nhsba

New Hampshire School Boards Association

Legislative Bulletin

January 23, 2015

  

A Brief Summary of Education Issues at the State House  

 

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Teacher "Tenure" Returns with Proposal to Shorten the Probationary Period

HB 116 had a hearing before the House Education Committee this week. This bill reduces from 5 to 3 consecutive years of teaching required for a teacher to be entitled to notification and a hearing where the teacher is not reappointed. NHSBA testified in opposition to the bill, noting that the reduction in the number of years needed before additional rights and protections are provided to teachers shrinks the review period of staff and time available to decide whether they are the best choice for a classroom. There are many factors that are relevant to being successful in the workplace. This bill restricts the opportunity districts currently have to make better choices on how well employees 'fit' in the district and their potential for success. It will also harm employees, as districts will be forced to make quicker decisions on those candidates for whom questions remain at the end of a shorter probationary period. The proposed change allows less time to assess a teacher before making a final decision, and given the costs associated with nonrenewals and dismissals, on balance it makes sense to allow the longer probationary period before possibly incurring those high termination costs.

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Proposed Constitutional Amendment Puts State Aid to Districts At Risk

NHSBA opposes a proposed Constitutional Amendment, CACR 3, scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Education Committee next Tuesday, January 27, at 9:40 am in room 103 of the LOB. This proposal provides that the legislature shall have the responsibility to maintain a public education system and to mitigate disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity, and shall have the power and authority to make reasonable standards for education and accountability and to determine the amount of state funding for education. CACR 3 would allow the state to reduce adequacy aid significantly, or only provide limited "targeted" funding at whatever level it chose. Language included in the bill states, "... and to determine the amount of, and the methods of raising and distributing, state funding for public education." This bill negates all the previous legislative history defining, costing, and funding an adequate education, and is in direct conflict with a resolution NHSBA adopted in 2008: The NHSBA opposes any constitutional amendment that vacates the spirit and intent of the Claremont and Londonderry lawsuits and attempts in any way to limit or redirect funding in a manner that is contrary to the New Hampshire Supreme Court's ruling and present interpretation of the New Hampshire Constitution.

Please contact your local senator and share your concerns over funding levels impacted by this proposal.

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Senate Education Committee Considers Proposed Limitations on the NH Dept. of Education

The Senate Education Committee will hold hearings next Tuesday morning, starting at 9:00 am in room 103, on SB 81 and SB 82. The first bill limits the authority of the state board of education to only the department of education and the commissioner, removing reference to authority "over all public schools in the state." The second bill prohibits the commissioner of the department of education from initiating or assuming any managerial, supervisory, or operational function, or directing action with district superintendents, principals, or CIA (curriculum, instruction, and assessment).

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House Education Committee Considers Changes to the Statewide Assessment Program

(See schedule below.)

HB242 requires third grade pupils to demonstrate proficiency in the reading and mathematics components of the statewide assessment. The bill also provides for an alternative to the 11th grade statewide assessment for pupils in career and technical education programs.

HB323 makes changes to the type of statewide assessment that may be administered by a school district. The bill requires the statewide assessment program be "supported by the local school district" or be "a performance-based assessment designed to yield specific data to use in identifying and improving instruction".

 

As Well as "Common Core" Proposals and Dept. of Education Issues

HA1 requests the removal of Virginia Barry, commissioner of the department of education, and Paul Leather, deputy commissioner of the department of education.

HB124 requires the state board of education to report on the fiscal impact of implementing any new college and career readiness standards, and prohibits the board from implementing any such new standards until the board performs a fiscal analysis and conducts a public hearing in each executive council district.

HB276 prohibits the state board of education from adopting a rule requiring a school district or any public school to implement the common core standards.

HB303 specifies additional criteria for the statewide educational improvement and assessment program and requires that no psychological services be provided to a pupil without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

HB322 requires the department of education to implement additional procedures to protect student and teacher personally identifiable data from security breaches.

 

Also Building Aid, Parental Observation Requirements, & Criminal History Checks

HB231 permits a school district to apply for school building aid for construction projects approved by a school district during the biennium ending June 30, 2015, and requires the department of education to accept such applications. Currently, no building aid applications may be considered until after the moratorium is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2015.

HB283 requires a school district to establish a policy permitting a pupil's parent or legal guardian to observe his or her classes upon request to the school principal or designee.

HB346 makes changes to the law on school employee and volunteer criminal history records checks. The bill expands the release of information to "any crimes" rather than the current restriction to "felonies". The proposal does not prohibit the hiring of a candidate for any type of expanded crime listed, but the information will be released to the district.

 

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Legislation Considered Next Tuesday, January 27, 2015

 

SENATE EDUCATION, Room 103, LOB

Sen. Reagan (C), Sen. Stiles (VC), Sen. Avard, Sen. Kelly, Sen. Watters

9:00 a.m. SB 81, relative to the powers of the state board of education.

9:20 a.m. SB 82, relative to the authority of the commissioner of the department of education.

9:40 a.m. CACR 3, Relating to public education. Providing that the general court shall define

standards and funding for public education.

EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW

 

HOUSE EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB

10:00 a.m. HB 301, allowing a parent to elect not to include their child in the unique pupil identification system or other information database maintained by the department of education.

11:30 a.m. HB 346, relative to criminal history records checks for school employees and volunteers.

1:00 p.m. HB 242, relative to the statewide improvement and assessment program.

1:30 p.m. HB 323, relative to the administration of the statewide assessment program.

2:15 p.m. HB 283, requiring school districts to establish a policy permitting a pupil's parent or legal guardian to observe his or her classes.

                          3:00 p.m. HB 303, relative to statewide assessment standards and relative to parental consent for psychological services to students.

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Legislation Considered Next Thursday, January 29, 2015

 

HOUSE EDUCATION, Rooms 206-208, LOB

10:00 a.m. HB 231, relative to applications for school building aid.

10:45 a.m. HB 322, relative to protection of personally identifiable data by the department of education.

11:30 a.m. HA 1, for the removal of certain state officials in the department of education.

1:00 p.m. HB 276, providing that school districts shall not be required to adopt the common core standards.

                          2:30 p.m. HB 124, relative to the implementation of new college and career readiness standards.

 


For the complete text of any bill, go to the general court web site and enter the bill number, e.g. HB102, and make sure the Session Year is 2015. 

 

For more information on specific legislation, please call Dean Michener, NHSBA Director of Governmental Affairs at 603-228-2061, or email: [email protected]. 

Dean Michener
NHSBA Dir. of Governmental Affairs
[email protected]
603-228-2061