Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Happy New Year! Here at Reaching Higher NH, we are eager to dive into another year of work providing policy makers, educators, and communities with the tools they need to ensure all children have access to a high-quality public education. As we look back on 2021, we can’t ignore the hardships and setbacks, but we are also heartened and inspired by the resilience and resourcefulness of our educators and students and by the many ways people have worked together to support children. The year ahead promises to be equally eventful, and we’re excited to work alongside you in promoting the best possible outcomes for schools and students.
In top news, the 2022 legislative session began last week. Here are a few of the key bills we’re monitoring:
- HB 1684 would limit the amount of funds earmarked for the education freedom account program passed into law last year. It’s one of more than 20 bills that would revise the state school voucher program, including proposals to add accountability and transparency requirements, impose safeguards for participating students and families, and fully repeal the program. HB 607, a carryover bill that would have created local school vouchers funded directly by local school district budgets, was tabled last week during the House’s opening session.
- HB 1564 would require schools to provide breakfast as well as lunch for students. Currently, schools are only required to provide at least one meal. The bill is one of several proposals focused on school nutrition.
- HB 1190 would prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting administrative rules that require a school district to comply with a federally mandated curriculum or program of study not fully funded by federal or state funds.
- HB 1393 establishes requirements and procedures for municipalities in adopting school district budget caps.
- SB 421 would allow non-public schools to participate in the Community College System of New Hampshire’s dual and concurrent enrollment program. It would also allow the institution to collect payment from the state at the time a student enrolls, rather than completes ,the course.
- SB 426, one of several bills focused on education funding, would require the Commissioner of Education to use the highest of the average daily membership (ADM) numbers for school years 2020, 2021, and 2022 in calculating adequate education grants for fiscal year 2023.
- SB 236 creates a committee to study New Hampshire teacher shortages and recruitment incentives.
- SB 326 establishes an office of early childhood to coordinate, consolidate, and integrate early childhood programs.
Public hearings on several key bills start on Tuesday, January 11. See the first edition of our Weekly Legislative Update for more details.
Spotlight on Early Education
In one wing of Richards Elementary School in Newport, traditional grade groupings have been replaced with mixed-age classrooms where students receive personalized instruction for a chunk of their day. In the latest episode of “School Talk,” we visit the school to learn about one of the ways educators are supporting the needs of their youngest learners, some of whom are adapting to full-time, in-person instruction for the first time. We also chat with educators at Pleasant Street School in Laconia, where a similar program is showing promise for young learners.
“We are finding some kids that are really excelling,” said Pleasant Street School Principal David Levesque. “They’re moving quickly and they’re gaining confidence and they’re feeling better about themselves.”
Both schools tapped into federal relief funds to develop the programs. While priorities for spending these funds have so far varied widely, interventions for young learners are clearly an area of focus. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education launched a community of practice to share policies and initiatives that recognize the value of the kindergarten year in setting students up for success. The program will bring together state and district teams on topics including social-emotional development, family engagement, and supportive transitions that respond to disparities in access.
Data Dive
Assessment results show inequities — Statewide assessments are in many ways a problematic measure of student growth. Nevertheless, this year’s results, released last month by the Department of Education, reveal some interesting trends, as noted by InDepthNH’s Garry Rayno.
- Students in some property-rich communities saw gains in test scores, underscoring the inequities between districts.
- Fewer students took the statewide assessment this year than in previous years.
- While states across the U.S. saw decreases in student performance in English Language Arts scores, New Hampshire students had some of the smallest decreases in the nation.
- Test scores did not widen disproportionately by race in New Hampshire.
Enrollment data reveals drop in homeschooling students — The State Board of Education also recently released enrollment data for New Hampshire schools. The overall number of children schooled in New Hampshire — including public, charter, private, and homeschooling — decreased by 1% between October 2020 and October 2021, according to the data. The largest change was in homeschooling, with the number of homeschooled children decreasing by 32%. Enrollment in public schools decreased by less than 1%, while enrollment in private schools decreased by 3%. The number of children in charter schools increased by 8%. Much of the growth in charter schools is attributed to increased enrollment in VLACS, the state’s online charter school, and the opening of a new K-12 charter school in Keene. VLACS had a sharp increase in enrollment as schools reopened in-person earlier this year.
Read the full story here. And if you missed our policy brief on enrollment, you can find it here.
Monitoring and analyzing these data trends, which have profound implications for school funding and school culture, are key aspects of Reaching Higher’s work. We’re currently in the process of updating our groundbreaking 2020 research project, the Whole Picture of Public Education in NH, which uses data from state and national databases to provide our communities with comprehensive research into student learning and outcomes, community factors, and school finance. Stay tuned!
