TITLE XV
EDUCATION

Chapter 188-E
REGIONAL CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

Section 188-E:1

    188-E:1 Designation of Regional Centers and Programs. – The commissioner, department of education, is hereby authorized and directed to designate high schools, and public academies as defined in RSA 194:23, II, offering career and technical education programs as career and technical education centers. In instances where it is educationally and economically feasible to do so, the commissioner may designate individual career and technical education programs in other than the career and technical education centers as regional programs. An out-of-state school or program may be designated, when it is in the best interest of the state, as a part of the New Hampshire regional career and technical education plan.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1990, 28:4. 2008, 328:1. 2015, 252:3, eff. July 1, 2015.

Section 188-E:1-a

    188-E:1-a Regional Career and Technical Education Agreements (RCTEA). –
I. Each regional career and technical education receiving and sending school entity within a New Hampshire career and technical education (CTE) region shall be governed by a regional career and technical education agreement (RCTEA) which will be renewed every 4 years and submitted to the commissioner for review and approval.
II. The department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A concerning the form and procedures for RCTEA.
III. Each RCTEA shall include a calendar conformity agreement to comply with RSA 188-E:5, VII(a) and (b) by aligning the school calendars of sending schools with the school calendars of CTE programs at the receiving school. Agreements shall minimize schedule conflicts to better support CTE students with as many hours as possible to fulfill their program requirements. Agreements should address schedule alignment needs such as: disruptions due to differing start/stop times, unscheduled school closures or events, and daily class start/stop times. RCTEA schools are encouraged to align teacher in-service days to allow joint ventures in teacher professional development and other educational initiatives. There may not be more than 10 instructional days following Labor Day through the last student day of the school calendar year on which one or more of the school calendars of the districts within the agreement are not aligned. When CTE regions overlap, or students attend programs in more than one CTE, the provisions of this section shall apply to both regional centers. The commissioner shall not approve a RCTEA that does not comply with this paragraph, however a RCTEA may contain provisions for waiver by the commissioner of dissimilar days for extenuating or emergency purposes. If the commissioner determines that all schools within the RCTEA have plans and are reasonably working towards the implementation of an aligned calendar to ensure compliance with this paragraph, an annual waiver may be approved, but a waiver for this purpose shall not be extended beyond July 1, 2026.
IV. Each RCTEA shall include the provisions to fulfill the recognition of credits in RSA 188-E:5, XIII.
V. Each RCTEA shall include a plan for sending and regional schools to provide tuition and transportation for any student from a sending school who wishes to attend a CTE program, subject to attainment of prerequisites, space availability within the program, and appropriate qualifications under RSA 188-E:2, VIII(b) and RSA 188-E:8, and report to the commissioner any constraints in funding for tuition and transportation that need to be addressed to provide this opportunity. Sending districts shall be responsible for ensuring students schedules allow for full access to CTE programs offered at the regional CTE center, including travel time on buses.

Source. 2022, 272:2, eff. July 1, 2022.

Section 188-E:2

    188-E:2 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Alternative education program" means a program providing at-risk students with a variety of options with a goal of graduation or completion by focusing on the student's individual social needs and the academic requirements for a high school diploma, including:
(a) A program offered at a regional career technical education center or other comprehensive high school.
(b) An adult high school diploma program administered pursuant to rules of the department.
(c) An adult basic education program administered pursuant to rules of the department.
II. "At-risk student" means a high school student who has been evaluated by the local school district staff and deemed to be an individual in jeopardy of dropping out of school prior to graduation.
III. "Career and technical education" or "CTE" means organized educational activities that:
(a) Offer a sequence of courses that:
(1) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions;
(2) Provides technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
(3) Might include prerequisite courses, other than a remedial course; and
(b) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual.
III-a. "Career pathway system" means a high quality education system that spans secondary education and postsecondary education, blending rigorous core academic and career instruction, offering focused career guidance and advisement systems including high-quality work-based learning experiences, to significantly expand access to, participation in, and successful completion of those pathways, culminating in postsecondary or industry credentials, licensure, and career-related technical skills.
III-b. "Career readiness credential" includes completion of CTE courses or sequences of courses; enrollment in concurrent and/or dual enrollment courses; internships; apprenticeships; extended learning opportunities; work-based learning; bureau of career development, department of education career-pathway high schools; and the CCSNH running start program. "Career readiness credential" may also be a statewide established recognition signifying that a high school graduate has met or exceeded specific statewide or nationally normed metrics related to career readiness.
III-c. "Career readiness pathways" mean pathways available to New Hampshire students that, on successful completion, lead to a career readiness credential.
IV. "Construction" means the actual construction of facilities and provision of initial equipment.
V. "Receiving district" means a school district operating a comprehensive high school or public academy pursuant to RSA 194:23 which is designated as a regional center or offers a designated regional program.
V-a. "Regional career and technical education center agreement" or "RCTEA" means the governing agreement between receiving and sending schools.
VI. "Regional career and technical education student" means a student attending a regional center or a regional program, for career and technical education purposes, which is in a high school other than one the student would normally attend for his or her regular education program.
VII. "Renovation" means an upgrade and/or addition of career and technical education space, facility, and/or equipment at designated regional career and technical education centers.
VIII. "Sending district" means:
(a) A school district where students reside who attend a regional center, regional program, or alternative education program other than within the district itself; or
(b) If a student attends a chartered public school, private school, or is home schooled, the sending district shall be the school district in which the student resides.
IX. "Work-based learning" means an educational strategy that offers students an opportunity to reinforce and deepen their classroom learning, explore future career fields, and demonstrate their skills in an authentic setting supported by educators and trained workplace mentors.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 2007, 232:1, 2. 2012, 199:1. 2015, 252:4, eff. July 1, 2015. 2019, 322:3, 4, eff. Oct. 11, 2019. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2022, 272:1, eff. July 1, 2022.

