HB 39 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0122

04/01

HOUSE BILL 39

AN ACT relative to the adoption of the common core state standards in New Hampshire and relative to the substantive content of an adequate education.

SPONSORS: Rep. Boehm, Hills 27

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Amends the school standards included in the substantive content of an adequate education.

II. Prohibits the department of education and the state board of education from implementing or enforcing the so-called “common core state standards” without prior approval of the general court.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0122

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to the adoption of the common core state standards in New Hampshire and relative to the substantive content of an adequate education.

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

1 Adequate Public Education; Substantive Content. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, I to read as follows:

I. Beginning in the school year 2008-2009, the specific criteria and substantive educational program that deliver the opportunity for an adequate education shall be defined and identified as the school approval standards in the following areas:

(a) English/language arts and reading.

(b) Mathematics.

(c) Science.

(d) Social studies.

(e) [Arts education.

(f) World languages.

(g) Health education.

(h)] Physical education.

[(i) Technology education, and information and communication technologies.]

2 Adequate Public Education; Accountability for the Opportunity for an Adequate Education. Amend RSA 193-E:3-b, I to read as follows:

I. A school may demonstrate, through the input-based school accountability system, that it provides the opportunity for an adequate education as set forth in RSA 193-E:2-a by establishing that it met the following school standards in effect as of the effective date of this section:

(a) English/language arts and reading as set forth in Ed 306.37.

(b) Mathematics as set forth in Ed 306.43.

(c) Science as set forth in Ed 306.45.

(d) Social studies as set forth in Ed 306.46.

(e) [Arts education as set forth in Ed 306.31.

(f) World languages as set forth in Ed 306.48.

(g) Health education as set forth in Ed 306.40.

(h)] Physical education as set forth in Ed 306.41.

[(i) Technology education, and information and communication technologies as set forth in Ed 306.42 and Ed 306.47.]

[(j)] (f) School year as set forth in Ed 306.18.

[(k)] (g) Minimum credits required for a high school diploma as set forth in Ed 306.27(f) and (m).

3 Adequate Public Education; Substantive Content. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, III to read as follows:

III. Public schools and public academies shall adhere to the standards identified in paragraph I, but may offer additional substantive content as deemed appropriate. Public schools and public academies shall be liable for any costs associated with adding additional substantive content. Such additional substantive content shall not be considered part of the opportunity for an adequate education as set forth in paragraph I.

4 Adequate Education; Substantive Content. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, IV to read as follows:

IV.(a) The school approval standards for the areas identified in paragraph I shall constitute the opportunity for the delivery of an adequate education. The general court shall periodically, but not less frequently than every 10 years, review, revise, and update, as necessary, the standards identified in paragraph I and shall ensure that the high quality of the standards is maintained. Changes made by the board of education to the school approval standards through rulemaking after the effective date of this section shall not be included within the standards that constitute the opportunity for the delivery of an adequate education without prior adoption by the general court. The board of education shall provide written notice to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairs of the house and senate education committees of any changes to the school approval standards adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A.

(b) Neither the department of education nor the state board of education shall implement or enforce in the public schools and public academies of this state the so-called “common core state standards” developed jointly by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers without prior approval of the general court.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.