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From the ECS State Policy Database 1994-2013

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Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

The following summary includes policies ECS has tracked in this database since 1994. 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. To view the documents, click on the blue triangle next to the topic of interest. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary 21st Century Skills Accountability Accountability--Accreditation Accountability--Measures/Indicators Accountability--Reporting Results Accountability--Rewards Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Learnfare Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Drive Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--No Pass No Play Accountability--Sanctions/Interventions--Takeovers Accountability--School Improvement Adult Basic Education Assessment Assessment--Accommodations Assessment--College Entrance Exams Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim Assessment--High Stakes/Competency Assessment--Legal Issues Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization) Assessment--Performance Based/Portfolio Assessment--Value Added At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Alternative Education At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol Attendance Attendance--Compulsory Attendance--Statutory Ages (Upper and Lower) Attendance--Truancy Background Checks Bilingual/ESL Brain Research Business Involvement Career/Technical Education Career/Technical Education--Career Academies/Apprenticeship Cheating Choice of Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Charter Districts Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Closings Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Cyber Charters Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Finance Choice of Schools--Charter Schools--Research Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment--Research Choice of Schools--Innovation Schools Choice of Schools--Magnet or Specialized Schools Choice of Schools--Tax Credits Choice of Schools--Vouchers Choice of Schools--Vouchers--Privately Funded Civic Education Civic Education--Character Education Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy Civic Education--Curriculum/Standards Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance Class Size Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Censorship Curriculum--Core Curriculum Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Excusal Curriculum--Family Living Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Geography Education Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Home Economics Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Multicultural Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Curriculum--Speech Education Data-Driven Improvement Demographics Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Education Research Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Aid to Private Schools Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Does Money Matter? Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Litigation Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries Finance--Performance Funding Finance--Private Giving Finance--Resource Efficiency Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures Finance--Student Fees Finance--Taxes/Revenues Finance--Taxes/Revenues--Alternative Revenues Governance Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule AL Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 School and District Grading, School Awards, Funding Flexibility H.B. 588 Establishes legislative findings. Directs the state superintendent of education to develop a school grading system for schools and districts... More... GA Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Demonstration Programs H.B. 706 - Demonstration Programs Repeals Section 20-2-251, relating to demonstration programs (defined by former statute as a document submitted by the local school system o... More... IL Adopted 04/2012 P-12 Waivers Approved S.J.R. 61 Resolves that all requests for waivers identified in the state board of education's report on Waiver of School Code Mandates, dated March 1,... More... WV Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 School System Collaborative Innovation Zone S.B. 371 Allows flexibility within county school systems; authorizes the State Board of Education to select a county school system to serve as a scho... More... OH Signed into law 08/2011 P-12 Innovation Schools H.B. 153 - Innovation Schools Permits a school to apply to its district board to be designated as an innovation school. Requires an application to include numerous elemen... More... IL Adopted 07/2011 P-12 Appealing a Decision Regarding a Request for an Exemption 23 IL ADC 1.110 Establishes procedures under 105 ILCS 5/22-60 for a school district, private school or district resident to appeal to the state superintende... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Sanctions for the Lowest-Performing Schools H.B. 153 - Sanctions for the Lowest-Performing Schools Provides that for any building that is ranked in the lowest 5% of all public school buildings statewide for three consecutive years and is d... More... NJ Issued 04/2011 P-12 Education Transformation Task Force E.O. 58 Establishes the New Jersey Education Transformation Task Force. Charges the task force with reviewing all current administrative regulations... More... FL Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Repeals Deregulated Public Schools Pilot Program HB 7037 - Sec 29 and 30 Repeals 1003.63, which created the deregulated public schools pilot program. Also repeals subsection (7) of section 1008.345, which allowed ... More... LA Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 School Waivers from Regulations H.B. 1368 Authorizes the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to exempt districts from various laws and regulations pertaining to educati... More... GA Adopted 11/2009 P-12 LEA Contracts for Flexibility and Accountability GAC 160 -5-1-.33 Renames rule (previously titled "School District Contracts for Flexibility and Accountability to Improve Student Achievement") to "Investing... More... IL Adopted 11/2009 P-12 Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision 23 IAC 1.20, .30, .100, .240, .420, .465, .480, .510, .737 Partially from "Notice of Adopted Amendments" in Illinois Register (changes from this rulemaking but not listed below are technical in natur... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Waivers from Financial Requirements H.B. 1 - Section 3306.40 Authorizes local boards to apply to the state superintendent for waivers from financial provisions established in Chapter 3306, including an... