Bill Text: NH HB431 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a commission to review draft rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the department of education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-10 - Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration House Journal 3 [HB431 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB431-Introduced.html
HB 431 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0471
02/08
HOUSE BILL 431
SPONSORS: Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Rep. Fellows, Graf. 8; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Rep. M. Hall, Merr. 9; Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9; Rep. Petrigno, Hills. 43; Rep. Raymond, Hills. 5; Rep. Woodcock, Carr. 1; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates a commission to review all drafts of education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0471
02/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraph; Review Commission Established. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, IV by inserting after subparagraph (d) the following new subparagraph:
(e) Pursuant to RSA 193-E:1, II, related to the state's responsibilities in establishing minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards, a commission shall be established to review all drafts of education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the state board of education and New Hampshire department of education prior to submission to the general court, per RSA 541-A. Minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards shall not be submitted to the state board of education without a completed written review from the commission. The establishment of the commission for minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards shall be the direct responsibility of the commissioner of education or designee.
(1) The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(A) Two members representing the New Hampshire School Administrators Association. One member shall represent superintendents or assistant superintendents and one member shall represent curriculum, instruction, and assessment administration at a district level.
(B) Three members representing New Hampshire Association of School Principals. One member shall represent elementary leadership. One member shall represent middle level leadership. One member shall represent high school level leadership.
(C) Three members representing New Hampshire Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. These members shall represent direct responsibilities for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning systems within New Hampshire public schools.
(D) The commissioner of education, or designee.
(E) Three high school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT-NH.
(F) Three middle school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT-NH.
(G) Three elementary school teachers, appointed jointly by NEA-NH and AFT-NH.
(H) One member shall represent state or national expertise in the area of competency-based education. This member shall be nominated by members of the commission. The commission, by a majority vote, will appoint the competency-based education expert.
(2) The commission shall recommend language for the minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards that support:
(A) Competency-based education principles for all public schools.
(B) Adequate education requirements as outlined in RSA 193-E:1 and RSA 193-E:2 to maintain high quality minimum standards for public school approval and integrated systems of shared responsibility between state and local government.
(C) Research-and evidence-based practices and strategies related to the content areas articulated in RSA 193-E:2-a, I and RSA 193-E:3-b, I.
(D) School reporting of accountability for the opportunity of an adequate education per RSA 193-E:3-b.
(E) Professional learning opportunities for school administrators and educators.
(F) Implementation of the education rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards.
(3) The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first named member of the commission, excluding the commissioner of education. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Ten members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Members of the commission shall serve a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years.
(4) The commission shall report its recommendations for proposed changes to the education rules related to the minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards to the New Hampshire department of education and state board of education within 120 days of any draft of education rules and state academic standards presented to the commission by the New Hampshire department of education. All meetings and reports of the commission shall be available to the public as specified in RSA 91-A.
(5) The commission shall determine the work schedule and organizational plan to complete the review process within the specified timeline. This may include additional work sessions with various groups of New Hampshire public school educators. The commission shall make all decisions related to its recommendations using a simple majority vote of the commission members.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
