Manchester School Committee Proposes to Interfere with Inherent Rights of Parents to OPT OUT their Child from Statewide Assessment, Smarter Balanced Assessment

Submitted by ... on 16 February 2015 - 12:23pm

State law authorizes the state Board of Education to adopt rules for exemptions to the statewide assessments.

RSA 193-C:4 Rulemaking. – The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the exemption of certain students from participation in the program. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the state board of education to adopt rules pursuant to the authority granted by the general court.

The state Board of Education adopted exemptions which are totally out of the reach of most parents, such that their only option is to refuse outright, which is their right to do.

The Department of Education, and now the Manchester School Committee, is deliberately trying to confuse parents by withholding information so parents can be intimidated into allowing their children to take these assessments.

The NH Commissioner of Education sent out the following directive to school districts, informing them about the participation requirements of the statewide assessment, Smarter Balanced.

These are the onerous and restrictive exemptions that the state Board of Education adopted:

All students in the designated grades shall participate in the assessment unless the student is exempted."  Commissioner Barry's directive lists six Department-approved exemptions:

1. Medical emergency/serious illness

2. Severe emotional distress

3. Death in the family

4. Student qualifies for the NH Alternate Assessment but enroll after the start of the assessment window

5. Student who participates in another state’s assessment system

6. Exemption from ACCESS for ELLs® for student taking the NH Alternate Assessment

 

The Commissioner continues in her explanation to districts, claiming that parents can't opt out of the assessments, because "standards are neither courses or materials."  She overlooks the fact that assessments are "materials" and these "materials" may be objectionable; parents may opt out of objectionable assessment materials.

Read the Commissioner's technical advisory:

 

 

On January 13,2015 updating her technical advisory with an addendum, the Commissioner acknowledges that there were no laws under which the Department of Education could  penalize parents or students who refused to take the statewide assessments.

The Commissioner essentially acknowledges that parents may OPT OUT their children from the Smarter Balanced assessment with NO PENALTY.

 

 

Finally, the Commissioner sends out a third Technical Assistance directive telling districts that "There is no "opting out" option for students in the law" --- encouraging districts to intimidate and bully students who attend schools during the assessment period --- even if their parents opt them out. 

The Commissioner has no regard for the inherent rights of parents to direct the education of their children, including opting out their child from assessments they find objectionable. 

The rights of parents supersede any statute that the Commissioner -- even is she cannot locate our rights in the law.  Her legal advise to districts is extremely short-sighted. She should look to the constitution, not state statute if confused.

https://files.ctctcdn.com/f9151af9001/f8902d2e-57e1-45e3-96cb-b29429c79a1c.pdf

Next comes Manchester Curriculum and Instruction Committee with a proposal for an OPT OUT FORM for parents.  Notice tht the form does not say "OPT OUT FORM" or even "REFUSAL FORM."  It is nothing more than a recitation of the state Board of Education's onerous list of state approved EXEMPTIONS -- under which no parent can reasonably use when opting out their child from what they may perceive to be objectionable assessments.

The Manchester Curriculum and Instruction Committee meets on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:30 am in the Manchester City Hall.  Parents need to remind the committee members that their rights of conscience are inalienable and they supersede the directives of the state Board of Education and the Manchester School Committee.

Such arrogance!  The committee is trying to intimidate parents into compliance with the Commissioner's technical directives which are incorrect. 

There is no penalty for parents who refuse to allow their children to take the Smarter Balanced assessments. NONE. Where is that written on the form? Why is it omitted?

Instead of acknowledging the rights of parents, the intention is to derail parents with this very restrictive form.

 

This Week's Education Bills

Submitted by ... on 23 January 2015 - 7:14pm

The following is a list of Education Bills that are scheduled for public hearings on Tuesday, February 10th or Thursday, February 12th. 

Please look over the list to see if you'd like to offer testimony, either in person or via e-mail.

LOB 103 = Legislative Office Building, Room 103

LOB 207  = Legislative Office Building, Room 207

Contact information:

House Education Committee: 

HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us

Senate Education Committe:

John Reagan  Chairman (R)

john.reagan111@gmail.com

(603)271-4063

Nancy Stiles  V Chairman (R)

nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3093

Kevin Avard   (R)

Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-4151

Molly Kelly   (D)

molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3207

David Watters (D)

david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-8631

 

For more information on individual bills, check the index on the left side of page for articles on individual bills.

 

Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #

Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION
 

9:00 AM LOB 103
 

 SENATE BILL 246  

relative to the definition of “teacher” for the purpose of renomination or reelection.

 
  9:20 AM LOB 103 SENATE BILL 247  

r

elative to duties of the legislative oversight committee established under the statewide education improvement and assessment program.


Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION



10:00 AM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 491
Ken Gidge

elative to duties of the legislative oversight committee established under the statewide education improvement and assessment program.


Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION



10:00 AM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 491
Ken Gidge

relative to immunity for school personnel using reasonable force to protect a minor.

 

 OPPOSE

EXECUTIVE SESSION

10:30 PM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 242

 Rick Ladd

relative to the statewide improvement and assessment program.

