Washington, DC, March 19, 2007 – The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announces publication of the biennial report Key State Education Policies on PK–12 Education: 2006. The most recent edition of this report updates two decades of research, providing 50-state analysis and trends for state policies that define teaching and learning across the nation.

The report covers several areas of state policy that will define efforts of states, districts, and schools to meet key requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

• School Leader/Administrator Licensure Requirements: Currently, 49 states reported having adopted administrator certification standards, and 43 states reported using the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards for School Leaders as a national model for state standards, which is an increase from 39 states in 2004.
• Standards for Learning: 50 states now have state content standards for student learning in mathematics, English/language arts, and science; 47 states have standards for social studies, 45 states have standards in the arts, and 40 states have standards for foreign languages.
• Policies on Pre-School: Currently, 32 states have a policy establishing statewide pre-school programs or a policy providing state funding for pre-school education.
• Student Assessments: As of 2005–06, as required by NCLB, all 50 states have assessments in language arts/reading and mathematics for grades 3–8 and high school. Currently, 44 states have assessments in science at three grades or more (as required by NCLB for all states in 2007–08).
• Graduation Requirements: Currently, 37 states require a minimum of four academic credits of English, 8 states require four credits of mathematics (34 require at least 3 credits), 4 states require four credits of social studies (33 require at least 3), and 26 states require three credits of science (28 require at least 3 credits). Course requirements for graduation have increased dramatically—for example, in 1992, only six states required at least 3 credits of math and science. Policies requiring students to pass a high school exit examination for a high school diploma are in place in 24 states as of the 2005–06 school year.

The CCSSO report covers a number of other policy areas for the 50 states. Summary tables provide a convenient resource of information, including:

• Policies regarding length of school year
• Date for start of school year
• State teacher induction programs
• Year-round schooling
• Standards for teacher and school leader licensure
• Types of assessments required for students, teachers, and leaders

The Council began tracking and reporting key state education policies and statistical indicators for all states in the 1980s and trends are analyzed over the past decade or more. The state policy information in this report was collected, updated, and reviewed during 2006 through support and cooperation of the chief state school officers and their staffs.

Key State Education Policies on PK–12 Education provides indispensable policy information for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The primary goal of providing these education indicators is to assist national, state, and local policymakers and leaders in making informed decisions.

Please click here to access Key State Education Policies on PK–12 Education: 2006 and click here to search related CCSSO publications.

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks members’ consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.