Section 188-E:3

    188-E:3 Construction or Renovation of Regional Career and Technical Education Centers. –
I. The commissioner, department of education, shall make grants available to designated regional centers for construction of career and technical education facilities or renovation, expansion, or replacement of existing regional career and technical education centers. The state board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A and RSA 21-N:9, II, which the commissioner shall carry out, relative to requirements for approval of regional career and technical education centers to receive funds for construction, renovation, expansion, or replacement of such facilities. The rules shall include criteria which guarantee potential sending districts an opportunity to enroll students in the regional career and technical education program, and basic criteria for planning such facilities through cooperative development of plans by the career and technical education staff of the state department of education and the local school district's staff. When such plans appear to be both educationally and financially acceptable, the department's career and technical education staff shall recommend to the commissioner that they be approved for funding.
II. Upon completion, the constructed or renovated facility shall become the property of the school district or public academy, for use by the career and technical education center exclusively. Provision of the site, parking, and other related areas shall be the responsibility of the local community. Site work, including but not limited to cut and fill work, compaction, demolition, relocation of utilities, relocation of roadways and sidewalks, and similar work within an area extending to one foot beyond the outside edge of the exterior walls of the building, shall be eligible for grants under paragraph I. Nothing shall prohibit the inclusion of the site and related facilities which are not funded as part of construction cost by the state under this chapter from being included in a regular building aid grant application of the district as provided in RSA 198:15-b. However, no school district which receives any funding under this chapter shall be eligible to receive school building aid grants under RSA 198:15-b for the same project. Maintenance, repair, and upkeep of the constructed or renovated facility, including all classroom and laboratory spaces, shall be the responsibility of the school district or public academy, as the case may be.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1986, 41:18. 1990, 28:5. 1997, 265:1. 2008, 296:1; 296:33. 2012, 275:8. 2015, 252:5, eff. July 1, 2015. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 2, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.

Section 188-E:4

    188-E:4 Repealed by 2010, 368:1(45), eff. Dec. 31, 2010. –

Section 188-E:4-a

    188-E:4-a Advisory Committees. –
I. Each designated region shall have a regional advisory committee consisting of representatives from each sending district and the receiving district. Appointees from each district shall represent a reasonable balance of the career cluster areas in the region's approved career and technical education programs. Each regional advisory committee shall have at least 7 members representative of the districts and career and technical education areas and at least one member shall be a certified high school counselor.
II. The regional advisory committee shall advise the receiving district school board on matters related to career and technical education but shall have no legal authority with respect to such board's responsibility.
III. Each regional career and technical education center shall have active program advisory committees representing each approved career and technical education program established at the center. Said program advisory committees shall advise the regional advisory committee on matters relating to their particular approved career and technical education program but shall have no legal authority with respect to the regional advisory committee's responsibility.

Source. 2012, 223:4. 2017, 110:1, eff. Aug. 7, 2017.

Section 188-E:5

    188-E:5 Program. –
I. The program in the regional career and technical education centers shall be broad enough to serve the reasonable business and industry needs of the area, and provide for a substantial career and technical offering in the region.
II. Career and technical education of consistent quality shall be equally available to students and across the state. Each career and technical education program pathway shall include embedded rigorous academic skills and technical core competencies aligned with national business and industry standards delivered through a relevant sequence of courses.
III. Each center shall make maximum utilization of cooperative arrangements with special education and vocational rehabilitation in providing career and technical education for disadvantaged and disabled persons. Opportunities for out-of-school youths, including "drop outs" and others, and adult education will be provided whenever possible.
IV. The regional career and technical education centers, as an integral part of each career and technical offering, may provide opportunities in leadership development through participation by students in appropriate corresponding and nationally recognized career and technical student organizations.
V. Regional career and technical education centers shall, on a space available basis, enroll any student requesting enrollment who has attended one year of high school regardless of the number of academic credits earned, except that the Manchester school district shall, on a space available basis, enroll and bear the associated costs for any Manchester school district student in grades 9-12 who resides in the city of Manchester and who requests enrollment in a regional career and technical education center within the district, provided that in either case:
(a) The student has successfully completed any courses required as a prerequisite for the career and technical education program selected; or
(b) The prerequisites have been waived by the regional career and technical education center director. Such a waiver shall not be unreasonably withheld.
VI. The receiving district shall be responsible for determining the student's qualifications for admission and space availability.
VII. (a) All career and technical education students shall be given access to career and technical education programs for the instructional time for those programs.
(b) Upon a joint application by a student's career and technical education center and his or her sending district, the commissioner may grant a waiver from the requirement of subparagraph (a) on a case-by-case basis. A student waiver may be granted on a case-by-case basis from the requirement of subparagraph (a) in accordance with approved procedure in the RCTEA.
VIII. Programs shall demonstrate alignment of curriculum to national technical core competencies to assess and demonstrate achievement through evidence documented by course and learning experiences using multiple measures, such as, but not limited to, examinations, quizzes, portfolios, performances, exhibitions, industry certifications, projects, and community service.
IX. An approved career and technical education program shall be designed to enable a student to meet industry standards applicable to the respective career field.
X. To the greatest extent possible, a career and technical education program offered at a center or region shall provide students the opportunity to take advantage of any applicable career pathways, including career pathways set forth in an articulation agreement with a postsecondary institution or in a collaborative agreement with publicly supported secondary and postsecondary educational institutions that form a dual enrollment career and technical education program.
XI. Beginning in September 2020, and each year thereafter, school districts shall, for entering high school freshman: assess student career interests; document school pathways to career readiness credentials; advise all entering high school students how to achieve a career ready credential upon graduation; and record on a student's transcript progress towards the credential. School districts shall report the following annually: the number of students who complete CTE; the number of dual enrollments, concurrent enrollments, extended learning opportunities, and work based learning enrollments; and the number of career ready credentials awarded.
XII. The director of career and technical education shall report to the advisory council on career and technical education by June 1, 2022 on the availability of programs in outdoor recreation and the potential for new programs to provide workforce training and appropriate credentialing in careers related to the outdoor recreation industry.
XIII. A student shall be awarded required subject credit toward district graduation by demonstrating proficiency in a regional career and technical education course or program that is embedded with content area competencies that meet or exceed the district subject and required course competencies. Sending school graduation competencies embedded in a career and technical education course or program used to earn the equivalent or to earn partial credit to satisfy the required graduation competencies shall align with the skills, knowledge, and work study practices as determined by the local school district and in accordance with the terms of the RCTEA. A student who demonstrates proficiency in the embedded CTE course or program competencies and who is determined to have met the content area academic standards required by the high school shall have such credits counted toward the required program area for a high school diploma.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1990, 140:2, X. 1998, 333:1. 2007, 333:4. 2012, 221:3. 2015, 252:6. 2017, 156:107, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:1, eff. Sept. 8, 2017. 2019, 322:5, eff. Oct. 11, 2019. 2021, 210:2, Pt. V, Sec. 3, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2022, 272:3, 4, eff. July 1, 2022.