ALLOWS FOR STUDENT TRACKING

OPPOSE

EXECUTIVE SESSION

10:30 PM LOB 207

 HOUSE BILL 276 Rick Ladd

providing that school districts shall not be required to adopt the common core standards.

ALLOWS STATE BOARD TO REGULATE A DISTRICT'S CHOICE OF ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS TO COMMON CORE.
SUPPORT with Sponsor's Amendment


EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

 HOUSE BILL 303 Elizabeth Ferreira

relative to statewide assessment standards and relative to parental consent for psychological services to students.

REQUIRES WRITTEN CONSENT FROM PARENTS FOR BOTH ASSESSMENTS THAT MEASURE STUDENT DISPOSITIONS (VALUES, ATTITUDES, BELIEFS)  AND FOR ANY TREATMENT BY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.

SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 317 Eric Eastman

relative to contracts between schools and school districts.

EXPANDS EXISTING LAW ALLOWING DISTRICTS TO MAKE CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE and HOME SCHOOLS in lieu of building or expanding new schools. GIven the building aid moratorium and decreasing student population, this is an important option for districts trying to keep within their budgets.

SUPPORT

 EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 471 Glenn Cordelli

relative to the powers of the state board of education.

PREVENTS STATE MICRO-MANAGING DISTRICTS WITH "TECHNICAL ADVISORIES."
OPPOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 474 Timothy Horrigan

relative to grounds for denial of a chartered public school application.

CENTRALIZES PUBLIC EDUCATION BY CONSOLIDATING  TO 10 SAU's, PLUS NASHUA AND MANCHESTER SAU's.
  EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 491 Ken Gidge

relative to immunity for school personnel using reasonable force to protect a minor.
  EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 519 Kidder

establishing a committee to study department of education policies affecting dyslexic students.
         
ACTION NEEDED

THURSDAY,

MAR. 5th

 BILL PRIME SPONSOR

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION
         

Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #

Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION
 

9:00 AM LOB 103
 

 SENATE BILL 246  

relative to the definition of “teacher” for the purpose of renomination or reelection.

 
  9:20 AM LOB 103 SENATE BILL 247  

r

elative to duties of the legislative oversight committee established under the statewide education improvement and assessment program.


Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION



10:00 AM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 491
Ken Gidge

elative to duties of the legislative oversight committee established under the statewide education improvement and assessment program.


Action Needed

Tuesday

Mar. 3rd

Bill #Prime Sponsor

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION



10:00 AM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 491
Ken Gidge

relative to immunity for school personnel using reasonable force to protect a minor.

 

 OPPOSE

EXECUTIVE SESSION

10:30 PM LOB 207

HOUSE BILL 242

 Rick Ladd

relative to the statewide improvement and assessment program.

ALLOWS FOR STUDENT TRACKING

OPPOSE

EXECUTIVE SESSION

10:30 PM LOB 207

 HOUSE BILL 276 Rick Ladd

providing that school districts shall not be required to adopt the common core standards.

ALLOWS STATE BOARD TO REGULATE A DISTRICT'S CHOICE OF ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS TO COMMON CORE.
SUPPORT with Sponsor's Amendment


EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

 HOUSE BILL 303 Elizabeth Ferreira

relative to statewide assessment standards and relative to parental consent for psychological services to students.

REQUIRES WRITTEN CONSENT FROM PARENTS FOR BOTH ASSESSMENTS THAT MEASURE STUDENT DISPOSITIONS (VALUES, ATTITUDES, BELIEFS)  AND FOR ANY TREATMENT BY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.

SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 317 Eric Eastman

relative to contracts between schools and school districts.

EXPANDS EXISTING LAW ALLOWING DISTRICTS TO MAKE CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE and HOME SCHOOLS in lieu of building or expanding new schools. GIven the building aid moratorium and decreasing student population, this is an important option for districts trying to keep within their budgets.

SUPPORT

 EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 471 Glenn Cordelli

relative to the powers of the state board of education.

PREVENTS STATE MICRO-MANAGING DISTRICTS WITH "TECHNICAL ADVISORIES."
OPPOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 474 Timothy Horrigan

relative to grounds for denial of a chartered public school application.

CENTRALIZES PUBLIC EDUCATION BY CONSOLIDATING  TO 10 SAU's, PLUS NASHUA AND MANCHESTER SAU's.
  EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 491 Ken Gidge

relative to immunity for school personnel using reasonable force to protect a minor.
  EXECUTIVE SESSION HOUSE BILL 519 Kidder

establishing a committee to study department of education policies affecting dyslexic students.
         
ACTION NEEDED

THURSDAY,

MAR. 5th

 BILL PRIME SPONSOR

Bill Title

SHORT EXPLANATION
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION House BIll 555 Glenn Cordelli

relative to participation of chartered public school students in school district co-curricular activities.
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 578 Rick Ladd

relative to state board of education compliance with unfunded federal education mandates.
  EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 581 Mary Gile

requiring schools to continue the education of a child during the child’s suspension or expulsion
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 603 JR Hoell

relative to student exemptions from the statewide assessment.

