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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--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 OK Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Character Education H.B. 2052 Modifies grades in which character education programs may be offered (any single grade. combination of grades, or prekindergarten). Subject to funding, the state board may award grants to align character education with the state curriculum in reading, mathemat... More... VA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Character Education Program H.B. 1179 Provides that a school board, either within its existing programs or as a separate program, may provide its character education program during the regular school year, during the summer in a youth development academy offered by the school division, or both. Th... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Community Services S.B. 96 Encouraging a student who receives a Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship to volunteer at least 20 hours of community service per year.... More... NV Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Citizenship S.B. 237 Provides for the creation of a nonprofit corporation, with a Board of Directors appointed by the Legislative Commission, to provide educational programs and opportunities and administer and oversee the activities of the Youth Legislature. Provides for a acount... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Curriculum Standards for US and State Government H.B. 1625 Requires the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review the current elementary and secondary curriculum standards for the subject of United States and Tennessee government. - Amends TCA Title 49. http://state.tn.us/so... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Review of Civics Education Curriculum Standards S.B. 1483 Directs the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review the curriculum standards for civics education to determine whether the course of instruction in all public schools is designed to effectively and rigorously educa... More... IL Adopted 05/2011 P-12 Illinois Democracy Schools S.R. 149 Commends the efforts of those schools that have already taken the necessary steps to become Illinois Democracy Schools; encourages all secondary schools in the state to take the necessary steps to become Illinois Democracy Schools, and resolves that each schoo... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Character Education S.B. 1055 Authorizes the Arizona Department of Education to annually retain 7% of the program's state matching grant funds for administrative purposes. Chapter 223 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/sb1055s.pdf... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 Finance H.B. 2301 Removes the statutory restrictions on the use of Soft Capitol Allocation (SCA) monies. Allows, as session law, 50% of unemnumbered ECA credits to be spent for short term capital items such as technology, textbooks, library resources, instructional aids, pupil ... More... KY Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Voting Information for 12th Grade Students H.B. 192 Requires secondary schools to provide information to 12th grade students on how to register to vote, vote in an election using a ballot, and vote using an absentee ballot. Permits a school to provide this information through classroom activities, written mater... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Civic and Character Education H.B. 269 Directs each school district and the state charter school board to submit to the lieutenant governor and the commission on civic and character education a report summarizing how civic and character education are achieved in the district or charter schools thro... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Character and Civic Education H.B. 327 Directs the state board of education to annually report to the education interim committee the methods used and the results being achieved to instruct and prepare students to become informed and responsible citizens through an integrated character and civic ed... More... VA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Commission on Civics Education S.B. 1054 Clarifies that the Commission on Civics Education will continue until July 1, 2012, if the Commission is funded by a separate appropriation in the general appropriation act or funded with nongeneral funds or donations to sustain its work. http://lis.virginia.g... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Student Voter Registration H.B. 2668 AN ACT requiring universities and community colleges to adopt a plan to increase student voter registration and voting in elections. http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/s.2668ed_revised.doc.htm... More... NY Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Students as Election Inspectors or Poll Clerks A.B. 4467 Permits students age 17 and older, with parental consent, to serve as election inspectors or poll clerks at elections. Requires that such students, if so serving while school is in session, be recorded as in attendance. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default... More... HI Adopted 04/2010 P-12 Integration of a Pedagogy of Aloha H.C.R. 167-10 Requesting the board of education to adopt a policy for the integration of a pedagogy of aloha (the Hawaiian cultural principle that entails the love of self, family and the wider community) in public schools for improved learning in the 21st century. http://w... More... TN Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Course of Instruction that Includes U.S. Government S.B. 3432 As enacted, urges civics class be taught in high school. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB3432.pdf... More... VA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Civics Education S.B. 715 Requires the Board of Education to promulgate regulations to require all education preparation programs for teachers in history and social sciences, elementary education pre K-6, and middle education 6-8 to include local government and civics instruction speci... More... VA Issued 03/2010 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishing the Governor's Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service E.O. 20 Establishes Governor's Advisory Board on Volunteerism and National Service. The Board will comply with the provisions of the National and Community Services Trust Act of 1993 and to advise the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries on matters related to promotion an... More... CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Excused Absence to Participate in Civic Engagement Activities A.B. 796 Amends existing law that authorizes a pupil to be excused from school for specified reasons. Includes civic engagement activities offered by a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity among the types of absences that are excused. Provides a pupil may no... More... CA Signed into law 09/2009 P-12 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day A.B. 717 Requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages schools to conduct exercises on that date each year to recognize the contributions of those involved in the conflict. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pu... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Congressional Medal of Honor Film S.B. 1675 Provides that each school district must require all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled in a course concerning U.S. history or a combination of U.S. history and American government to view the Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 1 - Section 3313.602 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Prohibits school districts from preventing a teacher from having students recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the teacher's classroom. Prohibits school districts from altering the Pledge of Allegiance from the wording set forth in th... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Citizenship S.B. 374 Establishes Oregon Civics Day for Teachers on first Friday in December; urges school districts to encourage teachers to participate in professional development opportunities focused on civics; declares emergency, effective July 1, 2009. Chapter 419 http://www.... More... OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Citizenship H.B. 3473 Directs school districts that include a public high school to adopt plans to encourage students to register to vote and to vote in elections; requires the State Board of Education to incorporate voter registration skills into Essential Learning Skills. Chapter... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Student Election Clerks S.B. 1134 Allows certain high school students to serve as election clerks. Provides an excused absence for such service. Adds new section 33.092 allowing a student election clerk to apply such time served toward a school service requirement or school project requirement... More... AL Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Student Harassment (Bullying) and Suicide Prevention H.B. 216 Effective October 1, 2009. Establishes the Student Harassment Prevention Act. Requires local boards to adopt policies by July 2010 to prevent student harassment and suicide. Includes written and electronic acts motivated by a student characteristic in the defi... More... NV Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Citizenship Education S.B. 161 Changes the name of the Youth Legislative Issues Forum to the Youth Legislature; revising the appointment process and eligibility requirements for the members; expands the eligibility requirements to authorize a pupil to apply not only to the Senator of the di... More... WA Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Youth Advisory Council S.B. 5229 Eliminates the expiration of the legislative youth advisory council; provides that the council's duties are contingent on available funding. Chapter 410 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202009/5229-S.SL.pdf... More... OK Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Founding Documents; Religious Materials H.B. 1756 Directs each school district to adopt a policy, with grade-level-appropriate instructional levels, that assures that all students are encouraged, and have the opportunity, to read and study the founding documents of America that are pertinent to understanding ... More... VA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Membership of the Commission on Civics Education S.B. 1453 Adds one nonlegislative citizen member, who must be a student that has successfully completed the civics curriculum in his school division, to the membership of the Commission; extends the Commission. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+SB1453E... More... WA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Civics Education H.B. 2132 Regards instruction in civics; requires the state board of education, if the board increases the number of course credits in social studies that are required for high school graduation, to also require that at least one-half credit of that requirement be cours... More... CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 civic education S.B. 1274 Requires that, when pupils are instructed with regard to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as part of patriotic exercises, the school provide a combination of the giving of the pledge and the instruction describe... More... IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Commission on Children and Youth H.B. 4456 Creates the Commission on Children and Youth Act. Provides for membership, appointments, goals, recommendations, and reports. Provides that the Early Learning Council must have primary responsibility for development of a five-year strategic plan for children a... More... RI Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Juniors and Seniors as Election Officials H.B. 7833 Allows high school juniors and seniors to be appointed as election officials. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law08/law08231.htm... More... TN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Instruction on Nonviolence H.B. 2790 Urges all public schools to provide instruction on nonviolence as means to conflict resolution as part of character education curriculum. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB2790.pdf... More... MD Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Student Voting Rights H.B. 1258 Declares the intent of the General Assembly that teachers of Baltimore City public high school students inform students about the federal, State, and Baltimore City election processes and the importance of exercising the right to vote and registering to vote. ... More... OK Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 H.B. 2229 Amends existing law which requires public school districts to include instruction concerning the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution during Celebrate Freedom Week; requires the instruction to be grade appropriate; requires inclusion ... More... UT Adopted 03/2008 P-12 Standards for School District Discipline Plans R277-609 Provides that all charter schools (and schools if district does not have districtwide plan) must develop a school-wide written model for prevention and intervention for student behavior management and discipline procedures for students who habitually disrupt s... More... UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Registering High School Seniors to Vote S.B. 125 Modifies the Election Code by amending certain provisions for registering high school seniors to vote. http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/sbillenr/sb0125.pdf... More... IL Signed into law 11/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Election Judges and Election Day S.B. 662 Amends the Election Code. Allows high school juniors to serve as election judges. Allows an individual not entitled to vote in a precinct or county to serve as an election judge if the individual is a student at a community college or public or private Illinoi... More... LA Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Business Manager and Constitution Day LAC 28:CXV.503, 2305 Amends sections of Bulletin 741 - Handbook for School Administrators. 503: Adds business manager to the list of certified personnel a district is required to hire. This addition was required by a new state statute. 2305: Requires schools to have an educatio... More... MA To governor 11/2007 P-12 Commonwealth Corps S.B. 2301 Establishes the Commonwealth Corps; provides for volunteer community service; creates a pilot program for the Commonwealth Student Corps. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st02/st02301.htm... More... CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Citizenship education A.B. 466 Authorizes service by a pupil as a member of a precinct board for an election to be independent study. Exempts that pupil from the requirement that the pupil participate in the activity for 5 or more consecutive schooldays if, among other things, the pupil is ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2007 P-12 Citizenship A.B. 183 Requires each school district with at least one high school to report the voter registration efforts described in provisions of existing law and to publish those efforts prominently and annually on the Internet Web sites of its high schools and in parent newsl... More... IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Civic Education Advancement H.B. 2787 Provides that funding for civic education professional development for high school teachers must be provided by line item appropriation made to the state board of education. Provides for funding based on high school enrollment as reported on the state board of... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Student Voting S.B. 951 Directs community colleges and state institutions of higher education to adopt plans to encourage students to register to vote and to vote in elections; requires that students receive information about activities related to voting that are prohibited by law an... More... OR Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Task Force on Civics and Financial Education H.B. 2584 Creates a Task Force on Civics and Financial Education to study and make recommendations about how to increase and improve civics and financial education in kindergarten through grade 12 public schools. http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measpdf/hb2500.dir/hb258... More... CT Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Democracy Education in Elementary Schools H.B. 7017 Concerns democracy education in elementary schools; requires students in the fourth or fifth grade to take part in a program of participatory democracy. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00138-R00HB-07017-PA.pdf... More... LA Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Legislative Youth Advisory Council S.B. 46 Establishes the Legislative Youth Advisory Council as an initiative under the administration of the state commission on civic education. Provides that the purpose of the council is to examine and facilitate communication between youth and the legislature on is... More... NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Excused Absences for Pages H.B. 1464 Directs the board of education to adopt rules providing for excused absences from school for legislative and governor's pages. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H1464v0.html... More... KS Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Bullying Prevention and Character Education S.B. 68 (Section 4) Defines "bullying." Directs each local board, by January 2008, to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school- sponsored activity or event. Also directs each local board to adopt a plan to address bullying; requir... More... NV Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum S.B. 247 Create the Nevada Youth Legislative Issues Forum, consisting of 21 members who are enrolled in grades 9-12. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Forum. The Forum must hold at least two public hearings each school year, review issues of importance to the you... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Character Education, Charter Schools H.B. 2204 Concerns the Character Education Office; makes an appropriation; relates to public and charter schools. Changes administration of the program from the Northern Arizona University to the Department of Education and stipulates procedure for disbursement of the g... More... CO Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Display of Flags in Education and Other Institutions H.B. 1050 Concerns the display of flags. Allows display of flags from countries other than the U.S. or the state of Colorado under particular circumstances, including for educational, cultural or historical purposes with the prior permission of the chief administrative ... More... IA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Students as Precinct Election Board Members H.F. 618 Allows a county commissioner of elections to appoint high school students in good standing to serve as precinct election board members. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=BillInfo&Service=Billbook&ga=82&hbill=HF618... More... MD Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Commission on Civic Literacy S.B. 492 Establishes a Commission on Civic Literacy; requires the Commission to elect specified officers from among its members; requires the State Department of Education to provide staff and specified other support to the Commission; prohibits a member of the Commiss... More... NH Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Civics and Economics Assessments H.B. 167 Adds civics and economics to the required areas of assessment in the statewide improvement and assessment program. Specifies that the assessment will be conducted in grades 3rd-8th and one grade in high school. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Legislative Yourth Advisory Council H.B. 1052 Adds a new section acknowledging the importance of the legislative youth advisory council. Amends prior legislative appointment process to allow students to apply to be considered for participation in the program by completing an online application form and su... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Geography, Government Education S.B. 1172 Amends several pieces of required instruction; changes from United States history, geography, and government to 1) geography; 2) government; and 3) North Dakota studies, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of this state, in the fourth a... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Veterans Day Commemoration H.B. 2601 Requires the Board of Education to make available to local school divisions information regarding the commemoration of Veterans Day in public schools. hhttp://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2601ER... More... VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Commemoration of George Washington's Birthday H.B. 2837 Requires the Department of Education to make information available to local school divisions regarding the commemoration of George Washington's birthday in the public schools. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB2837ER... More... WV Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Dec. 7, 1941 Day of Remembrance S.C.R. 51 Requests the Governor issue a proclamation on December 7th of each year declaring a State Day of Remembrance honoring all West Virginia patriots of World War II and encouraging all political subdivisions and state school districts to pay proper tribute in its ... More... NJ Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Gang Violence Instruction A.B. 1650; S.B. 1749 Requires boards of education to offer elementary school students instruction in gang violence prevention. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp... More... UT PREFILED 12/2006 P-12 Civic Education S.C.R. 2 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for civic education and Utah's Legislators Back to School Program. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2007/bills/sbillint/scr002.pdf... More... CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Content of Textbooks and Student Characteristics S.B. 1437 Relates to existing law which prohibits instruction or school sponsored activities and the adopting of textbooks or other instructional materials that contain any matter that reflects adversely upon specified persons. Revises the list of characteristics includ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Tolerance Education Pilot Program A.B. 1056 Establishes the Tolerance Education Pilot Program to promote instruction to public schools on tolerance and intergroup relations as part of the instruction in the history/social science content standards. Requires the Department of Education to select 10 schoo... More... NC Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Importance of Memorial Day H.B. 836 Directs the state board of education to develop programs for use in schools on the meaning and importance of memorial day. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/House/HTML/H836v5.html... More... NC Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Display of U.S. and North Carolina Flag S.B. 700 Directs local boards of education, charter schools, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and the North Carolina school of science and mathematics to require the display of the united states and North Carolina flags and to require recitation of the pledge of ... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Postsec. Display of Flag in Classrooms H.B. 2583 School districts and charter schools must display United States flag in each classroom and upon or new the outside of the school during school hours. For grades 7-12, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights must be placed adjacent to each... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Civic Education Commission H.B. 2788 Concerns the State Commission on Civic Education and Civic Engagement; relates to membership and duties; provides a repeal of the termination date. http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/47leg/2r/bills/hb2788h.pdf... More... ME Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Task Force on Citizenship Education H.B. 1504; LD2112 Reestablishes the Task Force on Citizenship Education and extends a reporting deadline; provides that the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters may report out legislation based on the report to the First Regular... More... MN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Character Education H.B. 4162 Creates a pilot program to allow school districts to receive character development education revenue to purchase curriculum for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.232. Character development education revenue for school districts equals $30 times ... More... TN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Civic Education Commission S.B. 2586 Establishes a commission on civic education. The commission is will: (1) Research the current policies and practices in civic education at the state and local level; and (2) Recommend to the governor, the education committee of the senate and the education com... More... VT Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Civics Education H.B. 867 - Section 29 Directs the commissioner of education to convene a council on civics education to strengthen civics education opportunities for all Vermonters. Directs the council to: (1)  continually assess the status of civics education in Vermont schools at all education... More... WI Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 High School Poll Workers Act. No. 451 Eliminates the minimum grade point average requirement for poll workers who are high school students. Authorizes school boards to develop criteria for approving students to serve as poll workers. Also modifies the term of service of a high school pupil appoin... More... IA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Iowa Studies S.B. 2320 Requires the department of cultural affairs to develop an Iowa studies professional development plan that includes professional development materials and training measures to provide teachers in the state with effective ways to infuse Iowa studies into their c... More... IL Adopted 04/2006 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements 23 IAC 1.440 Changes reference to "career education" to "career and technical education." Clarifies differences between courses high schools must offer, courses students must take, and courses students must pass to graduate. Clarifies that all high school students must t... More... KY Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 U.S. Constitution, Democratic Processes and Civic Engagement H.J.R. 145 Directs the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Board of Education, and others to examine the current level of skills and knowledge of Kentucky students relating to the U.S. Constitution and democratic processes. Requires these entities to examine... More... KY Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Veterans Day Programs S.B. 47 Requires all public schools to hold Veterans Day programs. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/RECORD/06RS/SB47/bill.doc... More... MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Postsec. Civic Literacy Summit S.B. 47 Establishes the Task Force to Convene a Summit on Civic Literacy in Maryland; provides for the composition, powers, and duties of the Task Force; requires the State Department of Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission to provide staffing for th... More... MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Positive Behavior Programs in Elementary Schools H.B. 1495 Alters the standard by which a county board of education and the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore City shall require specified elementary schools to implement a positive behavioral interventions and support program or a specified alternative program.... More... UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Commission on Civic and Character Education H.B. 339 Creates the Commission on Civic and Character Education within the Lieutenant Governor's office; establishes the duties of the commission to promote and ensure implementation of the provisions of existing law related to civic and character education; provides ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Civic Education H.C.R. 2 Expresses support for civic education and Utah's Legislators Back to School Program; emphasizes the importance of legislators promoting greater understanding of the legislative process and building public trust and confidence in representative democracy throug... More... WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Civic Education and Assessment H.B. 2579 Finds that instruction in social studies, arts, health, and fitness is important to ensure a well-rounded and complete education. In particular, the civic mission of schools is strengthened and enhanced by comprehensive civics education and assessments. The le... More... WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Study on Quality Environmental Education H.B. 2910 Directs the office of superintendent of public instruction to conduct an environmental education study in partnership with public and private entities invested in strategies to reach every student, family, and community with quality environmental education exp... More... CA Vetoed 09/2005 P-12 Curriculum and Tolerance Instruction H.B. 723 Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide academically rigorous content standards in core curriculum areas, and requires the board to review and modify existing curriculum frameworks where appropriate to bring them into alignment wi... More... IL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Character Education H.B. 1336 Amends the School Code. Requires teachers to teach students character education, which includes the teaching of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, and citizenship in order to raise pupils' honesty and kindness, justice, discipline, res... More... MN Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Character education H.F. 141 - Multiple Components The legislature encourages districts to integrate or offer instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, for... More... RI Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Civics Education H.B. 5748 The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary a... More... LA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Louisiana Commission on Civic Education S.B. 39 AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S. 24:971(B)(1), 972(A)(18), (B) and (C), and 973(A)(1)(introductory paragraph), and to enact R.S. 24:972(A)(23) and 973(B), relative to the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. Expands commission's purpose to include educatin... More... RI Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Civics Education Standards S.B. 864 Directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than August 31, 2007. These standards are to include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of R... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Constitutional Commemoration Committee H.B. 2426 Mandates that the constitutional commemoration committee collaborate and cooperate with public, private and nonprofit entities to promote public understanding of the amendments to the U.S. constitution, including those that made advancements in civil rights an... More... IN Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Display of Flag, Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 332 Requires a United States flag to be displayed in each classroom of a school corporation. Requires a school corporation to provide a daily opportunity for students to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Provides an exemption for students who choose (or... More... OK Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Character Education H.B. 1704 Amends 70 O.S. 2001, Section 1210.229- 6, which relates to character education programs. Requries school districts to develop and implement character education programs; directs the state board to develop and provide certain services through an Internet web si... More... SC Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Postsec. Community College South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act H.B. 3155 Adds a new chapter (59) establishing the South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act. Provides for the development of a curriculum organized around a career cluster system that must provide students with both strong academics and real-world problem s... More... CO Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Teaching of History, Culture and Civil Government S.B. 200 (Section 14) Requires the department to help districts develop and promote elementary- and secondary-level programs addressing the state model content standards for civics and promoting best practices in civic education. Authorizes these activities to be funded through the... More... NM Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Civics/Government Education Fund H.B. 268 Creates a New Mexico Government Education Fund to be administered by the department. Money in the fund is appropriated to the department to contract for annual, weeklong, high school civics courses focusing on New Mexico state government for boys and girls to ... More... UT Adopted 03/2005 P-12 Understanding of Legislative Process H.C.R. 6 Concurrent resolution emphasizes the importance of legislators promoting greater understanding of the legislative process and building public trust and confidence in representative democracy through civic education; recognizes Utah's high level of participatio... More... UT Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Golden Rule Project S.C.R. 6 This resolution recognizes the practice and promotion of the Golden Rule as a commitment for the common good; and expresses a shared sense of duty to support and practice the Golden Rule and urges all Utahns to live by it. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2005/bills... More... VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 School Boards' Policies on Bullying H.B. 2266 Directs the state board to include bullying in its standards for school board policies on student conduct and requires school boards to include (i) instruction on the inappropriateness of bullying in their character education programs and (ii) bullying provisi... More... VA Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Commission on Civics Education H.B. 1769 Creates the 23-member Commission on Civics Education, comprised of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislators, executive branch officials, and citizens. The Commission is to, among other things, (i) identify civic education projects in the Commonwealth and... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Pupil Attendance: Precinct Board Membership A.B. 1944 Deems, for purposes of computing the average daily attendance generated by a pupil enrolled in a history or social science course required by a school district as a condition of receipt of a high school diploma, a pupil serving as a member of a precinct board ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Historical Documents in Curriculum A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to ensure that specified historical documents are incorporated into the framework when the history-social science framework is revised. These documents are: (1) The Declaration of Indepe... More... LA Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Civic Education S.B. 11 Establishes the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education. Establishes that the commission must: (1) Develop and coordinate outreach programs in collaboration with schools to educate students on the importance of understanding specific principles of democracy; ... More... RI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 07/2004 P-12 Civic Education Commission H.B. 7990 Adds seven (7) new members to the civic education commission (from 17 to 24). ... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 License Plates for Character Education H.B. 2206 Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to issue character education special license plates if the Department of Education (DOE) pays $32,000 by January 1, 2005; provides for allocation of monies through a private nonprofit foundation; provide... More... AZ Issued 06/2004 P-12 Establishing the Arizona Statewide Youth Development Task Force Executive Order 2004-14 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 ... More... TN Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Model Character Education H.B. 3456 Requires the department of education to institute a program to recognize those schools that have developed model instructional methods and administrative policies for the delivery of character education and provide professional development opportunities for th... More... FL Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Carey Baker Freedom Flag Act H.B. 1757 Relates to Carey Baker Freedom Flag Act; requires a flag of the U.S. to be displayed in each classroom in public K-20 educational institutions; provides for procurement of the flags. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=... More... IA Vetoed 05/2004 P-12 Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust Fund H.F. 2577 Relates to and making appropriations from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund and providing an effective date; provides for high school mentors to teach life skills, violence prevention and character education in an effort to... More... ME Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Citizenship Education H.P. 1417 (Resolution)Proposes to implement the recommendations of the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education; includes the recommendations of the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education related to implications for ... More... OK Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum H.B. 2477 Part of this bill adds a new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24-106.1 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Principals and teachers in each public elementary and secondary school of... More... KY Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Civic Education Program S.J.R. 80 Urges the establishment of a committee to evaluate existing school civic literacy programs, determine a strategy for enhancing long-term civic engagement and literacy, and recommend a plan for improving civic engagement and literacy before the 2005 regular ses... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Green schools program S.B. 315 Green schools program; education programs to promote waste reduction and resource efficiency. Authorizes the state board to assist local school boards in the development and implementation of programs of instruction that comply with the provisions of Standard ... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Character Education and Standards of Learning H.B. 1014 Deletes language requiring the Standards of Learning to include the development of personal qualities such as self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+CHAP0955... More... CO Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Recitation of Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 1002 Amends the Pledge of Allegiance statute to make the statute constitutional as required by the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in the 1992 decision of Sherman v Community Consolidated School District 21 of Wheeling Township;provides an opportunity for element... More... UT Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Civic and Character Education H.B. 22 Provides legislative recognition of the fundamental civic purpose and constitutional responsibility of public education; requires Civic and Character Education to be taught through an integrated curriculum in connection with regular school work; consolidates r... More... CA Signed into law 10/2003 P-12 Postsec. Community College Voter Registration A.B. 593 Requires the Secretary of State to provide voter registration forms and information to students in all high schools, community colleges, and campuses of the University of California and California State University. Provides that a voter's name would be deleted... More... IL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Minor Voting Program H.B. 30 Requires the State Board of Elections and State Board of Education to jointly develop a program for K-12 students in participating school districts in participating counties to vote in a simulated election conducted at actual polling places with volunteers and... More... AL Issued 06/2003 P-12 Civics and American History Education Executive Order 2003-08 Designates the American Village Citizenship Trust Statewide Educational Center and Classroom Laboratory in American History, Civics, and Government, as created by §16-44A-30 as the state's American History and Civics Initiative. Creates and charges the America... More... CO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 The Pledge of Allegiance Daily Recitation H.B. 1368 Creates a requirement for the daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance in each public school in the state. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/92F78D48B9E0622D87256D09006210EF?Open&file=1368_enr.pdf... More... CO Passed 06/2003 Postsec. Civic Education H.J.R. 1027 Concerns the importance of history and civic education at the college level. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/DC1C87A2F74B970D87256CBC0064C346?Open&file=HJR1027_enr.pdf... More... CT Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Student Voter Registration S.B. 646 Establishes an official state-wide student voter registration drive; encourages students to learn about civics and participate in the democratic process. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=646&which_year=20... More... CT Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Service by Students as Poll Workers S.B. 647 Encourages student to participate in the election process by serving as poll workers. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00108-R00SB-00647-PA.htm... More... ME Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Legislative Youth Advisory Council H.P. 557 Implements the recommendations of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Increases the council membership from 21 to 22, increasing appointments by senate president from 10 to 11, thereby increasing from one to two the appointees who are senate members. Estab... More... ME Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Citizenship Education H.P. 333 (House Resolve) Establishes the Commission to Study the Scope and Quality of Citizenship Education. Commission is to be comprised of three senate members, three house members, and 10 governor appointees representing different levels of the education community.... More... MO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Observance of Veterans Day S.B. 325 Requires every school to devote a period of time equal to one class period to an observance that conveys the meaning and significance of Veterans Day. Requires such observance to take place on or as close as possible to Veterans Day. Requires the local board, ... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Character Education Program Funding H.B. 549 (omnibus bill) Eliminates language allowing schools to use phase III funds to establish character education programs. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/cgi-bin/Legislation/File_only.pl?FILE=/usr/ns-home/docs/GA/80GA/Legislation/HF/00500/HF00549/030508.html... More... IA Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund H.F. 685 Makes appropriation from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund for various initiatives, including for a $400,000 grant to a program that utilizes high school mentors to teach life skills, violence prevention, and character educ... More... MN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance S.F. 287 Effective 2003-04 school year and thereafter, requires recitation of the pledge of allegiance in all public schools, including charter schools, at least once a week. Allows a local board or charter school board of directors to waive this requirement by annual ... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Public Education Objectives H.B. 319 Added a new objective to the list of objectives of public education. OBJECTIVE 5: Educators will prepare students to be thoughtful, active citizens who have an appreciation for the basic values of our state and national heritage and who can understand and pro... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Observance of One Minute of Silence S.B. 83 Requires the board of trustees of each school district to provide for the observance of one minute of silence during each school day at each school in the district. Also requires local boards to require require students, once during each school day at each sc... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Postsec. United States National Motto Display in Schools H.B. 219 Relates to the display of the United States national motto in public elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Virtues Education Program H.C.R. 73 Directs the Texas Education Agency and the state board to adopt and promote a virtues education program and to provide school districts with materials and support to assist in the program's implementation; and that the virtues education program include age-app... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 The Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 2388 Requires the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by all public school students. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2388.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 04/2003 Postsec. College Students to Participate as Poll Workers H.B. 1487 Creates a program for college students to participate in the election process as poll workers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1487.pdf... More... CO Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Government course graduation requirement S.B. 36 Makes satisfactory completion of a course on federal and state civil government a requirement of high school graduation in the state; directs each school district board to convene a community forum periodically to discuss adopted standards in civics and gradua... More... IA Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Service Learning, Character Education H.F. 180 Local boards or heads of a nonpublic school may require service learning units for a service learning endorsement on a high school diploma or as a condition of graduation (in Iowa, all high school graduation requirements are determined at the district level). ... More... AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Establishes Freedom Week H.B. 2756 Creates Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools on the last full week of classes in September. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2756.pdf... More... AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 American Historical Documents S.B. 57 Requires public school districts to allow and encourage teachers to read or display documents of American or state history. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/SB57.pdf... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Veterans Day H.B. 303 Requires all public high schools to observe Veterans Day as established in this section. Requires a class period on Veterans Day or on one of the five school days before Veterans Day to be devoted to observance of Veterans Day; observance requires students to ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Character and Citizenship Education H.C.R. 7 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's public elementary and secondary schools to promote character and citizenship education through an emphasis on teaching civic responsibility and respect for others. http://www.le.state... More... UT Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance in Public Schools S.B. 105 The pledge of allegiance to the flag must be recited at the beginning of the day in each elementary public school and once a week at the beginning of a school day in each public secondary school in the state. http://bb.utahsenate.org/perl/bb/bb_find.pl... More... VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 High School Diploma Civics Education Seal H.B. 1503 Directs the state board to establish criteria for awarding a diploma seal for excellence in civics education and understanding of the state and federal Constitutions and the democratic model of government for the standard and advanced studies diplomas.... More... VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Posting of First Amendment in Public Schools H.B. 2140 Amends the two uncodified Acts of Assembly requiring the posting of the National Motto in public schools to add the required posting of the text to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, along with the statement, The First Amendment to t... More... VA Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Virginia Statement of Values H.B. 1498 Modifies the current character education requirement to require instruction in what is designated as the Virginia Statement of Values; requires school boards to provide for the posting of the Virginia Statement of Values in each public school classroom in whic... More... AR Signed into law 02/2003 P-12 Election Process and High School Students H.B. 1028 Creates a program for high school students to participate in the election process as poll workers. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1028.pdf... More... PA Signed into law 12/2002 P-12 Display of the Flag H.B. 592 Requires boards of directors to ensure that schools to display the U.S. flag (private, parochial and public schools). The flag must be displayed in every classroom, and schools must provide for the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anth... More... UT Adopted 09/2002 P-12 Patriotic Education R277-475 Requires Utah public schools to display the United States national motto, consistent with state law. UTAH REG 25218 (SN)... More... IL Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 High School Recitation of Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 1634 Requires the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited each school day by pupils in elementary and secondary educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. (Statute previously required only elementary school pupils to recite th... More... TN Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 2599 Each board of education shall require the daily recitation of the pledge of allegiance in each classroom in the school system in which a flag is displayed. Each district is encouraged to have a flag in each classroom and patriotic, fraternal, and other organiz... More... CT Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Bullying and Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 5425 Requires local and regional boards to establish policies addressing bullying in the schools. Policies must include components set out in legislation, including a system enabling students to anonymously report acts of bullying to teachers and school administrat... More... MO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 718 Requires every public school to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance is recited at least once a week in every student's class. Students are not required to participate.... More... FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Education Code Re-Write: Character Education Expanded; Patriotism and Citizenship Education S.B. 20E Expands mandate to teach character education from elementary grades to K-12. Requires districts to develop curriculum, to be submitted to the department for approval, that "[stresses] the qualities of patriotism, responsibility, citizenship, kindess, respect,... More... MD Joint Resolution No. 05/2002 P-12 Instruction to Encourage Patriotism Urged H.J.R. 9 Urges local boards in Maryland to introduce instruction to encourage patriotism by including curriculum on or before Veterans' Day or Memorial Day designed to instill a sense of patriotism and an awareness of the great sacrifices made by veterans of the United... More... MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Instruction to Instill Patriotism S.J.R. 2 Urges the boards of education in the state to introduce instruction to instill patriotism by developing and instituting curriculum on or before Veterans Day and Memorial Day regarding the sacrifices made by veterans in serving our country to defend and promote... More... MN Vetoed 05/2002 P-12 Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and Instruction in Civics Education and Flag Etiquette H.B. 2598 Requires recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance one or more times each week in all public and charter schools. Requires all public and charter schools to annually devote time to civics education that includes the history and reasons for reciting the pledge. R... More... NH Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 1446 Establishes the New Hampshire School Patriot Act which requires that school districts authorize a period of time during the school day for the recitation of the pledge of allegiance. Pupil participation in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance shall be vo... More... NH Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Civic Education H.B. 1151 Establishes a commission to examine the status of public school curriculum requirements in civic education.... More... OH Eligible for GOVERNOR'S desk. 05/2002 P-12 Character Education H.C.R. 28 Urges citizens and civic and community leaders of Ohio to vigorously maintain and encourage positive leadership and youth character qualities; designates Ohio as a State of Character, and requests the Congress of the United States to take action upon legislati... More... AL Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Youth in Government Program H.B. 162 Appropriates a certain amount from the Education Trust Fund to the Law Institute for the support and maintenance for a program promoting youth in Government; provides that the appropriation is subject to certain provisions of the Code of Alabama 1975. http://a... More... CO Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Display of U.S. Flag in Public Schools S.B. 38 Requires all public and charter schools to permanently and prominently display the U.S. flag in every academic classroom while class is in session, and to do so in keeping with federal statutes. Flag must meet size regulations established in bill. Forbids the ... More... FL Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Recitation of Declaration of Independence and Celebrate Freedom Week H.B. 885 Relates to recitation of the Declaration of Independence; requires Celebrate Freedom Week to be recognized in the public schools each September; requires a potion of the Declaration of Independence to be recited daily by students during that week.... More... IA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Districts Encouraged to Implement Character Education Programs H.B. 2454 Encourages school districts to establish character education programs and directing the department of education to partner with local educational institutions and agencies and nonprofit organizations in the design and implementation of character education prog... More... KY Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Election Officers and Excused Absence for Election Day Served H.B. 251 Provides that minors who are seventeen years old and who will become eighteen years old on or before the day of the regular election may serve as an election officer for the primary and general election in which he or she is qualified to vote; provides that st... More... MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Student Interns to Assist During Elections S.B. 2383 Authorizes the appointment of student interns to assist at precincts during elections; creates the crime of multiple voting; provides for penalties. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2002/html/SB/2300-2399/SB2383SG.htm... More... OH Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Moment of Silence H.B. 394 Permits the board of education of a school district to provide for a period of silence each school day for reflection or meditation upon a moral, philosophical, or patriotic theme; prohibits boards of education, schools, or employees of the school district fro... More... IN Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 School buses, display of flag H.B. 1133 Makes changes to the voting and nonvoting members of the state school bus committee; requires the committee to adopt rules allowing the display of the United States flag on school buses; amends the definition of a special purpose bus to include a motor vehicle... More... KY Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Excused Absence for Participation in Burial Honor Guard Program H.B. 231 Establishes a burial honor guard program for veteran's funerals; establishes the veterans' service organization burial honor guard trust fund to offset costs; authorizes local school boards to provide academic credit and excused absences for secondary students... More... MS Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Display of U.S. Flag and Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 2321 Display of United States flag and Pledge of Allegiance; required in all public school classrooms.... More... SD Signed into law 02/2002 P-12 Flag and Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 94 Permits the posting or display of the United States flag and giving the pledge of allegiance within public schools in the State.... More... AL Signed into law 09/2001 P-12 Patriotic Education H.J.R. 152C Relates to urging the Boards of Education to incorporate patriotic education as part of the daily Pledge of Allegiance.... More... RI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature 07/2001 P-12 Civics Education H.B. 5899 Creates a permanant legislative commission for the purpose of developing and coordinating public outreach programs for the legislature that educate the public about representative democracy with emphasis on explaining the legitamate, diverse competing ideas an... More... CO Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Encourages The Development of Character Education H.B. 1292 Encourages and promotes the development and establishment of character education programs through cooperation between parents and school districts; provides school districts may submit a report to the Legislature concerning any program developed.... More... OK Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 128 Relates to schools; designates November 11 as Veterans Day; requires public schools to conduct and observe Veterans Day programs; allows schools to conduct a moment of silence for certain purpose; requires certain instruction in United States flag etiquette an... More... TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Celebrate Freedom Week H.B. 1776 The last full week of classes in September is designated as Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools. Celebrate Freedom Week may include appropriate instruction, as determined by each school district, in each social studies class. Instruction should include ... More... TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Character Education Programs H.B. 946 Allows schools to provide character education programs, but any programs must stress positive character traits, such as: courage; trustworthiness, including honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty; integrity; respect and courtesy; responsibility, inclu... More... WV Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Character Education H.B. 2208 Requires the state board to establish comprehensive character education into all aspects of school culture, school functions and existing curriculum by September 2001.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Evaluating Charter Schools S.B. 1172 THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE ARIZONA K-12 CENTER AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALL CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FUNDED BY STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES. ... More... KS Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Use and Display of US Flag in Public Schools H.B. 2105 Concerns the use and display of the flag of the United States of America in public schools. It shall be the duty of the state board of education to prepare program providing for patriotic exercises for public schools. The program of patriotic observation of e... More... MS Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 High School Student Registration Opportunities H.B. 955 Enhances opportunities for high school students to register to vote; authorizes the registrar of each county to visit each public school, for the purpose of registering to vote any person who is eligible to vote in the county; provides that registrars shall pr... More... VA Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 1331 Requires all students to learn the Pledge of Allegiance and to demonstrate such knowledge and requires each school board to call for the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in each classroom of the school division and to ensure that an American flag i... More... CA Vetoed 08/2000 P-12 Daily Pledge of Allegiance A.B. 1747 Provides that the recitation of a specified portion of the Declaration of Independence would satisfy the requirement of existing law which requires that appropriate patriotic exercises be conducted in every public elementary and secondary school each day .... More... DE Signed into law 07/2000 P-12 Character Education H.J.R. 9 Recognizes Delaware to be a State of Character; urges the citizens and community leaders of Delaware to promote character in schools, businesses, homes, churches, and other places.... More... AL Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Committee on Civic Education S.J.R. 100 Creates the Joint Legislative Committee on Civic Education; designates Alabama's Legislators Back to School Day.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Civic, Ethical Education S.B. 1216 Requires the state board to develop and maintain a handbook for use in the schools of this state that provides guidance for the teaching of moral, civic and ethical education.... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Tax Credits S.B. 1369 Relates to individual income tax credits; expands use of public school fees credit to include character education programs; defines character education programs.... More... ID Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Display of the Flag; Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 655 Provides that the United States flag shall be displayed in every public school classroom; provides that every public school shall offer the pledge of allegiance or the national anthem at the beginning of each school day; provides that no pupil who objects shal... More... ID Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Citizenship Instruction H.B. 652 Requires that instruction in citizenship shall be given in all elementary and secondary schools.... More... AK Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance H.B. 192 Relates to the pledge of allegiance by public school students.... More... KY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Character Education H.B. 157 Adds core values and qualities of good character to make moral and ethical decisions in life to the capacities students shall be allowed and assisted to acquire by the system of public education; requires schools to develop their students' ability to become se... More... KY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Flag Etiquette/Instruction H.B. 506 Relates to requiring instruction in flag etiquette in schools; requires the Kentucky Board Of Education to develop a program of instruction relating