Board's Legislative Advisory Council must include three members each from the KY senate and KY house, at least one of whom from each chamber must belong to the minority party, appointed by the leader of each respective chamber. Requires the Senate President and the Speaker of the House to each select five delegates to the Legislative Work Conference. The delegates must include the Legislative Advisory Council members from each chamber. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/03RS/HB252/bill.doc Title: H.B. 252 Source: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us AZ Issued 01/2003 P-12 Establishes a Children's Cabinet to focus attention and resources on problems facing the state's children by collaborating and promoting coordinated policies and service delivery systems that support children, families and communities. Establishes an Advisory Commission on Child Protective Services (CPS) Reform to make recommendations to the governor and the Children's Cabinet on how the state can carry out its mission of serving the best interests of children, particularly those in greatest need of protection. Requires the children's cabinet to (1) Advise and make recommendations to the governor on the most effective policies and programs that promote the best interests of Arizona children. (2) Develop a coordinated inter-agency strategy for serving abused and neglected children with more effective and efficient service delivery, including coordination of behavioral health services, education services, health care services, substance abuse services and child welfare. (3) Develop a plan for maximizing Arizona's share of federal funds for programs that support Arizona children. Establishes membership of the children's cabinet and the Advisory Commission on CPS Reform; states the Advisory Commission on CPS Reform will conclude its work by June 30, 2003. http://www.governor.state.az.us/eo/2003_4.pdf Title: Executive Order 2003-04 Source: www.governor.state.az.us CO Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Repeals the process for filling a vacancy on the state board; specifies that any vacancy occurring on the state board other than a vacancy of the state board at-large seat shall be filled by the vacancy committee of the party Congressional Central Committee of the same political party as the vacating board member. Also specifies that any vacancy on the state board at-large seat must be filled by the vacancy committee of the state central committee of the same political party as the vacating state board member. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/A2523CE2D53E555E87256B29004FBEF5?Open&file=1245_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1245 Source: www.leg.state.co.us FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 This bill, which rewrites the Florida Education Code, modifies the specific powers of the State Board of Education and modifies language relating to department under direction of state board. See bill section 21, page 53, line 18 ff: http://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 Community College According to state legislative summary: "Designates the State Board of Education as the head of the department, the Commissioner as the Executive Director of the department; revises divisions [to create three divisions within the department, namely the Division of Public Schools, the Division of Community Colleges and the Division of Colleges and Universities, to create an Office of Private Schools and Home Education Programs within the department, and to eliminate the Division of Independent Education]; revises powers and duties[.]" See bill section 881, page 1625, line 14 ff. Also "[a]utorizes establishment, abolishment or consolidation within department to promote efficient operation. Authorizes flexibility of positions and appropriations." See bill section 1055, page 1784, line 8 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 HI Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Repeals administrative rules deemed unnecessary and relating to Exclusion of Students Having Communicable Diseases; Parent-Teacher Conferences; Release of Students for Religious Holy Days; Married Students; Pregnant Students; Student Examinations; Reporting Pupil Progress; Test Information to Parents; Homework; Student Promotion; High School Graduation Through the Adult Schools; Student Travel; Soliciting Information from Students; School Services; Junior Police Organization; Student Accident Insurance; Solicitation by Non-Departmental Personnel; and Solicitation by the School. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb2817_.htm Title: S.B. 2817 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Reorganizes the Kentucky Department of Education by reassigning duties, resources, and staff, renaming and realigning organizational units and abolishing two divisions; provides that the Commissioner of Education shall approve requests for all disaster days from a school district for those days missed because of flooding above 5 days missed for that reason during the 2002 spring semester. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/02RS/SB147/bill.doc Title: S.B. 147 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us NE Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Postsec. LB 303 creates an Education Roundtable. The Roundtable has 34 members including the Governor and Commissioner of Education, who are co-chairpersons. The group is required to meet at least twice every calendar year. Ad hoc advisory groups may be established by the Roundtable to study education topics. The Roundtable's purposes are to identify and prioritize the future needs and challenges related to education in Nebraska, to share information, and to study and create multiple ways to coordinate statewide efforts in education. Recommendations by the group are to provided annually. The state department and the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education are to provide administrative and research support. The act terminates on December 31, 2005. Title: L.B. 303 Source: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/index.htm NE Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Creates the Education Roundtable to (1) identify and prioritize the future needs and challenges related to education in the state, (2) share information, and (3) study and create multiple ways to coordinate statewide efforts in education in Nebraska. Must report findings by December 1 of each year to the Appropriations Committee and Education Committee of the Legislature, the Governor's Policy Research Office, the State Board of Education, and the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. Title: L.B. 303 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Issued 04/2001 P-12 Creates the Governor's Commission on Revising the School Code (GCRSC) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing school code and prepare a proposed revision of the school code; GCRSC is to present report to the governor and legislature by January 1, 2003. GCRSC web page: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/schoolcode/default.htm Title: Executive Order 7 (2001) Source: Illinois State Web site CA Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Requires the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team to conduct a review, make recommendations, and provide technical assistance to streamline and improve the hiring process and related personnel system of a school district if the district meets certain criteria. Title: S.B. 1331 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Public Act No., Creates the Childhood Hunger Prevention Act and amends the School Free Lunch Program Act; changes the name of the Act to the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act; requires the State Board of Education to fund a breakfast incentive program, subject to appropriation, whereby the State Board of Education is allowed to reimburse sponsors of school breakfast programs, to make grants to school boards and certain schools or other sites. Title: H.B. 2379 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MN Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Transfers the powers of the state school board to the Department of Children, Families, and Learning. Title: S.B. 86 Source: AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Establishes a 13 member Joint Legislative Study Committee on Reservation Schools which is repealed December 31, 2000; charges the committee with the following duties: to examine current methods of delivering educational services to pupils in K-12 who reside on Indian reservation, to examine alternatives for improving educational services to pupils in K-12 who reside on Indian reservations, to submit a written report to the Governor, Legislature, Secretary of State. Title: H.B. 2579 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 The Governor may appoint study commissions as he deems appropriate to study education questions, issue findings and make recommendations to the Education Coordinating Council. This provision will go into effect upon signature to allow the current Education Reform Commission to continue. The Education Coordinating Council (ECC) is created. The ECC is assigned 15 duties, some of which include exercising oversight of accountability systems in other departments and coordinating the activities of state, regional, and local cooperative public education agencies, offices, or councils. The Office of Education Accountability (OEA) is also created. The OEA is directed to establish accountability policies and standards for the state and establish the "official" report card. The Governor and the OEA will give rewards to successful schools. The State Board of Education is given the task of mandating interventions for failing schools, including appointing special masters, mandating school improvement teams, removal of school personnel, allow for a state charter school, mandating the complete reconstitution of the school and hiring all new staff and mandating that parents have the option to relocate to another public school in the district. The OEA develops and both the Council and the State Board of Education adopt a definition for which students are performing "below grade level" and the definition of "dropout." It is charged with setting the pass score for the CRCT and end of course tests. Title: H.B. 1187 Source: Georgia Department of Education AL Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Pertains to the Governor's Commission on Instructional Improvement and Academic Excellence in Alabama's Public Schools; extends the Commission through end of 1999-2003 quadrennium, duties, members, progress reports, expenses. Title: S.J.R. 4 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet