ECS
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--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
+ 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
CASigned into law 09/2012P-12
Community College
Notice of Layoff to Classified Employees
A.B. 1908
From bill summary: Requires that written notice be given to a classified employee of a school district or community college district subject...

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CASigned into law 09/2012P-12
Community College
Reemployed Worker Who Failes to Complete Probationary Period in New Position
A.B. 2307
From bill summary: Existing law requires that persons laid off because of lack of work or funds in a school district or community college di...

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PASigned into law 07/2012P-12Employment Pool
H.B. 1307 - Multiple Provisions
Creates professional and temporary employment pool for employees from a district where students have been reassigned to another district. Em...

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MASigned into law 06/2012P-12Teacher and Principal Evaluation Systems
S.B. 2315
Requires the State Board to establish and maintain a data system for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of district evaluation syste...

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GASigned into law 05/2012P-12Administrator Contracts, RIFs, Furlough Days
S.B. 153
Replaces reference to "principal" with reference to "administrator" in certain provisions pertaining to actions to terminate or suspend a sc...

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GASigned into law 05/2012P-12Reductions in Force
S.B. 184 - Reductions in Force
Section 2: Prohibits a local board from adopting or implementing a policy that allows length of service to be the primary or sole determinin...

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TNSigned into law 05/2012P-12Teacher Tenure
S.B. 2693
Provides that a tenured teacher dismissed because of abolition of a position shall be placed on a list for reemployment in the first vacancy...

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LASigned into law 04/2012P-12Teacher Reduction in Force and Dismissals
H.B. 974
Requires school boards to adopt policies that delegate reduction in force to local superintendents to dismiss teachers and other employees. ...

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CASigned into law 07/2011P-12Rehiring Laid-Off Teachers
A.B. 1269
Amends provisions related to rehiring of laid-off teachers. Deletes provisions requiring that reemployment be in the reverse order of layoff...

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INSigned into law 07/2011P-12Reduction in Force
S.B. 1 - Reduction in Force
From bill summary: Requires reduction in force to be based on performance. Requires that teachers subject to dismissal because of reduction ...

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MISigned into law 07/2011P-12Teacher and Administrator Evaluation/Governor's Council on Educator Effectiveness
H.B. 4627
From Legislative Staff Summary - Specifies provisions that must apply to personnel decisions concerning teachers when a school district or i...

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NHBecame law without governor's signature 07/2011P-12Regulations for Nonrenomination or Nonreelection of Teachers
S.B. 196
Amends the length of time required for a teacher to be entitled to the rights of notification and hearing for failure to be renominated or r...

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TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12Reduction in Force
S.B. 8 - Reduction in Force
Repeals provision requiring reduction in force to be made in the reverse order of seniority. Replaces with provision that reductions in forc...

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TXSigned into law 07/2011P-12Termination/Nonrenewal of Teacher Contracts
S.B. 8 - Termination/Nonrenewal of Teacher Contracts
From bill summary: Changes the deadline by which a district board of trustees is required to notify a teacher employed under a probationary ...

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ILSigned into law 06/2011P-12Seniority Should Not Be Used in Hiring Decisions
S.B. 7 - Seniority Should Not Be Used in Hiring Decisions
(Does not apply to Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as CPS already requires hiring for new and vacant positions to be based on seniority.) Spec...

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ILSigned into law 06/2011P-12Reductions in Force and Teacher Recalls
S.B. 7 - Reductions in Force and Teacher Recalls
(Does not apply to Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as CPS is already required to base layoffs on performance rather than seniority.) Makes cha...

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NVSigned into law 06/2011P-12Teacher and Administrator Evaluations and Employment
A.B. 229
Expands the requirements of the annual reports of accountability to include a reporting of the number and percentages of administrators, tea...

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OHSigned into law 06/2011P-12Seniority Removed as Decisionmaking Factor
H.B. 153 - Seniority Removed as Decisionmaking Factor
Specifies that seniority may not be the basis to retain a teacher, except when making a decision between teachers with comparable evaluation...

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FLSigned into law 03/2011P-12Workforce Reductions
S.B. 736 - Workforce Reductions
Repeals existing provisions requiring that workforce reductions be made pursuant to collective bargaining agreements, where such exist. Prov...

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IDSigned into law 03/2011P-12Renewable Contracts
S.B. 1108
Section 33-515 states that it is the intent of the legislature that after January 31, 2011, no new employment contract between a school dist...

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OHSigned into law 03/2011P-12Reductions in Force
S.B. 5 - Reductions in Force
Allows a public employer to determine the basis for selection, retention and promotion of employees, unless the public employer specifically...

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UTSigned into law 03/2011P-12Teacher Layoff and Teacher Tenure
S.B. 73
Prohibits districts from using a last-hired-first-fired layoff policy when terminating school district employees. Permits a district to cons...

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NYEmergency Rule Adoption 05/2010P-12Teacher Certification
Title 8 NYCRR Section 80-4.3
From administrative register: The purpose of the proposed amendment is to provide flexibility from the current teacher certification require...

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AZSigned into law 08/2009P-12Teacher employment
H.B. 2011--Section 14
Section 14. H--Notwithstanding any other law, a school district or charter school shall not adopt policies that provide employment retention...

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WAAdopted 07/2009P-12Teacher RIF
WAC 181-79A-250
Stipulates that, given current budget constraints, teachers who are unemployed or subject to reduction- in-force are granted an additional t...

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ORRejected by voters 08/2008P-12Teaching Quality Requirements & Pay
Ballot Measure 60
Enacts the Kids First Act; requires that pay raises for public school teachers shall be based upon each teacher's classroom performance and ...

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TNSigned into law 02/2008P-12Reduction in Number of Teachers
S.B. 2629
Present law allows a local board of education to dismiss any teacher if it becomes necessary to reduce the number of teaching positions due ...

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ILSigned into law 08/2007P-12Educational Support Personnel Employees
S.B. 1560
Relates to a section concerning educational support personnel employees. Provides that if the hours the employee works are reduced for certa...

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NYVetoed 08/2007P-12Service Credit for Laid-Off Teachers
A.B. 8445
Allows former members of the New York city teachers' retirement system who were suspended because of fiscal measures taken by New York city ...

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INSigned into law 04/2007P-12Nonrenewal of a Teacher's Contract
H.B. 1489
Allows a nonpermanent teacher ten days to request a conference with the governing body after receiving a notice of nonrenewal of the teacher...

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IDSigned into law 03/2007P-12District Consolidation
S.B. 1067
Revises school district consolidation plan requirements; provides for payment of costs for feasibility studies and plans per school district...

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LASigned into law 12/2005P-12Retirement Benefits
H.B. 18A
Allows a member of any state or statewide public retirement system on involuntary furlough or leave without pay due to a gubernatorially dec...

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ARSigned into law 04/2005P-12School Districts
S.B. 1042
Requires school districts to have a reduction in force policy in each school district based upon objective criteria for a layoff and recall ...

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VASigned into law 02/2001P-12Reduction in Force Notification
H.B. 1983
Directs any school board in a county having the urban county executive form of government to notify by May 15 those teachers who may be subj...

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+ 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