IMPORTANT BILL RESPECTING PARENTS RIGHT TO REFUSE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS, WHICH IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 604 Laura Jones

relative to the use of mixed use school buses by special education pupils.

PROTECTS DISTRICT BUDGETS, WHILE RESPECTING STUDENT SAFETY
  EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 610 Suzanne Gottling

relative to a school board vote on the reassignment of a pupil.
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE SESSION House Bill 611 Greg Hill

requiring legislative approval of all agreements, contracts, grants, or waivers involving the department of education or the state board of education.

PROVIDES OPEN GOVERNMENT / TRANSPARENCY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, ESPECIALLY THE UPCOMING NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND WAIVER RENEWAL WHICH WILL LOCK IN NH SCHOOLS WITH NEW REFORMS FOR FOUR LONG YEARS.
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

House Bill 323 - Proposes an Alternative to Common Core Aligned Testing Which is Just More of the Same

Submitted by ... on 23 January 2015 - 12:21pm

There's a public hearing on House Bill 323 on Wednesday, January 28th at 1:30 pm in the House Education Committee in Room 207 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord.

House Bill 323 proposes to provide Districts with an alternative statewide assessment and to limit the number of years these assessment must be given to students.  That sounds great!

Unfortunately, the implementation fails to provide Districts with a real alternative. 

What's a "performance-based" assessment? Performance-based learning tasks use competencies.

Three Types of Competencies

Any learner successfully completing the Cycle of Learning has used a combination of competencies:

Competencies from the “disciplines” include knowledge from such areas as the arts, humanities, language arts, physical health/health, science, math, and technology.

Interpersonal competencies include communication skills, cooperative learning, and courtesy.

Intrapersonal competencies include work habits such as organization, time management, and persistence.

Teacher's Guide to Performance-Based Learning and Assessment

Competency-based learning is also found in the Common Core aligned Smarter Balanced Assessments.  So where's the alternative.  There is none!

Please OPPOSE House Bill 323.

HOUSE BILL 323

AN ACT relative to the administration of the statewide assessment program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf 4; Rep. Myler, Merr 10; Rep. Grenier, Sull 7; Rep. Gile, Merr 27

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to the administration of the statewide assessment program.

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

1 Statewide Education Improvement and Assessment Program; Assessment Required. Amend RSA 193-C:6 to read as follows:

193-C:6 Assessment Required. Each year, a statewide assessment program supported by the local school district or a performance-based assessment designed to yield specific data to use in identifying and improving instruction shall be administered in all school districts in the state in grades 3 through 8 and one grade in high school, or alternatively, in selected grades from 3 through 12. All public school students in the designated grades shall participate in the assessment, unless such student is exempted, or provided that the commissioner of the department of education may, through an agreement with another state when such state and New Hampshire are parties to an interstate agreement, allow pupils to participate in that state’s assessment program as an alternative to the assessment required under this chapter. Home educated students may contact their local school districts if they wish to participate in the statewide assessment. Private schools may contact the department of education to participate in the statewide assessment.

 

Please attend the public hearing on Wednesday, January, 28th at 1:30 pm. It is important for the commitee members to see parents who oppose this amendment.

Legislative Office Building 33 North State Street Concord, NH 03301

Free parking on side streets to the west of the LOB. Closer in is 2 to 3 hour parking zones. Two to three blocks away there's unlimited free parking.

 

If you can't attend, please contact House Education Members with the reasons why you OPPOSE House Bill 323. 

Protect LOCAL CONTROL of our schools.

Email the entire House Education Committee members with this single email address:

HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us

Or contact House Education Members individually with your support for this bill:

House Education Committee Members: Email Committee Members
Chairman: Rick Ladd(r) Bills Currently in Committee
V. Chairman: John Balcom(r) Bills Originally Referred to Committee
Clerk: Barbara Shaw(d) Mailing list of Committee Members
 
 
 
Ralph Boehm (r) Glenn Cordelli (r) James Grenier (r)
Robert Elliott (r) Christopher Adams (r) Allen Cook (r)
Josh Moore (r) Jason Osborne (r) Victoria Sullivan (r)
Terry Wolf (r) Mary Gile (d) Mary Gorman (d)
June Frazer (d) Andrew Schmidt (d) Mel Myler (d)
Deanna Rollo (d) Mary Heath (d) James Verschueren (d)

Senate Bill 82 - RESTRICTS Authority of Commissioner of Education to RESTORE Local Control

Submitted by ... on 20 January 2015 - 10:38pm

 

How did Common Core reforms come into every district in New Hampshire without the knowledge or consent of the people's elected representatives in the state legislature or district school boards? 

Current procedures used by the NH Commissioner of Education provide no transparency to parents, taxpayers, elected school board members, or even elected state legislators.  The Commissioner circumvented every opportunity to bring these important conversations out into the public square for debate and discussion. 

Instead the Commissioner choose to rely upon monthly meetings between herself and district administrators, as well as additional meetings between her Regional Liaisons, which she called her "Extended Cabinet" and district administrators.  These meetings were all held behind closed doors and without any minutes or videotape recording made available to the public.

What evidence is there of the procedure used to implement Common Core in every district?

