|
__________________________________________________________
Legislative Committees Begin Work with Briefings
Many legislative committees held briefings this week, receiving information from various policy resources. House and Senate members of the Finance and Ways Committees heard presentations on demographic trends, economic conditions and the state's current financial status. The House Education Committee listened to presentations on the structure of Education in NH and a briefing by the Department of Education. In addition to providing an overview of state minimum standards and state assessment practices, the Department also provided information on their efforts to move the state from focusing on compliance and standardized models to a system of supports with more personalized attention. Their comments highlighted the adoption of the Common Core standards (College & Career Ready), their vision for a networked strategy to connect with, and support, staff in districts and regions throughout the state, and a model NH system for educator effectiveness, all of which supports the recent Federal Waiver application, which is still in process.
______________________________________
Hearings on Proposed Legislation Begin Next Week
Tuesday, January 15
Next Tuesday kicks off the legislative hearing process. The House Education Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 142 at 10:00 am. This bill affirms the local school board's responsibility for the development and implementation of a teacher evaluation system. NHSBA worked with bill sponsor Rep. Ladd (R - Haverhill), in response to initial draft Dept. of Education proposals seeking to require districts to adopt all, or key, components of a model state teacher evaluation framework. The proposed language in HB 142 simply states what is current practice: "The school board is responsible for the development, adoption, implementation, and monitoring of a teacher evaluation system. The school board may consult with school administrators and teachers in the development of a teacher evaluation system."
ACTION ITEM
Please contact your local representative and members of the House Education Committee expressing your support for this bill. School boards have long had this responsibility. In fact, the first "Duty of School Boards" listed in state rules (Rule 303.01) states, "Adopt policies necessary and desirable to control and effectuate the recruitment, employment, evaluation and dismissal of teachers and other employees..." This management right clearly belongs with the governing body at the local level.
______________________________________
Additional Education Related Hearings Scheduled Next Week
Wednesday, January 16
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 301, LOB
10:00 a.m. HB 122, relative to limitation of appropriations in official ballot municipalities.
11:00 a.m. HB 115, relative to the procedure for filling a vacancy on a cooperative school district budget committee.
Thursday, January 17
EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB
10:00 a.m. HB 160, relative to a school district's transportation responsibility for pupils of divorced parents with joint decision making responsibility.
11:00 a.m. HB 159, requiring patriotic exercises in public schools on federal Constitution Day.
1:00 p.m. HB 161, relative to school district policies on health and sex education.
| 