to the United States and the Kentucky state flags; require that the program of instruction be provided to each ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Instruction Relating to the United States Flag S.B. 21 Relates to public schools; requires the State Board of Education to provide by rule a program of instruction within the public schools relating to the flag of the United States.... More... LA Signed into law 07/1999 P-12 Requires Instruction Relating to U.S. Flag S.B. 790 Requires instruction relating to the U.S. flag in the fifth grade as part of the social studies curriculum.... More... FL Signed into law 05/1999 P-12 A+ Plan (Part of Omnibus Bill) H.B. 751 School improvement plans are required to include specific safety and discipline strategies. Required dropout prevention programs to employ diagnostic and assessment procedures. The educational program must provide character and law education, along with curr... More... MS Signed into law 03/1999 P-12 Authorizes Comprehensive K-12 Program for Character Education S.B. 2121 Authorizes local school districts to develop and implement a comprehensive K-12 program for character education; requires the State Board of Education to review school district proposed character education program.... More... VA Signed into law 03/1999 P-12 Character Education Required 22.1-208.01 Each school board required to establish a character education program in its schools. Components are to be developed in cooperation with students, parents and community at large. Suggests list of character traits to be included.... More... GA Signed into law 01/1999 P-12 Character/Bullying Program O.C.G.A. § 20-2-145 Required state board to develop a comprehensive character education program for K-12 that focuses on character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compas... More... DE Signed into law 07/1998 P-12 Study of founding documents S.B. 275 Requires a single day each school year devoted solely to the study of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.... More... NC Signed into law 06/1998 P-12 115C-81 Character Education. Local boards of education may require the teaching of the following character traits in the public schools: Courage - Having the determination to do the right thing even when others don't and the strength to follow your conscience rather t... More... LA Signed into law 05/1998 P-12 H.B. 102 Provides relative to character education programs in public elementary and secondary schools; relates to the duties of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state superintendent and local school systems; relates to funding and requires a report ... More... MS Died 05/1998 P-12 H.B. 1226 Character Education Authorizes school districts, in their discretion, to teach character education.... More... MS Died 05/1998 P-12 S.B. 2286 Character Education Authorizes local school districts to develop and implement a comprehensive K-12 program for character education, and prescribe the character traits to be developed by the program.... More... VA Signed into law 04/1998 P-12 H.B. 1344 Commonwealth Character Initiative Establishes the Commonwealth Character Initiative, a unit to provide resources and technical assistance to school divisions regarding successful character education programs and practices designated to promote the development of personal qualities as set forth... More... MS Signed into law 03/1998 P-12 H.B. 1226, S.B. 2286 & H.B. 1304 Character Education H.B. 1226 and S.B. 2286 authorize school districts, in their discretion, teach comprehensive K-12 character education. H.B. 1304 requires school districts to implement character-based education in their curriculum; requires courses containing sex education to ... More... GA Signed into law 07/1997 P-12 20-2-145 Comprehensive character education program The State Board of Education shall develop by the start of the 1997-1998 school year a comprehensive character education program for levels K-12. This comprehensive character education program shall be known as the "character curriculum" and shall focus on the... More... AR Signed into law 03/1997 P-12 Character/citizenship education clearinghouse H.B. 1509 Requires the Department to establish a clearinghouse for information on character and citizenship education, to circulate information regarding the clearinghouse, and provide progress reports on its implementation.... More... GA Signed into law 03/1997 P-12 H.B. 393 This legislation enacts a program of character education aimed at instilling values in our school children. House Bill 393 charges the State Department of Education with developing a comprehensive character curriculum for K-12. The curriculum will focus on the... More... SD Signed into law 03/1997 P-12 H.B. 1152 Character Education Provides for character development instruction in the school curriculum.... More... MS Died 02/1997 P-12 S.B. 2170 Character Education in School Requires program for character education in school curriculum.... More... NE Signed into law 07/1996 P-12 79-725 Character education, principles of instruction Each teacher employed to give instruction in any public, private, parochial, or denominational school in the State of Nebraska shall arrange and present his or her instruction to give special emphasis to common honesty, morality, courtesy, obedience to law, re... More... TN Signed into law 06/1996 P-12 49-6-1201 General Provisions The course of study to be taught in every high school authorized by part 4 of this chapter shall be adopted by the board of education on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools; provides, that the course or courses shall be in accord with those ado... More... TN Signed into law 06/1996 P-12 49-6-1007 Character Education The course of instruction in all public schools shall include character education to help each student develop positive values and improve student conduct as students learn to act in harmony with their positive values and learn to become good citizens in their... More... CO Died 05/1996 P-12 H.B. 1022 Sex Education Requires schools receiving funds under the Comprehensive Health Education Act to offer parents a choice between two tracks for teaching sexual education. One track will emphasize moral and character education, abstinence from sexual activity, and refusal and a... More... AR Passed 03/1996 P-12 State school board association endorsement of character education Arkansas School Board Association's Board of Directors officially endorsed the character education program. The program has been recognized by the national Character Education Partnership, a non-partisan coalition of organizations and individuals who are conce... More... KY Died 03/1996 P-12 H.J.R. 48 Character Education Authorizes and directs the State Board for Elementary and Secondary School and the Department of Education to promote and support the integration of character education in the curriculum of the public schools; requires the Department of Education to survey sch... More... GA Died 02/1996 P-12 H.B. 1563 Implementation of Core Curriculum and Character Education in Public Schools Public Schools Relates to education competencies and core curriculum, provides for the development and implementation of a character curriculum in Georgia public schools.... More... MS Died 01/1996 P-12 H.B. 692 & S.B. 2045 Citizenship, Character Education H.B. 692 relates to school curriculum; requires for character education. S.B. 2045 also relates to school curriculum; requires for character education.... More... AL Signed into law 06/1995 P-12 Comprehensive Character Education Program 16-6B-2 The State Board of Education and all local boards shall develop and implement within ninety (90) days of July 7, 1995, a comprehensive character education program for all grades to consist of not less than ten minutes instruction per day focusing upon the stud... More... NC Died 06/1995 P-12 S.B. 1078 Character Education House committee substitute replaces 1st edition. Completely rewrites bill so it now adds a new GS 115C-81 providing that local boards of education shall require the teaching of character traits (including courage, good judgment, integrity, kindness, perseveran... More... UT Signed into law 06/1995 P-12 53A-17a-131.6 State Contribution to Character Educ. Prog. 1.) The state's contribution of $550,000 for a Character Education Program is appropriated to the State Board of Education for distribution to school districts according to rules adopted by the state board; 2.) It is the intent of the Legislature that the appr... More... IA Signed into law 06/1994 P-12 HF 2383 Safety in Schools This Act establishes a character education policy and pilot program, authorizes the sharing of certain information between schools regarding students who seek to transfer betweeen schools, establishes a higher threshold of proof for plaintiffs in actions alleg... More... IA Signed into law 06/1994 P-12 256.18 Character Education Policy-Pilot Program It is the policy of the general assembly that Iowa's schools be the best and safest possible. To that end, each school is encouraged to instill the highest character and academic excellence in each student, in close cooperation with the student's parents, and ... More... 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