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Limitation to Waivers H.B. 1 - Section 3302.05 and 3302.07 Existing law allows waivers from certain state mandates to school districts identified as "excellent" or "effective" under the state account... More... OH Adopted 03/2009 P-12 Exemptions from Statutes/Rules OAC 3301-46-01 Authorizes the governing board of any educational service center, or the administrative authority of any chartered nonpublic school to submi... More... OH Adopted 03/2009 P-12 Innovative Education Pilot Programs OAC 3301-46-01 Authorizes the governing board of any educational service center or the administrative authority of any chartered nonpublic school to submit... More... GA Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Flexibility in Exchange for Increased Accountability H.B. 1209 Relates to elementary and secondary education; provides that a local school system may enter into a contract with the state board of educati... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Waiver/Modification of Physical Education Mandate H.B. 1839 Provides that a state-board approved waiver from or modification to a physical education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to ex... More... IA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Waivers from Certain Staffing Requirements S.F. 277 (Section 5 and 8) Section 5: Strikes and rewrites section 256.11A. Authorizes the board of directors of a school district to file a request by August 1, 2007 ... More... TN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 School District Waivers H.B. 3172; S.B. 3125 Permits local education agencies to seek waivers from department of education of any rule or statute that inhibits the LEA's ability to achi... More... MS Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Exempting Level 4 or 5 Accredited Districts from Certain Requirements H.B. 1121 Relates to school districts; establishes home rule; exempts Level 4 or 5 accredited districts from certain requirements. Authorizes the Stat... More... GA Adopted 10/2005 P-12 Waiver Requests GAC 160-1-3-.02 Clarifies rules so that school systems may apply for waivers of certain education law for the purpose of increasing student achievement. AGE... More... WV Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Local Government Flexibility Act S.B. 419 Creates a pilot program; cites the Local Government Flexibility Act of 2005; relates to the ability of local government and school districts... More... IL Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 School Code Waivers S.B. 3091 Amends the School Code. Allows a joint agreement made up of school districts or a regional superintendent of schools on behalf of schools an... More... TN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Public Education S.B. 1024 Allows the Commissioner of Education to authorize up to 16 school systems to operate as alternative education programs which emphasize scho... More... NM Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Waivers for High Performing Schools S.B. 80 Allows for the waiver of certain requirements for schools that exceed educational standards; waivers may be given for accreditation review, ... More... ND Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Waivers S.B. 2166 Allows any school or school district to apply to the superintendent of public instruction for a waiver of any rule governing the accreditati... More... KY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Waivers H.B. 884 Authorizes the Kentucky Board of Education, at the request of a local school district superintendent, to waive reporting and paperwork requi... More... FL Signed into law 06/1999 P-12 Pilot Programs for Deregulated Schools S.B. 2186 Extends duration of pilot programs for deregulated public schools; authorizes additional pilot program.... More... SC Signed into law 06/1999 P-12 South Carolina Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 H.B. 4000 Enacts the South Carolina Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999; authorizes the Department of Education to grant waivers to schools ... More... WA Signed into law 05/1999 P-12 State Accountability System S.B. 5418 Declares that the accountability system should be based on continuous improvement at all levels of Washington's education system and on a fu... More... AR Signed into law 04/1999 P-12 Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 H.C.R. 1021 Requests the Arkansas legislative council to undertake a review of the education flexibility partnership Act of 1999.... More... WA Died 05/1998 P-12 H.B. 2332 Granting Waivers Identifies which laws and rules are being requested for waiver and the rationale for the request; rationale must identify how granting waive... More... ME Signed into law 04/1998 P-12 H.B. 1665 Extends existing waivers of certain requirements of student-teacher ratios; student personnel services, guidance and counseling; implementat... More... OK Died 01/1998 P-12 H.B. 2660 Deregulation Opportunities for Innovative Programs Creates the Oklahoma Quality Schools Act; states purposes of the act; revitalizes the schools thorugh the use of current deregualtion opport... More... WA Vetoed 05/1997 P-12 H.B. 1303 Academic Standards Same As S.B. 5300 Relates to education; states that school districts are provided with flexibility to determine how best to work within their communities to e... More... AZ Signed into law 04/1997 P-12 H.B. 2474 Establishment of a School Counciland Delegating Responsibilities Relates to school councils; provides that each school shall establish a school council; states that governing board may delegate to school c... More... MT Signed into law 04/1997 P-12 S.B. 71 Revision of the Duties of Elected School Officials Revises the duties of elected school officials; provides school district trustees with greater flexibility in determining pupil instruction ... More... ME Signed into law 03/1996 P-12 S.B. 634 Waivers of Education Law (Effective: 03/12/96) Extends waivers of certain provisions of the education laws. Provides relief due to budgetary hardship to school distr... More... IL Died 01/1996 P-12 H.B. 2755 Prohibits Waivers for Corporal Punishment or Sprinkler Systems Prohibits school districts from requesting waivers of any laws, rule or regulations pertaining to corporal punishment of students or the ins... More... MI Signed into law 01/1996 P-12 S.B. 679 Revision of Michigan School Code (Effective: 07/01/96) A 90 page bill that would drastically revise Michigan's School Code was introduced. Major categories of change include... More... IL Signed into law 08/1995 P-12 H.B. 2123 Improvement Plans Provides that if a school district completes school improvement plans in all applicable curriculum areas, and if in two of the last three sc... More... NC Signed into law 07/1995 P-12 H.B. 6/S.B. 99 School Flexibility and Accountability (Effective: 07/18/95) An act to grant additional management flexibility to local boards of education, to ensure that local boards of educati... More... IL Died 06/1995 P-12 Governance Governor Jim Edgar recommended the creation of "learning zones." These zones, much like enterprise zones for economic development, would enc... More... WA Signed into law 05/1995 P-12 H.B. 1224 Board of Education Granting Waivers (Effective: 05/03/95) Authorizes the board of education to grant waivers from the provisions of statutes relating to the length of the schoo... More... WA Signed into law 05/1995 P-12 H.B. 1027 Reduce State Level & School District Central Office Admin. (Effective: 05/05/95) Declares an intent to reduce state level and school district central office administration. Directs the joint select c... More... IN Signed into law 03/1995 P-12 Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 274 Freeway School Corporation Program (Effective: 07/01/95) Establishes a freeway school corporation program. Req's. the Ind. state board of ed. (upon petition of a school corpor... More... IL Signed into law 02/1995 P-12 S.B. 22 Deregulation- Waivers (Effective: 02/27/95) Amends the School Code; allows school districts to petition the State Board of Education for the waiver or modificatio... More... Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest Governance--Mandates Governance--Regional Entities Governance--School Boards Governance--School Boards--Training Governance--Site-Based Management Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies Health Health--Child Abuse Health--Mental Health Health--Nutrition Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses Health--Suicide Prevention Health--Teen Pregnancy High School High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness High School--Credit Recovery High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges High School--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements High School--International Baccalaureate Instructional Approaches Instructional Approaches--Constructivism Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Homework/Study Skills Instructional Approaches--Official English Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Instructional Approaches--Time/Time on Task Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Benchmarking Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Certification and Licensure Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Induction Programs and Mentoring Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation--Alternative Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Recruitment and Retention Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--African American Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic No Child Left Behind No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Finance No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers No Child Left Behind--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support No Child Left Behind--Special Populations No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses P-16 or P-20 P-3 P-3 Brain Development P-3 Child Care P-3 Content Standards and Assessment P-3 Data Systems P-3 Early Intervention (0-3) P-3 Ensuring Quality P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits P-3 Family Involvement P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 P-3 Health and Mental Health P-3 Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Public/Private Partnerships P-3 Special Ed./Inclusion P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development Parent/Family Parent/Family--Parent Rights Parent/Family--Research Partnerships--University/School Postsecondary Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Accountability--Licensing/Program Review and Approval Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid Postsecondary Affordability--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants Postsecondary Faculty Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Teaching Assistants Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Finance--Facilities Postsecondary Finance--Revenue and Expenditures Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Governance and Structures--Administrative/Leadership Issues Postsecondary Governance and Structures--State Executives/State Agencies Postsecondary Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary Postsecondary Institutions--Four-Year Baccalaureate Postsecondary Institutions--HBCUs/Minority-Serving Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Enrollments (Statistics) Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--International Postsecondary Students--Low-Income Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Completion--Completion Rates (Statistics) Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Privatization--Education Management Agencies (EMOs) Proficiency-Based Approaches Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Purposes of Public Education Reading/Literacy Reading/Literacy--Adult Literacy Religion Religion--Prayer/Meditation Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution) Rural Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Week Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round School Climate/Culture School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Code of Conduct School Safety--Corporal Punishment School Safety--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault School Safety--Special Education School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes School/District Structure/Operations School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation School/District Structure/Operations--District Size School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries School/District Structure/Operations--Org. (K-3/K-8 etc.) School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching) School/District Structure/Operations--School Size School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Staffing Ratios School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Special Education Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations Special Education--Finance Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming) Special Education--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Immigrant Education Special Populations--Migrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards Standards--Common Core State Standards Standards--Implementation State Comparisons/Statistics State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Ballot Questions State Policymaking--Constitutional Clauses State Policymaking--Politics State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Student Achievement--State Trends Student Supports--Counseling/Guidance Student Supports--Mentoring/Tutoring Student Supports--Remediation Student Surveys Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--Incentives Students--K-12 Exchange Students Students--Mobility Students--Records/Rights Teaching Quality Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Assignment Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Substitute Teachers Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Pay-for-Performance Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness Teaching Quality--Induction Programs and Mentoring Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals Teaching Quality--Preparation Teaching Quality--Professional Development Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force Teaching Quality--Teacher Attitudes Teaching Quality--Teacher Contracts (Not Tenure) Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining--Strikes Teaching Quality--Working Conditions Technology Technology--Computer Skills Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Internet Safety Technology--Research/Evaluation Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban Urban--Change/Improvements Urban--Governance Whole-School Reform Models Whole Child