Section 188-E:6

    188-E:6 Costs for Students Attending Career and Technical Education Programs. –
I. The state shall pay a portion of the cost of tuition and reimburse transportation costs, as provided in this section, for a sending district student attending an approved career and technical education (CTE) program.
II. A student's sending district shall be financially responsible for 25 percent of the career and technical education portion of the receiving district's cost per pupil for the prior school year, as calculated by the department of education.
III. Any sending district student who attends an approved CTE program that provides instruction in subject areas approved by the state board of education shall be eligible for payment of tuition and reimbursement of transportation costs. Students enrolled in introductory CTE courses, pre-CTE courses, or other CTE programs offering instruction in subject areas not approved by the state board of education shall not be eligible for payment of tuition and transportation reimbursement.
IV. In consultation with the house and senate committees responsible for education policy and financial matters, the state board of education shall, in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, develop a formula for determining the tuition and transportation costs for approved career technical education programs and procedures for disbursement of funds.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 2004, 151:1. 2007, 232:3; 333:2. 2012, 199:2. 2015, 252:7, eff. July 1, 2015.

Section 188-E:7

    188-E:7 Tuition. –
I. The department of education is authorized to pay from its regular budget tuition for full or part-time sending district students, attending programs at designated career and technical education centers or designated career and technical education programs at other comprehensive high schools, whose residence is in a district where the high school of normal attendance does not offer a similar career and technical education program.
II. The department of education shall pay only those districts designated as regional career and technical education centers for sending district tuition at a per student rate calculated by dividing the total number of students into the balance of appropriation available.
III. The department is authorized to pay from its budget for at-risk students who reside in a school district in which the high school does not offer an alternative education program, to attend an alternative education program at a comprehensive high school within New Hampshire.
IV. The liability of the state and local school districts for tuition shall be determined by the state board under rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, provided that a receiving district may charge a student from a sending district a differential fee for career and technical education not to exceed 3 percent of the receiving district's cost per pupil for the prior school year, as calculated by the department of education, and provided that the receiving district shall deposit the differential fee into its capital reserve account to be used for career and technical education program development, improvement, and equipment.
V. The state's tuition liability for a student enrolled in an alternative education program shall not exceed the per student cost of a student enrolled in a career and technical education program, as calculated by the department of education.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1990, 28:6. 2000, 282:3. 2007, 232:4. 2012, 199:3. 2015, 252:8, eff. July 1, 2015.

Section 188-E:8


[RSA 188-E:8 effective until July 1, 2025; see also RSA 188-E:8 set out below.]
    188-E:8 Transportation. – The department of education is authorized to reimburse from its regular budget the full cost of transportation for (a) regional career and technical education students who attend regional career and technical education centers and for (b) at-risk students who attend alternative education programs located at a regional career and technical education center or other comprehensive high school. Transportation costs shall not exceed the rate adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A by the state board. The sending district shall be responsible for providing transportation and paying the transportation costs and shall then be reimbursed from state funds.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1981, 94:2. 1990, 28:7. 2007, 232:5. 2015, 252:9, eff. July 1, 2015. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 3, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.

Section 188-E:9

    188-E:9 Payment of Tuition and Transportation Funds. –
I. The state shall pay the receiving district for its portion of the tuition charge upon receipt by the department of education of forms showing the charges as requested by them. Payment of transportation shall be made to the sending district by the department of education upon certification of payment or liability of payment of transportation charges on forms prescribed by the department. School districts shall report actual tuition and transportation costs for reimbursement by the state to the department by September 30 of each year. Failure to file such information on the forms required under this paragraph shall result in withholding of funds.
II. Reimbursement of tuition and transportation costs under this section shall be made annually and shall be calculated based upon the previous year's actual tuition and transportation costs for each school district. Funds shall be distributed to school districts on or before December 1.
III. Funds appropriated to pay the costs of tuition and transportation shall be distributed in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A.
IV. All appropriations made for the purposes of tuition and transportation shall be nonlapsing.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1990, 28:8, 9. 1993, 218:1. 2012, 199:4, eff. Aug. 12, 2012.

Section 188-E:9-a


[RSA 188-E:9-a repealed by 2019, 247:1, effective June 30, 2026.]
    188-E:9-a Donations to Regional Career and Technical Education Center Programs. –
I. For purposes of this section "state fiscal year" shall mean the year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
II. A school district may accept a charitable donation of:
(a) Up to 50 percent of the cost of apprenticeship and training programs offered by the regional CTE center, including the compensation of employees in direct supervision and training of students in a CTE center program.
(b) Up to 50 percent of the salary paid to interns, apprentices, and trainees enrolled in a CTE center program.
(c) Tangible personal property for a related use by an educational program offered by the regional CTE center.
III. The school district shall report within 30 days the donor name and the value of each charitable donation under paragraph II to the department of education.
IV. A donor who makes a qualifying charitable contribution under paragraph II shall be allowed a credit against the business profits tax imposed under RSA 77-A as computed by the department of education in paragraph V.
V. On or before August 1 of each year, the department of education shall compute the amount of tax credits available from the donations made during the prior state fiscal year. The aggregate of tax credits issued by the department of education to all donors claiming the credit under this section shall not exceed $500,000 for any state fiscal year. Credits claimed which exceed the total allowed shall be granted in the donor's proportional share of the maximum aggregate credit amount. On or before October 1 of each year, the department of education shall report all credits issued to the department of revenue administration.
VI. On or before September 1 of each year, the department of education shall provide a donor with a written statement of the amount of tax credit available which may be used by a donor for purposes of the tax credit against business profits taxes provided in RSA 77-A:5, XVI, computed according to paragraph V.
VII. No later than January 1, 2020, the commissioner of the department of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:
(a) The administration of the issuance of tax credits for qualifying charitable donations under this section.
(b) The design and content of the reports, forms, and statements required to be filed with, or issued by, the department of education under this section.
VIII. On or before October 1 of each year, the department of education shall report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, and the chairpersons of the house and senate ways and means committees on the total value of charitable donations received by school districts under this section, the tax credits issued to all donors, and the department's determination of the effect the tax credit program has on educational programs offered by CTE centers and their apprenticeship and training programs.

Source. 2019, 247:1, eff. July 1, 2019.

Section 188-E:10

    188-E:10 Funding for Renovation and Expansion. –
I. The department of education is responsible for maintaining a statewide system of regional career and technical education centers to provide and allow for a variety of career and technical education programs funded within state budget appropriations. The treasurer of the state of New Hampshire is hereby authorized to make funds available to the department of education for the construction, renovation, expansion, or replacement of qualified regional career and technical education centers or regional career and technical education programs authorized in the budget, provided that:
(a) The commissioner of the department of education shall ensure that all requests submitted are both educationally and financially appropriate within the state authorization process;
(b) The commissioner of the department of education submits on a biennial basis in a budget request a priority list of facilities and programs eligible for construction, renovation, expansion, or replacement provided that priority shall be given to programs that have been certified by an approved standard or that need additional funds to become certified by an approved standard;
(c) Each request for funding follows the budget procedure, provided that no qualified project funded in a state capital budget as required in this section shall have additional funds for the same project included in a subsequent proposal for appropriation unless directed by the priority list of the department of education;
(d) Each school district requesting funds from the department of education establishes and funds a construction, renovation, expansion, and replacement reserve fund, which shall be used by the school district to pay construction, renovation, expansion, and replacement costs not funded by the state, and which may include funding for the replacement of equipment; and
(e) The state shall fund not less than 50 percent nor more than 75 percent of the cost of a qualified project approved pursuant to this section.
(f) In this section, "qualified" means the project:
(1) Demonstrates need connected to the labor market.
(2) Demonstrates adequate numbers of students through enrollment figures based on 3-year averages.
(3) Demonstrates alignment with program competencies and academic competencies required by the department of education.
(4) Allows for matriculation into a postsecondary venue.
(5) Meets all industry and building standards.
(6) Meets the procedural requirements for requests under this section and any other requirements in rules of the department of education.
(7) Is a regional career and technical education center within a public school, or a public academy as defined in RSA 194:23, II, in the state of New Hampshire.
(8) Has the capacity to provide academic courses for students from the sending districts who are approved for full-time attendance at the center.
II. The renovation and expansion reserve funding required by subparagraph I(d) may be funded through local community funds, career and technical education tuition payments, gifts, contributions, and bequests of unrestricted funds from individuals, foundations, corporations, organizations, or institutions. School districts shall consider priority funding for programs certified or needing additional funds to become certified as set forth in subparagraph I(b).
III. Public academies receiving funds through the budget process shall comply with all contracts or agreements required by department of education rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A.

Source. 1973, 567:1. 1975, 345:1. 1977, 513:1. 1979, 271:1. 1982, 38:1. 1983, 11:1. 1986, 186:2. 1988, 182:2. 1989, 322:2. 1990, 28:10; 158:2. 1992, 47:1. 1993, 265:1. 1997, 265:2. 2000, 282:2. 2003, 214:1, 2. 2005, 99:1. 2007, 333:3. 2008, 328:3, 4. 2017, 110:2-4, eff. Aug. 7, 2017. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 4, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2023, 79:146, eff. July 1, 2023.

Section 188-E:10-a

    188-E:10-a Repealed by 2014, 140:2, eff. Jan. 15, 2015. –

Section 188-E:10-b

    188-E:10-b Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education. –
I. There is established an advisory council on career and technical education (CTE). The members of the council shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The state director of career and technical education.
(d) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
(e) The chancellor of the community college system, or designee.
(f) Three CTE directors, one member of a school board, and one SAU administrator, appointed by the commissioner of education.
(g) A representative of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the association.
(h) Three representatives of skilled trades or businesses related to CTE programs, appointed by the commissioner of education.
(i) A high school counselor from a sending school district, appointed by the president of the New Hampshire School Counselor Association.
II. Legislative members of the council shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the council.
III. Members of the advisory council appointed under subparagraphs I(f)-(i) shall serve for terms of 3 years and may be reappointed, except that terms of initial appointments by the commissioner under subparagraphs (f) and (h) shall be staggered.
IV. The council shall study career and technical education, and make recommendations concerning:
(a) The delivery system of career and technical education in New Hampshire;
(b) Increasing access to career and technical education programs;
(c) Increasing partnerships between businesses, skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, and CTE programs;
(d) The establishment and implementation of individual learning plans beginning in grade 6; and
(e) Other barriers as may be identified that restrict the delivery of career and technical education to all interested students.
V. The members of the advisory council shall elect a chairperson from among the members. Meetings of the advisory council shall be called by the chairperson as necessary. Seven members of the council shall constitute a quorum.
VI. (a) The advisory council shall file an annual report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation with the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the chairperson of the senate education and workforce development committee, the chairperson of the house education committee, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1.
(b) The annual report shall include the progress of the department of education and the career and technical education centers toward:
(1) Establishing a systematic transcript structure for work-based learning credentials.
(2) Establishing requirements for a New Hampshire career readiness certificate.
(3) Establishing annual reporting metrics for school district dual and concurrent course enrollment by class level and extended learning enrollment as defined in rules of the department of education.
(4) Establishing annual reporting metrics for completion of career readiness credentials.
(5) Determining whether a funding request is needed to support costs associated with career assessment, transcript development, or other facets necessary to implement career readiness credentials and if so, recommending such a request.
VII. By June 30, 2021, upon recommendation of the council, the department shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, establishing requirements for a career readiness credential.

Source. 2015, 252:10. 2017, 156:14, II, eff. July 1, 2017. 2019, 322:6, eff. Oct. 11, 2019. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Secs. 5-7, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.

Section 188-E:11

    188-E:11 Equipment and Instruction Program; Revolving Fund. –
I. There is established an equipment and instruction program in which any regional career and technical education center may establish a revolving fund to be used for capital improvement costs for the replacement or upgrading of equipment, or for aiding instruction in the various career and technical education programs offered by the center. The fund shall be used to pay necessary costs of equipment and related instructional materials which are required to provide up-to-date adult, business and industry training, re-training or customized programs.
II. If a revolving fund is established, the revenues from non-school district sources generated by career and technical educational programs in excess of legitimate and customary school district expenses shall be placed in the fund. Such revenues shall include, but are not limited to, profits from program operations consisting of capitalization costs calculated as part of rental services, cash gifts to career and technical education programs, and moneys from the sale of donated equipment. The revolving fund shall be established as a separate school district account and shall be used only for the purposes specified in paragraph I.

Source. 1991, 187:1. 2017, 110:5, eff. Aug. 7, 2017.

Secondary Career and Technical Education Programs

Section 188-E:12

    188-E:12 Secondary Career and Technical Education Programs; Federal Authorization. – In accordance with 20 U.S.C. section 9271, the state shall include in its unified plan, all secondary career and technical education programs authorized under 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq., known as the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 as amended by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act of 2018, Public Law 115-224.

Source. 2000, 317:1. 2017, 110:7, eff. Aug. 7, 2017. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 8, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.

Section 188-E:13

    188-E:13 Legislative Membership on Youth Council. –
The following legislative members shall be appointed to the youth council which has been established as a subgroup within the State Workforce Innovation Board formed by the governor pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998:
I. Two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall serve as an alternate, appointed by the governor.
II. Two members of the senate, one of whom shall serve as an alternate, appointed by the governor.

Source. 2000, 317:1, eff. June 21, 2000. 2020, 37:35, eff. July 29, 2020.

Pre-Engineering and Technology Curriculum and Pre-Engineering and Technology Advisory Council

Section 188-E:14

    188-E:14 Pre-Engineering and Technology Curriculum –
I. The department of education shall facilitate the development and implementation of a pre-engineering and technology curriculum in the public schools for students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are interested in careers in engineering or allied engineering fields, and shall encourage school districts to implement age-appropriate instruction and projects involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
II. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to course content, curricular requirements, and general procedures for implementing the pre-engineering and technology curriculum. At a minimum, the curriculum shall include the following concepts:
(a) Introduction to engineering design.
(b) Principles of engineering.
(c) Engineering design and development.
III. In developing and implementing a pre-engineering and technology curriculum, the efforts of the department of education shall complement existing public and private actions, and shall include the pursuit of innovative public-private partnerships with businesses, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and other appropriate groups. Such partnerships shall at a minimum consist of a 50/50 match of public and private funds. Teachers teaching in the pre-engineering and technology curriculum, shall be certified to teach the course work as required in this curriculum.
IV. The department of education, in coordination with the regional career and technical education centers, shall include in its biennial capital budget request, funding for the planning, construction, and renovation of equipment necessary for the operation of pre-engineering and technology curriculum in the public schools for students in kindergarten through grade 12.
V. Public schools which implement the pre-engineering and technology curriculum shall be responsible for maintaining the program with funding requests made through the budgetary cycle.
VI. The department of education shall develop a procedure for evaluating existing pre-engineering programs funded under this section and shall submit a report on the status of such programs to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate annually on December 1.

Source. 2002, 271:1. 2008, 244:1-3. 2012, 223:2. 2017, 46:2, eff. July 11, 2017; 110:10, eff. Aug. 7, 2017.

Section 188-E:15

    188-E:15 Pre-Engineering and Technology Advisory Council. – There is established a pre-engineering and technology advisory council to advise the department of education in the implementation, evaluation, and expansion of the pre-engineering and technology curriculum, to assist the department of education in pursuing public and private funds in order to ensure statewide access to pre-engineering and technology curriculum coursework for public school students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Source. 2002, 271:1. 2008, 244:4. 2012, 223:3. 2017, 46:2, eff. July 11, 2017.

Section 188-E:16

    188-E:16 Membership and Terms. –
I. The members of the advisory council shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(d) The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(e) The dean of the university of New Hampshire college of engineering and physical sciences, or designee.
(f) Three superintendents from school administrative units in which at least one school offers a pre-engineering and technology curriculum to its students, appointed by the governor and council.
(g) Six members of the public representing businesses or other organizations, firms, or institutions which hire engineers or engineering technologists, appointed by the governor and council.
II. (a) The term of office for each member appointed under subparagraphs I(f) and I(g) shall be 3 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified in the case of a vacancy. The term of office for all other members shall be coterminous with the term of office for the position that qualifies that member to serve on the advisory council. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner, but only for the unexpired term.
(b) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly, and may meet more often at the call of the chair, or at the request of a majority of the members directed to the chair. The council may, by majority vote of the voting members, adopt additional bylaws as deemed necessary by the council.
(c) The council shall, at its annual meeting, elect one voting member to serve as chair for a one-year term, or until a successor is elected and qualified.
(d) No member shall receive any compensation for serving on the council, provided that the legislative members shall receive legislative mileage when in performance of their duties and the public members may receive compensation dependent upon the availability of funds, other than from the general fund.

Source. 2002, 271:1. 2017, 46:3, eff. July 11, 2017. 2021, 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 9, eff. Oct. 9, 2021.

Section 188-E:17

    188-E:17 Duties. –
The advisory council shall advise the department of education in the following areas relative to the implementation of the pre-engineering and technology curriculum:
I. Curriculum expansion and revision.
II. Curriculum eligibility requirements.
III. Curriculum quality.
IV. Fund raising from private and other sources.
V. Allocation of funds necessary for the curriculum.
VI. Evaluation of performance of pre-engineering and technology program sites.

Source. 2002, 271:1. 2008, 244:5. 2017, 46:4, eff. July 11, 2017.

Automotive Technology Curriculum and Advisory Council

Section 188-E:18

    188-E:18 Automotive Technology Curriculum; Funding. –
I. The department of education shall develop and implement an automotive technology curriculum in the regional career and technology education centers to provide statewide opportunities for high school students interested in careers in the automotive industry to enroll in a high quality automotive technology curriculum.
II. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to course content, curricular requirements, and general procedures for implementing the automotive technology curriculum. At a minimum, the curriculum shall include standards established by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).
III. In developing and implementing an automotive technology curriculum, the efforts of the department of education shall complement existing public and private actions, and shall include the pursuit of innovative public-private partnerships with businesses, nongovernmental organizations, the community college system of New Hampshire, and other appropriate groups. Such partnerships shall at a minimum consist of a 50/50 match of public and private funds, or like kind compensation.
(a) Funding shall not exceed $5,000 per automotive technology program or $90,000 in total non-lapsing appropriations in a fiscal year. Such funding shall be used exclusively to assist an automotive technology program in obtaining or maintaining NATEF certification and may include instructor professional development, including ASE certification, automotive laboratory equipment, hand tools, maintenance of equipment or tools, learning resources, multimedia periodicals, and any other items deemed necessary to assist an automotive technology program in obtaining or maintaining NATEF certification.
(b) Automotive technology programs that will meet certification requirements within 2 years shall be given priority for funding. All other programs not eligible to be certified within the first 2 years shall be eligible for any remaining funding.
IV. When appropriate, the department of education shall include in its biennial capital budget request funding for the planning, construction, and renovation of equipment necessary for the operation of automotive technology curriculum in the regional career and technical education centers.
V. Regional career and technology education centers which implement the automotive technology curriculum shall be responsible for maintaining the program with funding requests made through the budgetary cycle.
VI. Existing or new technical education centers that provide automotive technology education shall obtain program certification pursuant to paragraph II of this section prior to becoming eligible to receive state renovation and construction funds.

Source. 2003, 214:3. 2007, 361:18. 2010, 368:23. 2017, 110:9, eff. Aug. 7, 2017.

