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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 Civic Education--Civic Knowledge and Literacy Civic Education--Curriculum/Standards Civic Education--Pledge of Allegiance MI Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 "Pledge of Allegiance" in public schools H.B. 4934 Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy must ensure that an opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States is off... More... ME Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance H.P. 842 Requires a school administrative unit to allow every student enrolled in the school administrative unit the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at some point during a school day in which students are required to attend. Provides that a school admini... More... GA Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Pledge of Allegiance in Required Curriculum S.B. 518 Requires study of the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. and Georgia flag as a part of the required studies regarding American institutions and ideals. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb518.pdf... 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... 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... 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... WA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 History and Government Required Content H.B. 2781 Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, disrticts must ensure that history and government courses include the following content: 1. Commerce in Washington and Washington's place in the global economy; 2. The Washington State Constitution and Washington polit... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... MT Signed into law 04/1997 P-12 H.B. 77 Requires recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools; provides that a student or teacher must be excused from participation if the student's or teacher's convictions preclude participation; requires a school district to inform students and teacher... More... VA Signed into law 03/1996 P-12 H.B. 1118 Constitutional Rights and Restrictions Directs the Board of education, in consultation with the Office of Attorney General, to develop guidelines of constitutional rights and restrictions regarding the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag in the public schools.... More... VA Signed into law 03/1996 P-12 H.B. 433 Constitutional Rights and Protections Relates to guidelines on constitutional rights and restrictions regarding the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag in the public schools. The Board's guidelines are to include provisions addressing initiative and involvement of local school boards, school... More... KY Died 01/1996 P-12 S.B. 10 Pledge of Allegiance Relates to the pledge of allegiance in public schools, to provide for a moment of silence not to exceed one minute in duration at the commencement of the first class of each day in all pubic schools; relates to the conduct of schools, to provide that no school... More... NC Signed into law 07/1995 P-12 H.B. 65 US Flag in Classrooms Provides a United States flag for every public school classroom and to require the student to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day.... 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... Class Size Counseling/Guidance Curriculum Curriculum--Alignment Curriculum--Arts Education Curriculum--Censorship Curriculum--Computer Science Curriculum--Core Curriculum Curriculum--Drivers Education Curriculum--Environmental Education Curriculum--Excusal Curriculum--Family Living Education Curriculum--Financial Literacy/Economics Ed. Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language Curriculum--Geography Education Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education Curriculum--Home Economics Curriculum--International Education Curriculum--Language Arts Curriculum--Language Arts--Writing/Spelling Curriculum--Mathematics Curriculum--Multicultural Curriculum--Physical Education Curriculum--Science Curriculum--Sex Education Curriculum--Social Studies/History Data-Driven Improvement Demographics Demographics--Condition of Children/Adults Demographics--Enrollments Desegregation Economic/Workforce Development Economic/Workforce Development--Value of an Education Education Research Equity Federal Finance Finance--Adequacy/Core Cost Finance--Aid to Private Schools Finance--Bonds Finance--District Finance--Does Money Matter? Finance--Equity Finance--Facilities Finance--Federal Finance--Funding Formulas Finance--Litigation Finance--Local Foundations/Funds Finance--Lotteries Finance--Performance Funding Finance--Private Giving Finance--Resource Efficiency Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures Finance--Student Fees Finance--Taxes/Revenues Finance--Taxes/Revenues--Alternative Revenues Governance Governance--Deregulation/Waivers/Home Rule Governance--Ethics/Conflict of Interest Governance--Mandates Governance--Regional Entities Governance--School Boards Governance--School Boards--Training Governance--Site-Based Management Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies Health Health--Child Abuse Health--Mental Health Health--Nutrition Health--School Based Clinics or School Nurses Health--Suicide Prevention Health--Teen Pregnancy High School High School--Advanced Placement High School--College Readiness High School--Credit Recovery High School--Dropout Rates/Graduation Rates High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment High School--Early Colleges/Middle Colleges High School--Exit Exams High School--GED (General Education Development) High School--Graduation Requirements Instructional Approaches Instructional Approaches--Constructivism Instructional Approaches--Grading Practices Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling Instructional Approaches--Homework/Study Skills Instructional Approaches--Official English Instructional Approaches--Problem Based Learning Instructional Approaches--Single-Sex Education Instructional Approaches--Teaching Across Disciplines Instructional Approaches--Time/Time on Task Instructional Approaches--Tracking/Ability Grouping Integrated Services/Full-Service Schools International Baccalaureate International Benchmarking Leadership Leadership--District Superintendent Leadership--District Superintendent--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Certification and Licensure Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Compensation and Diversified Pay Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Evaluation and Effectiveness Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Induction Programs and Mentoring Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Preparation--Alternative Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Professional Development Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Recruitment and Retention Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Tenure Mentoring/Tutoring Middle School Minority/Diversity Issues Minority/Diversity Issues--African American Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian Minority/Diversity Issues--Hispanic No Child Left Behind No Child Left Behind--Adequate Yearly Progress No Child Left Behind--Assessment No Child Left Behind--Choice/Transfer No Child Left Behind--Consequences for Schools No Child Left Behind--Finance No Child Left Behind--Parent Involvement No Child Left