ECS StateNotes

ECS regularly issues useful compilations, summaries and/or comparisons of state policies — enacted or pending — on a wide variety of education topics, listed on the right. You can use the links below to view a list of all StateNotes and Policy Briefs from a specific year, or you can download the PDF that includes all the files in one document.

Roll over each database for a description.

ECS StateNote Topics:

(Note: Not all topics have a StateNote associated with them. If you are looking for information on a specific topic, you can use our search function.)

International Education

High School Graduation Requirements: Foreign Language - This database provides 50-state information on high school graduation requirements in foreign language. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, January 2006)...

School Graduation Requirements: Social Studies - This database provides 50-state information on high school graduation requirements in social studies, including world history and geography. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, January 2006)...

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams with an International Focus 2001 State-by-State Comparison MS Word PDF - Multistate compilations of AP examinations: (1) 2001 European History, (2) 2001 French Language/Literature, (3) 2001 German Language, (4) 2001 Comparative Government & Politics, (5) 2001 Human Geography, 2001 Spanish Language/Literature and (6) 2001 Participation in AP Examinations with an International Focus (all). (Jennifer Azordegan, Education Commission of the States, September 2002)...

State Policies Encouraging/Requiring Foreign Language Instruction Apart from High School Graduation Requirements MS Word PDF - The No Child Left Behind Act brings attention to the importance of foreign-language instruction by including the Foreign Language Assistance Act of 2001. The Foreign Language Incentive Program in this act, offers public elementary schools grants to provide foreign-language instruction. States have addressed these issues by recommending or requiring that schools offer or students receive foreign-language instruction before the high school grades. Here is a list of state education policies encouraging or mandating foreign-language instruction in presecondary- or secondary-level grades, separate from high school graduation requirements. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, September 2002)...

State Standards and Curriculum Frameworks for World History/Geography MS Word PDF - This document provides Web links to the specific standards established in each state for world history and geography courses. Some states distinguish between content standards and performance standards, so links to both are listed. Grade levels for the standards are indicated. This document was created with financial support from the Longview Foundation for Education. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, September 2002) ...

State Standards and Curriculum Frameworks for Foreign Languages MS Word PDF - This document provides Web links to the specific standards and curriculum frameworks established in each state for foreign-language courses. Some states distinguish between content standards and performance standards, so links to both are listed. Grade levels for the standards are indicated. This document was created with financial support from the Longview Foundation for Education. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, September 2002) ...

If you'd like to order a print copy, contact the ECS Distribution Center at 303.299.3692 or jivey@ecs.org.