HB 371  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-0206

10/08

 

HOUSE BILL 371

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9; Rep. Heath, Hills. 41; Rep. Cascadden, Coos 5

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools.  The bill also requires the state board of education to initiate rulemaking based on the commission's recommendations.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0206

10/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Section; Commission to Evaluate and Recommend Standards for Public Schools.  Amend RSA 193-E by inserting after section 2-f the following new section:

193-E:2-g  Commission to Evaluate and Recommend Standards for Public Schools; Reports; Rulemaking.

I.  There is established a commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools.

II.  The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One member appointed by the governor.

(d) One high school teacher, appointed by the governor.

(e) One middle school teacher, appointed by the governor.

(f) One elementary school teacher, appointed by the governor.

(g) One early childhood education expert, appointed by the governor.

(h) One district administrator, appointed by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.

(i) One school curriculum coordinator, appointed by New Hampshire Association for the Supervision of Curriculum Development.

(j) One certified behavioral health practitioner, appointed by the New Hampshire Children’s Behavioral Health Collaborative.

(k) One certified school counselor, appointed by the New Hampshire School Counselor Association.

(l) One school nurse, appointed by the New Hampshire Association for School Nurses.

(m) One school nutrition director appointed by the School Nutrition Association of New Hampshire.

(n) One school principal, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals.

(o) One career and technical education representative, appointed by the New Hampshire Career and Technical Administrator Association.

(p) One special education educator, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators.

(q) One special education advocate, appointed by the Parent Information Center of New Hampshire.

(r) One business representative, appointed by the governor.

(s) One diversity coordinator, appointed by the governor.

(t) One representative from the Accountability Task Force, appointed by the Accountability Task Force.

(u) Two parents or guardians, appointed by the governor.

(v) Two students currently enrolled in public schools in New Hampshire, appointed by the New Hampshire legislative youth advisory council under RSA 19-K.

III.  The commission shall:

(a)  Review the minimum standards for public school approval in rules of the department of education, Ed 306, and make recommendations to ensure that the minimum standards are robust, equitable, and ensure that all students have the opportunity for a high-quality education.

(b)  Determine whether the current minimum standards provide the opportunity for an adequate education for all students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

(c)  Identify trends and disparities across the state in student performance in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

(d)  Act as an independent commission.

(e) Review the minimum standards to ensure an inclusive, student-based, and just learning environment in all public schools throughout the state.

(f)  Consider other policy issues as the commission deems necessary.  The commission may consult with outside resources and state agencies, including but not limited to the department of education, the department of revenue administration, and the legislative budget office.

IV. The commission shall:

(a) Recommend model minimum standards for public school approval.

(b) Recommend to the state board of education rules for fulfilling the minimum standards for public school approval requirement.

(c) Offer opportunities for public input in the review and revision of the minimum standards for public school approval.

(d) Promote, within the schools and the general population of the state, implementation of the minimum standards for public school approval.

V. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

VI. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Thirteen members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VII.  The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over education, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the state board of education, the governor, and the state library. A preliminary report shall be submitted on or before June 1, 2024. An annual report shall be submitted on or before November 1, 2025 and each year thereafter. The commission shall monitor the implementation by grade, curriculum, and hours of instruction. A final report shall be submitted on or before November 1, 2027.

VIII. Following the receipt of the preliminary report of the commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools, the state board of education shall initiate rulemaking under RSA 21-N:9, to address the recommendations of the commission.

2  Repeal; 2027. RSA 193-E:2-g, relative to the commission to evaluate and recommend standards for public schools, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2027.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.