In 2012 the Commissioner promised the U.S. Department of Education in her ESEA Flexibility Waiver (No Child Left Behind) Application that not only would every district in New Hampshire adopt Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts (ELA), but also that the state Board of Education would adopt the Science and Social Studies State Standards by 2014. 

That promise exceeded the Commissioner’s authority. It violates state law, RSA 193-E, which guarantees local authority over curriculum. Districts do not have to adopt Common Core, only meet or exceed state standards. Common Core State Standards must be voluntary, not mandatory.

In her grant application, the Commissioner promised:

“…roll-out by district take place in three stages, with an early adopter group of districts selected to start up in 2013-2014, a second cohort to launch in 2014-2015, and the final cohort in 2015-2016.  The early adopter and middle cohorts districts would be districts who volunteer to participate, with the remaining districts falling into the third and final cohort.” pg. 166, http://www2.ed.gov/policy/eseaflex/nh.pdf

This document can be found on the US Department of Education website.  It is not the abridged copy that can be found on the NH Department of Education. 

http://www.education.nh.gov/accountability-system/documents/flexibility-waiver-request20130605.pdf 

From this same application, NH Flexibility ESEA (No Child Left Behind Waiver) application, on page 31, there is a description of NH’s Implementation Team, which explains how Common Core reforms were implemented without adequate transparency.

"The five regional liaisons are the newest addition to the support and outreach plan for implementing CCSS (Common Core State Standards) and the networked strategy for the NH DOE."

"As part of their ongoing support role, the regional liaisons participate in monthly superintendent, principal and CIA (curriculum, instruction and assessment) meetings that take place in their respective regions."

"They also form a conduit for feedback to the NHDOE thereby supporting a continuous demand driven approach to implementing CCSS. The liaisons will participate in bi-monthly meetings at the NHDOE, included as members of the Commissioner's extended cabinet, ensuring a better two-way flow of information between the field (districts) and the NHDOE."

Regional Centers were established under the NH Department of Education using federal funds insuring the implementation of Common Core throughout the state.  This is how Common Core was implemented in nearly every school district in the state before parents or elected school board members were notified. 

Regional Liaisons have been meeting monthly with school district administrators, helping implement Common Core  -- without transparency (no videorecordings or meeting minutes) and without the knowledge or consent of elected representatives of any school board or even the state legislature.

Senate Bill 82 rectifies this non-transparent procedure used by the Commissioner by reigning in her authority.

If the Commissioner of Education wants to be a federal lobbyist, implementing every federal education reform proposal, let her come openly to School Boards and the State Legislature to discuss those reforms with our elected representatives.

The Commissioner of Education and her Department officials ought to wear PURPLE LOBBYIST badges , not ORANGE LOBBYIST badges as private sector lobbyists are required to wear, since the Department is 85% funded with federal dollars.  The Commissioner represents the ROYAL interests of the federal government, not the people of New Hampshire.

 

SENATE BILL 82

AN ACT relative to the authority of the commissioner of the department of education.

SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Rep. Ferreira, Hills 28; Rep. Murotake, Hills 32; Rep. K. Rice, Hills 37; Rep. Zaricki, Hills 6

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This 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), and prohibits the commissioner from initiating or establishing district oversight through an extended cabinet of regional liaisons.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to the authority of the commissioner of the department of education.

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

1 New Paragraph; Department of Education; Duties of Commissioner. Amend RSA 21-N:4 by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraph:

XII. Not initiate or assume any managerial, supervisory, or operational function, or direct action with district superintendents, principals, or CIA (curriculum, instruction, and assessment), nor initiate or establish district oversight through an extended cabinet of regional liaisons.

 

Please contact these senators with the reasons why you SUPPORT Senate Bill 81. 

Protect LOCAL CONTROL of our schools.  Reign in the Commissioner of Education who lobbies for federal education reforms.

 

Jeff Woodburn (d)
(603)271-3207
Jeff.Woodburn@leg.state.nh.us

Jeanie Forrester (r)
(603)271-4980
jeanie.forrester@leg.state.nh.us

Jeb Bradley (r)
(603)271-2106
jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us

David Watters (d)
(603)271-8631
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

David Pierce (d)
(603)271-3067
david.pierce@leg.state.nh.us

Sam Cataldo (r)
(603)271-4063
sam.cataldo@leg.state.nh.us

Andrew Hosmer (d)
(603)271-8631
andrew.hosmer@leg.state.nh.us

Gerald Little (r)
(603)271-4151
Jerry.Little@leg.state.nh.us

Andy Sanborn (r)
(603)271-2609
andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us

Molly Kelly (d)
(603)271-3207
molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

Gary Daniels (r)
(603)271-2609
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us

Kevin Avard (r)
(603)271-4151
Kevin.Avard@.leg.state.nh.us

Bette Lasky (d)
(603)271-3091
bette.lasky@leg.state.nh.us

Sharon Carson (r)
(603)271-1403
sharon.carson@leg.state.nh.us

Dan Feltes (d)
(603)271-3067
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us