Section 188-E:19

    188-E:19 Repealed by 2010, 368:1(46), eff. Dec. 31, 2010. –

Section 188-E:20

    188-E:20 Membership and Terms. –
I. The members of the advisory council shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(d) The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.
(e) One automotive instructor teaching in the community college system of New Hampshire, appointed by the governor and council.
(f) One secondary education career technical education administrator, appointed by the governor and council.
(g) Four members of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, appointed by the governor and council.
II. (a) The term of office for each member appointed under subparagraphs I(e), I(f), and I(g) shall be 3 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified in the case of a vacancy. The term of office for all other members shall be coterminous with the term of office for the position that qualifies that member to serve on the advisory council. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner, but only for the unexpired term.
(b) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly, and may meet more often at the call of the chair, or at the request of a majority of the members directed to the chair. The council may, by majority vote of the voting members, adopt additional bylaws as deemed necessary by the council.
(c) The council shall, at its annual meeting, elect one voting member to serve as chair for a one-year term, or until a successor is elected and qualified.
(d) No member shall receive any compensation for serving on the council, provided that the legislative members shall receive legislative mileage when in performance of their duties and the public members may receive compensation dependent upon the availability of funds, other than from the general fund.

Source. 2003, 214:3. 2007, 361:19, eff. July 17, 2007.

Advanced Manufacturing Education Advisory Council

Section 188-E:21

    188-E:21 Repealed by 2023, 79:45, I, eff. July 1, 2023. –

Section 188-E:22

    188-E:22 Repealed by 2023, 79:45, II, eff. July 1, 2023. –

Section 188-E:23

    188-E:23 Repealed by 2023, 79:45, III, eff. July 1, 2023. –

Section 188-E:23-a

    188-E:23-a Repealed by 2023, 79:45, IV, eff. July 1, 2023. –

Robotics Education Development Program and Robotics Education Fund

Section 188-E:24

    188-E:24 Robotics Education Fund Established. – There is established in the office of the state treasurer a nonlapsing fund to be known as the robotics education fund which shall be kept distinct and separate from all other funds. The fund shall be administered by the commissioner of the department of education. The commissioner may accept and expend funds from any public or private source, including private gifts, grants, and donations.

Source. 2014, 306:1. 2017, 156:155, eff. July 1, 2017.

Section 188-E:24-a

    188-E:24-a Robotics Education Development Program. –
I. There is established a robotics education development program in the department of education. The purpose of the program is to motivate public school students to pursue educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while building critical life and work-related skills. Grants from the robotics education fund established in RSA 188-E:24 shall be available to any eligible public school or chartered public school for the purpose of financing the establishment of a robotics team and its participation in competitive events. Grant funds shall be limited to the purchase of robotics kits, stipends for coaches, and the payment of associated costs from participation in competitions.
II. To be eligible to participate, a school shall:
(a) Develop a budget for a robotics team;
(b) Partner with at least one sponsor, business entity, institution of higher education, or technical school for support in a robotics program; and
(c) Identify at least one competitive event in which the school will participate.
III. The commissioner shall disburse a grant as a single payment at the beginning of each school year.
IV. Subject to the provisions of paragraph V, no school shall receive more than one grant every 2 years, however, a school district may receive multiple grant awards.
V. (a) If the amount of grant funds requested exceeds the balance in the robotics education fund available in any year, the commissioner shall not prorate the grant awards, but shall assign preference to those schools with a higher percentage of students in the school's average daily membership in attendance who are eligible for a free or reduced-price meal as defined in RSA 198:38. Secondary preference shall be given to schools which did not receive a grant in the previous year due to lack of funds.
(b) In the event that additional funds exist in the fund after all initial grant application requests have been met, the commissioner shall award schools additional grants for additional requested teams in accordance with subparagraph (a). If a school receives a grant for any additional teams, such grant shall be made at the same time as the grant for the initial team. In the event that a school received a grant or grants in the prior year and qualifies for an additional team or teams, such grant shall be made in the usual manner.
VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to developing grant application forms and procedures, establishing deadlines for the submission of applications and the awarding of grants, and establishing criteria for awarding and disbursing grants.
VII. No later than July 15, 2018, and annually thereafter, the department shall issue a report to the governor, senate president, speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the house and senate education committees, and the state library, detailing the number of grants awarded, the schools receiving grants and the grant amount, the schools that applied for grants but did not receive a grant due to insufficient funds, the number of students participating, the unencumbered balance of the robotics education fund, and any other information the department deems appropriate.

Source. 2017, 156:156, eff. July 1, 2017. 2018, 315:14, eff. Aug. 24, 2018; 362:1, eff. Aug. 31, 2018.

Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program

Section 188-E:25

    188-E:25 Definitions. –
In this subdivision:
I. "CCSNH" means the community college system of New Hampshire.
II. "Concurrent enrollment" means courses taught at the high school by high school teachers approved by CCSNH in which high school students earn both high school and college or university credit while students are still attending high school or a career technical education center.
III. "Dual enrollment" means college courses taught by instructors from CCSNH in which high school students earn college credit while students are still enrolled in high school or a career technical education center.

Source. 2017, 156:110, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:2, eff. July 1, 2017. 2021, 91:311, eff. July 1, 2021.

Section 188-E:26

    188-E:26 Program Established. – There is established a dual and concurrent enrollment program in CCSNH. Participation in the program shall be offered to high school and career technical education center students in grades 10 through 12. The program shall provide opportunities for qualified New Hampshire high school students to gain access and support for dual and concurrent enrollment in courses that are fundamental and necessary for success in postsecondary education, career path opportunities, and to meet New Hampshire's emerging workforce needs.

Source. 2017, 156:110, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:2, eff. July 1, 2017. 2019, 322:7, eff. Oct. 11, 2019. 2021, 91:311, eff. July 1, 2021; 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 17, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2023, 79:3, eff. July 1, 2023.