Behind--Reauthorization Issues/Waivers No Child Left Behind--Report Cards No Child Left Behind--School Support No Child Left Behind--Special Populations No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services Online Learning--Digital/Blended Learning Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses P-16 or P-20 P-3 P-3 Brain Development P-3 Child Care P-3 Content Standards and Assessment P-3 Data Systems P-3 Early Intervention (0-3) P-3 English Language Learners (ELL) P-3 Ensuring Quality P-3 Evaluation/Economic Benefits P-3 Family Involvement P-3 Finance P-3 Governance P-3 Grades 1-3 P-3 Health and Mental Health P-3 Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full-Day Kindergarten P-3 Kindergarten--Full Day Kindergarten P-3 Preschool P-3 Public/Private Partnerships P-3 Special Ed./Inclusion P-3 Teaching Quality/Professional Development P-3 Technology Parent/Family Parent/Family--Parent Rights Parent/Family--Research Partnerships--University/School Postsecondary Postsecondary Accountability Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation Postsecondary Accountability--Diploma Mills Postsecondary Accountability--Licensing/Program Review and Approval Postsecondary Accountability--Student Learning Postsecondary Affordability Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid Postsecondary Affordability--Textbooks Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Undocumented Immigrants Postsecondary Faculty Postsecondary Faculty--Compensation Postsecondary Faculty--Intellectual Property Postsecondary Faculty--Teaching Assistants Postsecondary Faculty--Tenure Postsecondary Finance Postsecondary Finance--Efficiency/Performance-Based Funding Postsecondary Finance--Facilities Postsecondary Finance--Revenue and Expenditures Postsecondary Governance and Structures Postsecondary Governance and Structures--Administrative/Leadership Issues Postsecondary Governance and Structures--State Executives/State Agencies Postsecondary Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Community/Technical Colleges Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary Postsecondary Institutions--Four-Year Baccalaureate Postsecondary Institutions--HBCUs/Minority-Serving Institutions Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent Postsecondary Online Instruction Postsecondary Participation Postsecondary Participation--Access Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements Postsecondary Participation--Affirmative Action Postsecondary Participation--Enrollments (Statistics) Postsecondary Participation--Outreach Postsecondary Students Postsecondary Students--Adults Postsecondary Students--Disabled Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth Postsecondary Students--Graduate/Professional Postsecondary Students--International Postsecondary Students--Low-Income Postsecondary Students--Military Postsecondary Students--Minority Postsecondary Success Postsecondary Success--Completion Postsecondary Success--Developmental/Remediation Postsecondary Success--Retention/Persistence Postsecondary Success--Transfer/Articulation Private Schools Privatization Privatization--Education Management Agencies (EMOs) Proficiency-Based Approaches Promising Practices Promotion/Retention Public Involvement Purposes of Public Education Reading/Literacy Reading/Literacy--Adult Literacy Religion Religion--Prayer/Meditation Religion--Scientific Creationism (Evolution) Remediation (K-12) Rural Scale-Up/Replication Scheduling/School Calendar Scheduling/School Calendar--Day/Class Length Scheduling/School Calendar--Extended Day Programs Scheduling/School Calendar--Summer School Scheduling/School Calendar--Week Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Scheduling/School Calendar--Year Round School Climate/Culture School Safety School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution School Safety--Code of Conduct School Safety--Corporal Punishment School Safety--Disaster/Emergency Preparedness School Safety--Expulsion/Suspension School Safety--No Child Left Behind--Safe Schools School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault School Safety--Special Education School Safety--Uniforms/Dress Codes School/District Structure/Operations School/District Structure/Operations--District Consolidation/Deconsolidation School/District Structure/Operations--District Size School/District Structure/Operations--Facilities School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries School/District Structure/Operations--Org. (K-3/K-8 etc.) School/District Structure/Operations--Personnel (Non-Teaching) School/District Structure/Operations--School Size School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services School/District Structure/Operations--Staffing Ratios School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation Service-Learning Social/Emotional Learning and Non-Cognitive Skills Special Education Special Education--Federal Law/Regulations Special Education--Finance Special Education--Inclusion (Mainstreaming) Special Education--Placement Special Education--Transition Special Populations--Corrections Education Special Populations--Foster Care Special Populations--Gifted and Talented Special Populations--Homeless Education Special Populations--Immigrant Education Special Populations--Migrant Education Special Populations--Military Standards Standards--Common Core State Standards Standards--Implementation State Comparisons/Statistics State Longitudinal Data Systems State Policymaking State Policymaking--Ballot Questions State Policymaking--Constitutional Clauses State Policymaking--Politics State Policymaking--Task Forces/Commissions STEM Student Achievement Student Achievement--Closing the Achievement Gap Student Surveys Students Students--Athletics/Extracurricular Activities Students--Employment Students--Incentives Students--K-12 Exchange Students Students--Mobility Students--Records/Rights Teaching Quality Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Alternative Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Assignment Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Highly Qualified Teachers Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Natl. Bd. for Prof. Teach. Stds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Special Education Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--State Prof. Standards Bds. Teaching Quality--Certification and Licensure--Substitute Teachers Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Pay-for-Performance Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits Teaching Quality--Evaluation and Effectiveness Teaching Quality--Induction Programs and Mentoring Teaching Quality--Paraprofessionals Teaching Quality--Preparation Teaching Quality--Professional Development Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--High-Needs Subjects Teaching Quality--Reduction in Force Teaching Quality--Teacher Attitudes Teaching Quality--Teacher Contracts (Not Tenure) Teaching Quality--Teacher Rights Teaching Quality--Tenure or Continuing Contract Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining--Strikes Teaching Quality--Working Conditions Technology Technology--Computer Skills Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware Technology--Equitable Access Technology--Funding Issues Technology--Internet Safety Technology--Research/Evaluation Technology--Teacher/Faculty Training Textbooks and Open Source Urban Urban--Change/Improvements Urban--Governance Whole-School Reform Models