David Boutin (r)
(603)271-3092
dboutin1465@comcast.net

John Reagan (r)
(603)271-4063
john.reagan111@gmail.com

Donna Soucy (d)
(603)271-3207
donna.soucy@leg.state.nh.us

Regina Birdsell (r)
(603)271-4151
Regina.Birdsell@.leg.state.nh.us

Lou D'Allesandro (d)
(603)271-2117
dalas@leg.state.nh.us

Martha Fuller Clark (d)
(603)271-3076
martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us

Chuck Morse (r)
(603)271-8472
chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us

Russell Prescott (r)
(603)271-3074
represcott@represcott.com

Nancy Stiles (r)
(603)271-3093
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

Senate Bill 81 - RESTRICTS Authority of State Board of Education to RESTORE Local Control of Schools

Submitted by doris on 20 January 2015 - 9:59pm

In April of 2014 the Nashua School Board considered delaying the implementation of the Smarter Balanced Asssessments.  However, before they voted, they sought a legal opinion from the City Attorney (attached at the bottom of this page).

In this opinion, the Nashua attorney wrote that by statute, New Hampshire's school boards are required to "comply with the rules and regulations of the state board." RSA186:5.

Several members of the board felt that it was in the best interest of their students to delay this assessment, but they voted against the delay.  One school board member thought she would go to jail if she voted her conscience.  Clearly, there is a problem when school board members lack the ability to act in the best interests of their students.

Senate Bill 81 resolves this dilemma.  It restores local control.  It allows school board members to vote their conscience in the best interest of their students.

This bill redefines the powers of the state board of education to oversee and manage the department of education and the commissioner, not all public schools in this state. 

The state board of education would still retain the power to "make all rules and regulations necessary for the proper interpretation of laws enacted by the General Court." In other words, the state board can still make rules to clarify and implement state laws, but otherwise should not interfere with the management of local school districts.

In short, this bill reigns in the overreach of the state board of education and restores local control of our schools.

 

SENATE BILL 81

AN ACT relative to the powers of the state board of education.

SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Rep. Murotake, Hills 32; Rep. Ferreira, Hills 28; Rep. Bates, Rock 7

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill limits the authority of the state board of education to the department of education and the commissioner of the department of education.

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to the powers of the state board of education.

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

1 State Board of Education; Powers. Amend RSA 186:5 to read as follows:

186:5 Powers. The state board shall have the same powers of management, supervision, and direction over [all public schools in this state] the department of education and the commissioner of the department of education as the directors of a business corporation have over its business, except as otherwise limited by law. It may make all rules and regulations necessary for the proper interpretation of laws enacted by the general court and for the management of its own business and for the conduct of its officers, employees, and agents, [and to secure the efficient administration of the public schools] and the administration of the work of Americanization, in teaching English to non-English-speaking adults and in furnishing instruction in the privileges, duties, and responsibilities of citizenship, which is hereby declared to be an essential part of public school education. [It shall be the duty of school boards and employees of school districts to comply with the rules and regulations of the state board.]

Protect LOCAL CONTROL of our schools. The Senate votes on Senate Bill 81 on Thursday, Feb. 12th at 10:00 AM.

PLEASE keep emailing the Senate. ALL of them, not just the Committee.

Tell the Senate  that Senate Bill 81 protects LOCAL CONTROL and stops the state Board of Education from micro-managing our school districts.

Jeff Woodburn (d)
(603)271-3207
Jeff.Woodburn@leg.state.nh.us

Jeanie Forrester (r)
(603)271-4980
jeanie.forrester@leg.state.nh.us

Jeb Bradley (r)
(603)271-2106
jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us

David Watters (d)
(603)271-8631
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

David Pierce (d)
(603)271-3067
david.pierce@leg.state.nh.us

Sam Cataldo (r)
(603)271-4063
sam.cataldo@leg.state.nh.us

Andrew Hosmer (d)
(603)271-8631
andrew.hosmer@leg.state.nh.us

Gerald Little (r)
(603)271-4151
Jerry.Little@leg.state.nh.us

Andy Sanborn (r)
(603)271-2609
andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us

Molly Kelly (d)
(603)271-3207
molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

Gary Daniels (r)
(603)271-2609
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us

Kevin Avard (r)
(603)271-4151
Kevin.Avard@.leg.state.nh.us

Bette Lasky (d)
(603)271-3091
bette.lasky@leg.state.nh.us

Sharon Carson (r)
(603)271-1403
sharon.carson@leg.state.nh.us

Dan Feltes (d)
(603)271-3067
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us

David Boutin (r)
(603)271-3092
dboutin1465@comcast.net

John Reagan (r)
(603)271-4063
john.reagan111@gmail.com

Donna Soucy (d)
(603)271-3207
donna.soucy@leg.state.nh.us

Regina Birdsell (r)
(603)271-4151
Regina.Birdsell@.leg.state.nh.us

Lou D'Allesandro (d)
(603)271-2117
dalas@leg.state.nh.us

Martha Fuller Clark (d)
(603)271-3076
martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us

Chuck Morse (r)
(603)271-8472
chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us

Russell Prescott (r)
(603)271-3074
represcott@represcott.com

Nancy Stiles (r)
(603)271-3093
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

House Bill 332 - Requiring Districts to Provide Parents with Advanced Notice of Controversial Course Materials

Submitted by ... on 19 January 2015 - 2:03pm


A Public Hearing on House Bill 332 will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 1:30 PM in the Room 207 of the LOB (Legislative Office Building) in Concord.

