---

From the ECS State Policy Database 1994-2013

---

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--Common Core/National Tests Assessment--Computer Based Assessment--End-of-Course Assessment--Formative/Interim Assessment--High Stakes/Competency 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--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 Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Censorship Curriculum--Computer Science 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 Data-Driven Improvement Demographics Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Economic/Workforce Development--Value of an Education 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 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 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--Teaching Across Disciplines Instructional Approaches--Time/Time on Task Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate 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 Mentoring/Tutoring 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 English Language Learners (ELL) 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 RI Signed into law 07/2013 P-12 Amends Full-Day Kindergarten Accessibility Act S. 1035A Allows school districts who request funding, to phase in the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program, provided that the district provides the department of elementary and secondary education with a schedule and plan as to the implementation of such p... More... RI Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Funding for Full-Day Kindergarten in up to Four Districts H.B. 8049 (S.B. 2534) Provides for the funding of up to four (4) districts for full-day kindergarten. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education determines which districts would receive these funds. Defines "full-day kindergarten" as a kindergarten program that operates... More... IN Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Augmentation of Appropriations for Full Day Kindergarten & Establish Commission to Study School Improvement & Teacher Evaluations H.B. 1376 Permits augmentation of appropriations for full-day kindergarten. Changes the amount distributed per child. Establishes the select commission on education to study: (1) the process of adoption and content of rules adopted by the Indiana state board of educat... More... OK Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Delays Requirement that Districts Offer Full-Day Kindergarten S.B. 260 The measure delays the requirement for the requirement for districts to provide full-day, free kindergarten until the 2013-14 school year. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2011-12%20ENR/SB/SB260%20ENR.DOC... More... OH Signed into law 11/2007 P-12 All-Day Kindergarten H.B. 190 -- Multiple Components Permits school districts that are not eligible for state payments for all-day kindergarten to charge tuition on a sliding scale for all-day kindergarten classes. Requires the Department of Education to issue an annual report on tuition charged by school distri... More... MA Issued 08/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College The Readiness Project Executive Order No. 489 Establishes the Readiness Project to develop a plan to implement fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next ten years. The project will have three chairs appointed by the Governor.  The plan will include recommenda... More... IN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Budget H.B. 1001 From Center for Evaluation & Education Policy: Appropriates money for state agencies and makes other distributions. Specifies a school funding formula. Requires a study of the efficiency and effectiveness of charter schools. Changes references from vocational ... More... MT Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Kindergarten Average Number Belonging Funding S.B. 2A (Kindergarten) Provides full-time Average Number Belonging funding for school districts that enroll students in full-time kindergarten. Provides start-up funding for districts transitioning from half-day to full-day programs. A kindergarten program must meet the state minimu... More... ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Defines full day kindergarten S.B. 2200 (kindergarten section) Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, a full day of instruction consists of: (1) At least five and one-half hours for kindergarten and elementary students, during which time the students are required to be in attendance for the purpose of receiving curricula... More... NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten Planning Grants and Desegregation Grant S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 38 Authorizes the commissioner to award grants to districts that operated half-day kindergarten programs in the 2006-2007 school year, and that will continue to operate such half-day programs in the 2007-2008 school year, to plan for conversion to full-day kinder... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Voluntary All-Day Kindergarten S.B. 5841 Provides that, beginning with the 2007-08 school year, funding for voluntary all-day kindergarten programs shall be phased-in beginning with schools with the highest poverty levels, defined as those schools with the highest percentages of students qualifying f... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Optional Extended Day Kindergarten S.B. 49 Establishes a program, administered by the State Board of Education, through which school districts and charter schools may provide voluntary extended-day kindergarten, with certain funding priorities. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/sbillint/sb0049s03.htm... More... CO Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Funding for Full-day Kindergarten S.B. 26 Authorizes a school district, upon voter approval, to impose an additional mill levy for purposes of funding the school district's excess full-day kindergarten costs. Allows the question submitted to the voters to also include a question of whether to impose a... More... KS Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten Funding S.B. 549 - Section 6, 14 Authorizes a district offering both half-day and full-day kindergarten to impose a fee for enrollment in full-day kindergarten, to cover that portion of the cost of providing full-day kindergarten not paid by the state. Clarifies that this does not require di... More... DE Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Full-day Kindergarten S.B. 251 Requires school districts by the start of the 2008- 2009 school year, to offer any kindergarten-eligible child the option of attending full-day kindergarten if the child's parent or guardian chooses; provides that if a parent wants to send his or her child for... More... CO Vetoed 03/2006 P-12 Full-day Kindergarten Funds and Policies H.B. 1005 Authorizes of additional school district revenues to fund costs associated with full-day kindergarten programs. Districts that receive voter approval for additional revenue must: use evidence-based research demonstrating the types of programs and methods appro... More... NV (H) APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. CHAPTER 3. 