Section 188-E:27

    188-E:27 Enrollment Requirements. –
I. An interested high school student in grades 10 through 12 may enroll in a course that is designated by CCSNH as part of the dual and concurrent enrollment program.
II. A student in the program shall be provided funding for enrollment in no more than 4 dual or concurrent enrollment courses taken in grade 10, no more than 4 dual or concurrent enrollment courses taken in grade 11, and no more than 4 dual or concurrent enrollment courses taken in grade 12. A student may take more than 4 dual or concurrent enrollment courses per year at his or her own expense.
III. (a) The state shall pay the current rate of concurrent enrollment tuition, which is established at $150 per course, to the CCSNH institution where a high school, career and technical education, or non-residential nonpublic high school student enrolls in the concurrent enrollment course.
(b) The state shall pay the current rate of dual enrollment tuition, which is established at 1/2 the regular cost of the course, to the CCSNH institution where a high school, career and technical education, or non-residential nonpublic high school student enrolls in a dual enrollment course and CCSNH shall accept such amount as full payment for course tuition.
IV. Each high school should provide a designated individual to serve as the point of contact on matters related to the program, including but not limited to, student counseling, support services, course scheduling, managing course forms and student registration, program evaluation, course transferability, and assisting with online courses. Each high school shall annually notify all high school students and their parents of dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities.
V. CCSNH shall report annually to the department of education on student enrollment, successful completion, and grades of students in dual and concurrent enrollment courses. Such data shall not contain personally identifiable information.

Source. 2017, 156:110, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:2, eff. July 1, 2017. 2019, 322:8, eff. Oct. 11, 2019. 2021, 91:311, eff. July 1, 2021. 2022, 240:1, 3, eff. Aug. 16, 2022. 2023, 79:4, eff. July 1, 2023.

Section 188-E:28

    188-E:28 School Board Policy. –
I. The school board of each school district, and the governing body of each institution in the case of non-residential, nonpublic schools which opt to participate, shall develop and adopt a policy permitting students residing in the district or in attendance at the nonpublic school who are in grade 10, 11 or 12 to participate in the dual and concurrent enrollment program. The policy shall, at a minimum, include compliance with measurable educational standards and criteria approved by CCSNH and that meet the same standard of quality and rigor as courses offered on campus by CCSNH. The policy shall also comply with the standards for accreditation and program development established by the National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. The policy shall include, but not be limited to, student eligibility criteria, standards for course content, standards for faculty approval, program coordination and communication requirements, tuition and fees, textbooks and materials, course grading policy, data collection, maintenance, and security, revenue and expenditure reporting, and process for renewal of the agreement.
II. The department of education and CCSNH shall develop and approve a model dual and concurrent enrollment agreement that shall be used by the CCSNH and the school board of a school district participating in the dual and concurrent enrollment agreement program. The model agreement shall include standards established by CCSNH, shall include elements, standards, and criteria that have been approved by the department of education and CCSNH, and shall serve as the framework for the development, implementation, and administration of the dual and concurrent enrollment program in each school district by clearly defining the procedures related to concurrent and dual enrollment of high school students in college classes. CCSNH shall further develop guidelines for the program relating to reporting, accountability, and payment of available funds to CCSNH.

Source. 2017, 156:110, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:2, eff. July 1, 2017. 2021, 91:311, eff. July 1, 2021; 210:2, Pt. II, Sec. 18, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2022, 240:2, eff. Aug. 16, 2022.

Section 188-E:29

    188-E:29 Budget Requests. –
I. The chancellor of CCSNH, or his or her designee, shall submit expenditure requests in accordance with RSA 9:4-e to fund the dual and concurrent enrollment program established in this subdivision.
II. In the event expenditures by CCSNH for the dual and concurrent enrollment program exceed amounts appropriated by the state, the chancellor, or his or her designee, may request the fiscal committee of the general court authorize additional funding. Amounts requested under this paragraph shall be limited to direct program costs and shall not include costs relative to program administration. For funds requested and approved, the governor is authorized to draw a warrant from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Source. 2017, 156:110, eff. July 1, 2017; 210:2, eff. July 1, 2017. 2021, 91:311, eff. July 1, 2021.

Workforce Development and Innovation Fund

Section 188-E:30

    188-E:30 Workforce Development and Innovation Fund Established. –
I. There is established a nonlapsing fund in the department of education to be known as the career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund.
II. The fund may include the commissioner of education's project fund reserve under the New Hampshire state plan, and shall include state appropriations designated for the purposes of the fund, federal and other grants designated for the purposes of the fund, including proceeds designated for workforce development by the federal government from Gulf of Maine offshore wind lease auctions, as allocated to the state of New Hampshire, contributions from businesses and industries, designated for the purposes of the fund, and any other sources. The commissioner of education is authorized to establish procedures for the use of funds and to disburse funds as recommended by the offshore wind industry workforce training center committee in RSA 12-O:51-a.
III. The commissioner shall consult with the Business and Industry Association, the labor department, CTE directors, the community college system of New Hampshire, CTE sector partners, and others, on workforce needs that can be met through innovative programming and program expansion at the career and technical education centers, and through partnerships with business and industry, the community college system of New Hampshire, union training and apprenticeship programs, and other entities offering workforce training partnerships. Program expansion may include emerging industries, such as the offshore wind industry and other renewable energy industries.
IV. The commissioner shall report annually by November 1 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the chairs of the house and senate education committees, and the chair of the career and technical education advisory council on the fund's income and expenditures.

Source. 2023, 99:2, eff. July 1, 2023.