House Bill 332  requires school districts to provide advance notice to parents and legal guardians of course material involving controversial material that may be objectionable to some parents. 

Rep. Victoria Sullivan (R-Manchester), sponsor of HB 332, did not submit a bill to mandate or dictate curriculum.  Her bill simply requires transparency so parents themselves can make informed decisions.  This is a pro-liberty and pro-parental rights bill. 

The bill adds the following language to RSA 186:11, IX-c:

The policy shall also require the school district or classroom teacher to provide parents and legal guardians not less than 2 weeks advance notice of course material involving the discussion of human sexuality or human sexual education. To the extent practicable, a school district shall make program instruction materials for such courses available to parents, legal guardians, educators, school administrators, and other interested parties for inspection and review.



A Public Hearing on this bill will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 1:30 PM in the Room 207 of the LOB (Legislative Office Building) in Concord.

Please attend the public hearing. It is important for the commitee members to see parents who oppose this amendment.

Legislative Office Building 33 North State Street Concord, NH 03301

Free parking on side streets to the west of the LOB. Closer in is 2 to 3 hour parking zones. Two to three blocks away there's unlimited free parking.

 

If you can't attend, please contact House Education Members with the reasons why you SUPPORT House Bill 332. 

Protect LOCAL CONTROL of our schools.

Email the entire House Education Committee members with this single email address:

HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us

Or contact House Education Members individually with your support for this bill:

House Education Committee Members: Email Committee Members
Chairman: Rick Ladd(r) Bills Currently in Committee
V. Chairman: John Balcom(r) Bills Originally Referred to Committee
Clerk: Barbara Shaw(d) Mailing list of Committee Members
 
 
Ralph Boehm (r) Glenn Cordelli (r) James Grenier (r)
Robert Elliott (r) Christopher Adams (r) Allen Cook (r)
Josh Moore (r) Jason Osborne (r) Victoria Sullivan (r)
Terry Wolf (r) Mary Gile (d) Mary Gorman (d)
June Frazer (d) Andrew Schmidt (d) Mel Myler (d)
Deanna Rollo (d) Mary Heath (d) James Verschueren (d)

SB 69 -- Establishing a Commission to Study SOCIAL IMPACT BOND Funding for Early Childhood Education for At-Risk Students in NH

Submitted by ... on 19 January 2015 - 10:38am

On Tuesday, Jan. 20th at 09:20 AM LOB (Legislative Office Building) in Concord in Room103 there will be a public hearing on Senate Bill 69 introduced by Sen. David Watters (D) establishing a commission to study SOCIAL IMPACT BOND funding for early childhood education for at-risk students.

Studies shown that there is no longterm benefit from early education.  However, there is an enormous benefit from strengthening the family.  It will be sold as "PRE-K" education when, in fact, it is taxpayer subsidized DAYCARE.  Why should taxpayers invest in "institutionalized care" over family care? 

This bill repeals RSA 189:70, which does not exist on the state website, to establish a Commission to study taxpayer funding of public private partnerships for at-risk early childhood education. This is commission would work towards expanding taxpayer funding for education in New Hampshire. Not only would this undermine existing private pre-K options available to parents, but it would radically increase property taxes across the state.  

 

Do Hoosiers want more taxpayer-funded daycare?



"...Many parents, poor or not, know intuitively what all of the research shows emphatically – that preschool provides no lasting academic gains beyond the third grade. What matters most and far more is the strength of the family, not the amount of time spent out of the home.

"The most notable evidence of this can be seen in the Dec. 2012 Health and Human Services (HHS) evaluation of over 5,000 children participating in Head Start.  It found that the $8 billion annual program had “little to no impact on cognitive, social-emotional, health or parenting practices of participants.”  When it comes to state programs, one need look no further than Georgia and Oklahoma, both of which have offered universal preschool for 4-year-olds since 1993 and 1998, respectively.  And yet, Georgia fourth grade students score just at the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment, while Oklahoma students have actually seen a decline in such scores since they first implemented universal preschool back in 1998.

A better solution might be "strings-free tax breaks for families with young children.  By increasing their disposable income, parents would be free-er to choose what is in their particular child’s best interest, whether it’s for one parent to be able to stay home, for grandma to spend several afternoons a week taking the child to the library, or for the child to attend a preschool of the parent’s choosing. Such a solution would empower families, rather than discriminate against those whose choice might be something other than a long, full-day program for their 4-year old."

http://hoosiersagainstcommoncore.com/will-indiana-grow/

TESTIMONY AGAINST SB 69 - A Study for At-Risk Pre-school

Please attend the public hearing. It is important for the commitee members to see parents who support this bill.

Legislative Office Building 33 North State Street Concord, NH 03301

Free parking on side streets to the west of the LOB. Closer in is 2 to 3 hour parking zones. Two to three blocks away there's unlimited free parking.