06/2005 P-12 Full day kindergarten H.B. 4 Authorizes the Department of Education transfer from the State Distributive School Account 2 the sum of $9,330,000 for allocation to school districts to provide full-day kindergarten during the 2005-2007 biennium. The money must be used to provide full-day kin... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten S.B. 1516 (Section 4) Deletes certain provisions from 15-901.02 referring to full-day kindergarten and the joint legislative study committee on full-day kindergarten. Requires the department to conduct a comprehensive review of the research on full-day kindergarten instruction, inc... More... OK Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005 S.B. 982 New law establishing the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005. One new section establishes the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. The purpose is to improve student mastery of the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) for sixth-grade mathematics ... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Kindergarten H.B. 2435 Requires every school district with a kindergarten program to offer half-day kindergarten programs aligned with the state board's academic standards. Requires a district that establishes a full-day kindergarten program to allow every parent of a kindergarten ... More... CO Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten for Schools Rated "Unsatisfactory" S.B. 200 (Section 5-7) Revises certain language related to funding full-day kindergarten for students in a school receiving an "unsatisfactory" rating in the state accountability system. In implementing such a full-day kindergarten program, allows a local board to contract with any ... More... CO Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten S.B. 200 (Section 15) Increases from 1,000 to 1,500 the number of children a district may apply to the department for authorization to serve through a full-day kindergarten component of the district's preschool program. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/FB3... More... LA Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Extended Kindergarten For Disadvantaged Children S.B. 301 Subject to appropriation, creates the Kindergarten Plus pilot program of classes, at least one in each of the state's eight regional service districts, of extended kindergarten for disadvantaged children from the 2005-06 through the 2007-08 school year. For p... More... DE Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Early Childhood Education Programs H.J.R. 9 Creates a task force to examine early childhood education programs; develops a plan for implementation of universal pre-kindergarten and full day kindergarten. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home!... More... MD Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten Implementation S.B. 856 Requires county boards to provide full-day kindergarten for all kindergarten students by 2007-08 school year. Each district's comprehensive master plan must identify the strategies that will be used in that county to ensure that all kindergarten students rece... More... CA Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 Kindergarten Students in a Year-Round School A.B. 764 Authorizes a pupil in a kindergarten in a school operating on a program of multitrack year-round scheduling to be kept in school on any day for 265 minutes of instruction, exclusive of recesses.... More... CO Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Full Day Kindergarten Program S.B. 91 Authorizes a pilot program for school districts to offer full day kindergarten education programs at certain schools with low academic performance; makes an appropriation in connection therewith.... More... OK Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Full-Day Kindergarten H.B. 1499--Multiple Components Every school district must provide and offer a full six-hour day of kindergarten free of tuition for every child residing in such district who attains the age of five (5) years on or before the first day of September during the school year such kindergarten is... More... NM Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Amends Full-Day Kindergarten H.B. 246 Full-day kindergarten programs shall be phased in over a five-year period as follows with priority given to those school districts that serve children in schools with the highest proportion of students most in need based upon indicators in the at-risk [factor]... More... NH Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Funding for Full-Day Kindergarten S.B. 397 Makes an appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to the Department of Education for the funding of public kindergarten programs; adjusts the Adequate Education Grant amount for the Town of Orange for the fiscal year 2000; adjusts the property tax warrant i... More... NY Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Full-day Kindergarten, Universal Prekindergarten Reserve Fund A.B. 9291 Relates to state aid for school districts; funds a workforce education program in New York City; creates the Universal Prekindergarten Reserve Fund; provides State aid for conversion to full day kindergarten; relates to administration of the School Tax Relief ... More... NM Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 Full Day Kindergarten H.B. 211 Relates to full day kindergarten programs; provides funding.... More... NJ Signed into law 01/2000 P-12 Funding for Full-Day Kindergarten A.B. 2773 Provides additional State aid to support full-day kindergarten programs in charter schools located in the Abbott districts.... More... WV Signed into law 06/1994 P-12 S.B. 1000 Formula Bill 1) Allows American Sign Language to be accepted as credited course of study in foreign language. 2) Gives counties option to start school year August 26 instead of September 1. 3) Requires full day, everyday kindergarten by 1996-97 school year. 4) Establishes ... More... 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 P-3 Technology 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--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) Remediation (K-12) Rural Scale-Up/Replication 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 Social/Emotional Learning and Non-Cognitive Skills 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 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