Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Contact: Rep. Emma Rous
(603) 868-7030

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WORKS FOR STUDENTS, DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS IN PAST TWO YEARS

By Rep. Emma Rous, D-Durham
Chair, House Education Committee
NH House of Representatives

A review of legislative accomplishments in the area of education over the last two years reveals a number of significant steps forward.   In 2007, the legislature met the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s timeline and defined educational adequacy, K-12, to include all aspects of curriculum and instruction.  By including kindergarten in adequacy, New Hampshire will finally offer free public kindergarten in every district in the state.

In 2008, the legislature adopted a constitutional method that establishes a base cost for every student, with additional sums for special education students and English language learners, and those who receive free or reduced lunches. Using this cost model, the state’s per student grants range from $3,450 to $8,531, with a factor for inflation. 

By concentrating more aid on the greatest educational needs at the student and school level, the model is consistent with current research on best practice in education funding.

 For the next two transition years, all districts will be held harmless and no district will receive more than 15 percent above its current state aid.   In November, two legislative study committees will make recommendations regarding transition aid, discrepancies between education costs and local fiscal capacity, the needs of small schools, and educational and fiscal accountability.

In addition,
·         The legislature worked with the Governor and the Department of Education to raise the compulsory attendance age to 18 and provide funding for alternative pathways to graduation, resulting in significant improvement in the high school completion rate;

·          The legislature also worked with special education stakeholders to revise New Hampshire’s special education laws and rules in order to meet new federal standards and be more responsive to the needs of New Hampshire students and families;

·         The legislature restored the right of local teacher bargaining units to negotiate for the use of arbitration in cases of teacher nonrenewal;

·          At the post-secondary level, the legislature oversaw the transition of the regional community technical colleges to a community college system and authorized Plymouth State University to offer doctoral degrees;

·         The legislature passed bills to support existing public charter schools, and oversight committees are examining charter school approval and accountability as well as statutes governing school administrative units and cooperative districts;

·         Education committees are also studying assessment results, preschool incentives, truancy, homeless youth, air quality in schools, homeschooling, laptop programs, school opening dates, and access and affordability in higher education.

Many challenges remain as the state faces declining revenues, rising education costs, and a demand for high student achievement in an increasingly competitive global economy.   The legislature and New Hampshire’s dedicated educators will continue their bipartisan efforts to meet these challenges and build on New Hampshire’s successes for the benefit of our students.