If you can't attend, please contact Senate Education Members with your oppostion to Senate Bill 69:

John Reagan  Chairman (R)

john.reagan111@gmail.com

(603)271-4063

Nancy Stiles  V Chairman (R)

nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3093

Kevin Avard   (R)

Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-4151

Molly Kelly   (D)

molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3207

David Watters (D)

david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-8631

Senate Bill 101 - Prohibiting the Department of Education from Requiring the Implemention of Common Core in Any School or School District in NH

Submitted by ... on 15 January 2015 - 11:47am

Sen. Kevin Avard has introduced Senate Bill 101 - prohibiting the state from requiring the implementation of Common Core standards.

PLEASE keep emailing the Senate. ALL of them, not just the Committee.

Tell the Senate  that Senate Bill 101 protects LOCAL CONTROL and provides districts with a CHOICE.

Jeff Woodburn (d)
(603)271-3207
Jeff.Woodburn@leg.state.nh.us

Jeanie Forrester (r)
(603)271-4980
jeanie.forrester@leg.state.nh.us

Jeb Bradley (r)
(603)271-2106
jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us

David Watters (d)
(603)271-8631
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

David Pierce (d)
(603)271-3067
david.pierce@leg.state.nh.us

Sam Cataldo (r)
(603)271-4063
sam.cataldo@leg.state.nh.us

Andrew Hosmer (d)
(603)271-8631
andrew.hosmer@leg.state.nh.us

Gerald Little (r)
(603)271-4151
Jerry.Little@leg.state.nh.us

Andy Sanborn (r)
(603)271-2609
andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us

Molly Kelly (d)
(603)271-3207
molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

Gary Daniels (r)
(603)271-2609
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us

Kevin Avard (r)
(603)271-4151
Kevin.Avard@.leg.state.nh.us

Bette Lasky (d)
(603)271-3091
bette.lasky@leg.state.nh.us

Sharon Carson (r)
(603)271-1403
sharon.carson@leg.state.nh.us

Dan Feltes (d)
(603)271-3067
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us

David Boutin (r)
(603)271-3092
dboutin1465@comcast.net

John Reagan (r)
(603)271-4063
john.reagan111@gmail.com

Donna Soucy (d)
(603)271-3207
donna.soucy@leg.state.nh.us

Regina Birdsell (r)
(603)271-4151
Regina.Birdsell@.leg.state.nh.us

Lou D'Allesandro (d)
(603)271-2117
dalas@leg.state.nh.us

Martha Fuller Clark (d)
(603)271-3076
martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us

Chuck Morse (r)
(603)271-8472
chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us

Russell Prescott (r)
(603)271-3074
represcott@represcott.com

Nancy Stiles (r)
(603)271-3093
nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

 

Click here for Testimony -- Explaining Why Senate Bill 101 is Moderate Legislation

 

 

SENATE BILL 101

AN ACT prohibiting the state from requiring implementation of common core standards.

SPONSORS: Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Daniels, Dist 11; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Burt, Hills 39; Rep. Jones, Straf 24; Rep. Notter, Hills 21; Rep. W. O'Brien, Hills 5; Rep. Hoell, Merr 23

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits the department of education and the state board of education from implementing the common core standards in any school or school district in this state.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT prohibiting the state from requiring implementation of common core standards.

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

1 Substantive Educational Content of an Adequate Education. 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) The common core state standards shall not be required by the department of education or the state board of education to be implemented in any school or school district in this state.

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

 

Please attend the public hearing. It is important for the commitee members to see parents who support this bill.

Legislative Office Building 33 North State Street Concord, NH 03301

Free parking on side streets to the west of the LOB. Closer in is 2 to 3 hour parking zones. Two to three blocks away there's unlimited free parking.

If you can't attend, please contact House Education Members with your support for Senate Bill 101:

John Reagan  Chairman (R)

john.reagan111@gmail.com

(603)271-4063

Nancy Stiles  V Chairman (R)

nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3093

Kevin Avard   (R)

Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-4151

Molly Kelly   (D)

molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3207

David Watters (D)

david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-8631

 

An Amendment will be offered on Tuesday by Sen. Avard to include language which defines "Competencies" as follows:

“Competencies” are student learning targets that represent ACADEMIC concepts, skills and knowledge measured within a SINGLE content domain, such as English/ language arts and reading, mathematics, science, social studies, art, language, health, or physical education.   

Part of the Common Core reforms has been to transform education to focus on student "competencies"  -- which were never defined in state law.  In fact, Sen. Nancy Stiles introduced to two legislative proposals on "competencies" and both bills failed to obtain the support of the legislature. The legislature did not want to transform education to measure student "competencies."

However, "competencies" were subsequently defined by the NH Department of Education to be any combination of concepts, skills or knowledge "within or across content domains."

Current Regulatory (Ed 306) Definition:

“Competencies” means student learning targets that represent key content-specific concepts, skills, and knowledge applied within or across content domains. Specific and required types of competencies include district competencies and graduation competencies;

 

Under the Department's regulation, a "competency" in mathematics may require a student to demonstrate skills in mathematics, English Language Arts and history.  These multi-disciplinary courses can easily undermine the self-esteem of students, particularly at-risk students, who are good at mathematics, but may for some reason may have delays in their English or history skills. 