Behind the Scenes
The State Board of Education capped off its year by adopting permanent rules for the school voucher program signed into law last June. The program uses taxpayer dollars to fund grants ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 per student, which can be used for private school, religious school, and homeschool expenses. About 1,600 students have signed up for the program, far exceeding the Department of Education’s initial estimate of 28.
The Board of Education has also approved two new members to the Professional Standards Board, which plays a key advisory role in the area of teacher credentialing; however, more than four months into its 2021-22 session, the board is still operating with six of its 21 seats vacant, and additional terms will expire in June. Serving on the PSB offers practitioners an opportunity to influence policy on matters that impact student outcomes, school culture, the teacher pipeline, and other important issues. The board meets monthly and devotes much of its time to the state’s 75 educator endorsements — the subject matter or content area on an educator certificate — each of which gets updated at least every 10 years. Applications can be found here.
High school seniors: While you anxiously await your college decisions (or sit back and relax with your decision in hand) why not lend a hand to the upcoming senior class and maybe win some cash for your efforts? The New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) invites college-bound seniors to enter the Destination College Speech Contest, for a chance to win $1,000 and be the keynote speaker at the 23rd annual Destination College Event in April. The speech should be about your college planning and application experience and can be submitted as a written essay or YouTube video. The deadline is March 4, 2022. The contest form and additional information can be found here.
This year’s National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C., featured ornaments created by students at Rundlett Middle School in Concord. Members of the school’s chapter of the National Junior Art Honor Society made artwork inspired by New Hampshire’s natural beauty, to hang alongside ornaments from every U.S. state and territory.
Promoting Pathways
Eight career and technical education (CTE) programs around the state have won grants totaling $290,000 to fund projects promoting industry-recognized credentials. The grant competition, administered by the Department of Education’s Bureau of Career Development, awards federal Perkins funds in support of workforce development. Winners include CTE centers in Peterborough, Portsmouth, Salem, North Conway, Keene, and Lakes Region Community College. Funded projects include curriculum, technology, and partnerships and cover a range of industries.
“New Hampshire’s CTE centers are critical to workforce development,” said McKenzie Snow, director of the DOE’s Division of Learner Support. “By supporting CTE centers in expanding access to and attainment of high-quality industry recognized credentials, we help ensure students are prepared with the experiences and skills needed for what comes next.”
The competition is one of numerous ongoing efforts to provide a rich variety of college and career options for young people and support them in pursuing options that meet their needs. Reaching Higher and the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness will continue to focus on policy and practices that support personalized pathways in the coming year.
Leveraging National Service in Your Schools: A Superintendent’s/Principal’s Toolkit to Utilizing National Service Resources: This toolkit offers information and tips for school districts in partnering with national service programs to address the impact of the pandemic. Americorps volunteers currently operate in 12,000 schools around the country, offering tutoring, mentoring, COVID testing, vaccination clinics, and other services directly and indirectly related to the pandemic. School districts can apply directly for Americorps services or in partnership with a municipality or non-profit.
Pandemic Impacts on New Hampshire Families: This presentation by New Futures and the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, provides data and other information on how households with children have fared during the pandemic, as well as key legislative and budget priorities necessary to promote equity and well-being for children and families.
50-State Comparison: Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems: Education Commission of the States has researched Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) policies and resources in all states and the District of Columbia to provide this comprehensive resource. Viewers can click on specific questions for 50-State Comparisons that show how all states approach specific SLDS policies.
What Ever Happened to the Public Good?
Have You Heard podcast, Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider, December 9, 2021
‘Kind of Surreal’ A Student Cleans Floors at Her Old Middle School
Education Week, Catherine Gewertz, December 6, 2021
Math is Personal: How one professor changed the culture of mathematics for his students
The Atlantic, Jessica Nordell, September 25, 2021
Federal relief money boosted community colleges, but now it’s going away
Hechinger Report, Steven Yoder, December 12, 2021
3 State Policy Levers to Support Teacher Mental Health
Ed Note, Alyssa Rafa and Cassidy Francies, May 26, 2021
Looking for more ways to stay informed and get involved with education in the state? Join the New Hampshire Education Network here.
If you find resources such as these helpful, please consider supporting our work. All donations are tax deductible and go directly to our work ensuring every child in the state has access to a high-quality public education.
Subscribe to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox each month.
You must be logged in to post a comment.