Students need objective measures of their performance in single academic areas.  Please support Sen. Avard's amendment to restore education to traditional learning targets and assessments.

Previous articles on Competency-based Education:

A copy of Sen. Avard's AMENDMENT to SB 101 is ATTACHED BELOW:

CACR 3 - Granting the STATE LEGISLATURE the Responsibility to Maintain the Public Education System

Submitted by ... on 9 January 2015 - 1:23pm

Sen. Jeb Bradley has introduced legislation, CACR 3 - granting the LEGISLATURE the responsibility to maintain the public education system. This amendment would ELIMINATE LOCAL CONTROL of education in New Hampshire.

Parents have the right to control the education of their children within their local districts.

It's impossible for parents to fix problems that arise under State controlled education when changing state laws may require many, many trips to Concord and can take years to accomplish. Children grow up quickly.  Parents can't wait years for solutions.

This amendment effectively eliminates the voice of our parents and teachers.

Innovation occurs at the local level when parents and teachers are allowed to work together collaboratively without excessive State interference.

On June 5, 2012 former Governor Sununu wrote a letter to Republican legislators.  It was posted the Union Leader and says in part:

"I truly believe the fundamental difference between New Hampshire and the 49 other states is the strong reliance we have on home rule.  Local control has historically allowed our individual citizens to have a significant say in the fundamental level of expenditures within their own communities and of the state. The key to local control is the local leverage over education spending."

I truly believe the fundamental difference between New Hampshire and the 49 other states is the strong reliance we have on home rule. Local control has historically allowed our individual citizens to have a significant say in the fundamental level of expenditures within their own communities and of the state. The key to local control is the local leverage over education spending. - See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120605/LOCALVOICES03/120609947&source=RSS#sthash.jxMnFXTH.dpuf

NH Constitution, Pt 1, Art 6 guarantees home rule or local control over public as well as private schools.  It's a guarantee against State interference in the election of teachers, who in 1784 controlled student instruction.

Please OPPOSE this bill.   A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 9:40 am in Room 103 of the LOB (Legislative Office Building) across the street from the Statehouse in Concord).

Under CACR 3 the NH Legislature would be granted the full power and authority to adopt standards and determine accountability (testing) and set funding amounts.

This amendment is IDENTICAL to CACR 12 in 2012, which failed after much debate.  Both usurp local control of education.

CACR 3 – AS INTRODUCED

2015 SESSION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3

RELATING TO: public education.

PROVIDING THAT: the general court shall define standards and funding for public education.

SPONSORS: Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Cataldo, Dist 6; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Little, Dist 8; Rep. Hess, Merr 24; Rep. Kurk, Hills 2; Rep. Major, Rock 14; Rep. Flanagan, Hills 26

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution 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.

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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: public education.

PROVIDING THAT: the general court shall define standards and funding for public education.

Be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That the second part of the constitution be amended by inserting after article 5-b the following new article:

[Art.] 5-c [Public Education]. In fulfillment of the provisions with respect to education set forth in Part II, Article 83, the Legislature shall have the responsibility to maintain a system of public elementary and secondary education and to mitigate local disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity. In furtherance thereof, the Legislature shall have the full power and authority to make reasonable standards for elementary and secondary public education and standards of accountability and to determine the amount of, and the methods of raising and distributing, state funding for public education.

Note: To be adopted CACR 3 needs three-fifths vote of the entire membership of each the Senate and the House at any session.  The proposed amendment then needs approval by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment at the next state election.  It becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.

 

Please attend the public hearing. It is important for the commitee members to see parents who oppose this amendment.

Legislative Office Building 33 North State Street Concord, NH 03301

Free parking on side streets to the west of the LOB. Closer in is 2 to 3 hour parking zones. Two to three blocks away there's unlimited free parking.

 

If you can't attend, please contact Senate Education Members with your strong OPPOSITION to CACR 3. 

Protect LOCAL CONTROL of our schools.

John Reagan  Chairman (R)

john.reagan111@gmail.com

(603)271-4063

Nancy Stiles  V Chairman (R)

nancy.stiles@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3093

Kevin Avard   (R)

Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-4151

Molly Kelly   (D)

molly.kelly@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-3207

David Watters (D)

david.watters@leg.state.nh.us

(603)271-8631

 

Links to articles on CACR 12 (2012) which had IDENTICAL language to CACR 3 (2015):

 

Attached below is a Press Release by the Natural Rights Council - "A FULL ANALYSIS OF WHY CACR 12 IS BAD FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE"

SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT REFUSAL FORM for Parents / Guardians

Submitted by ... on 18 December 2014 - 8:13pm

Attached (below) is a Refusal Form which can be printed out, signed and submitted to your school principal's office.  Parents may OPT OUT or REFUSE to allow their child to take the SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS which will be given starting in the Spring of 2015.

Parents may OPT OUT their child from any assessment or survey. Simply adjust the form.