HB 578-FN AS INTRODUCED
2007 SESSION
04/10
HOUSE BILL 578-FN
AN ACT providing a definition of an adequate education and establishing an adequacy board.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hutchinson, Rock 3
This bill outlines the components of an adequate education and provides for funding based on average teacher salaries and established teacher-pupil ratios. This bill also establishes an adequacy board to collect teacher salary information to determine adequate education funding.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
07-1058
04/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT providing a definition of an adequate education and establishing an adequacy board.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Intent. The general court urges every student to pursue an education that goes far beyond the level of adequate. It is the desire of the general court that the basic skills provided through state education funding creates a strong foundation from which all walks of life may be pursued.
2 Reference Changes. Amend the following RSA provisions by replacing “equitable” with “adequate”: RSA 21-N:1, II(c); RSA 193:1, I(c); RSA 193-E:1, II; the section heading to RSA 193-E:3; RSA 194-B:3, II(i); RSA 195:14, I(c); RSA 195:14, I(d)(2)-(3); RSA 195:14-a, I; RSA 198:41, II(b), version effective July 1, 2009; RSA 198:41, III, version effective July 1, 2009; the section heading to RSA 198:42; RSA 198:42, I-II; RSA 198:43; RSA 198:48; RSA 198:48-a, VII-VIII.
3 Criteria for an Adequate Education. Amend RSA 193-E:2 to read as follows:
193-E:2 Criteria for an [Equitable] Adequate Education.
I(a). [An equitable education shall provide all students with the opportunity to acquire:
I. Skill in reading, writing, and speaking English to enable them to communicate effectively and think creatively and critically.
II. Skill in mathematics and familiarity with methods of science to enable them to analyze information, solve problems, and make rational decisions.
III. Knowledge of the biological, physical, and earth sciences to enable them to understand and appreciate the world around them.
IV. Knowledge of civics and government, economics, geography, and history to enable them to participate in the democratic process and to make informed choices as responsible citizens.
V. Grounding in the arts, languages, and literature to enable them to appreciate our cultural heritage and develop lifelong interests and involvement in these areas.
VI. Sound wellness and environmental practices to enable them to enhance their own well-being, as well as that of others.
VII. Skills for lifelong learning, including interpersonal and technological skills, to enable them to learn, work, and participate effectively in a changing society.] An adequate education shall not be determined by a child's age but by the child's level of academic achievement, knowledge, and skills, as determined by specific testing. The test shall be the same for each child attending a school that receives public funds throughout the state.
(b) Adequacy shall be the fundamental level of knowledge that will enable an individual to continue the learning process without further formal instruction and allow one to infinitely expand one's own knowledge and skill in any direction or subject matter chosen. An adequate education shall include all of the following:
(1) Reading skills that allow one to comprehend texts and continue to learn, including the level of research skill that allows one to locate books, media, and access information on all subject matter.
(2) Mathematical skills that allow one to calculate and understand mathematical concepts which form the basis for algebra, calculus, and trigonometry.
(3) The study of economics so that an individual understands the economic world in which one will interact in adulthood, and the impact of economic trade between countries.
(4) Science including basic hygiene, general physics, disease control, earth sciences including a basic knowledge of the atmosphere, weather, climate, and the jet stream, and the role of the earth's ice glaciers, volcanoes, tectonic plates, and fault lines.
(5) History including world history, the cultural differences between countries, a basic knowledge of the world's past conflicts and wars, the founding of the United States of America, citizenship, our representative form of government, the branches of government, and the balance of power sought by our founding fathers, all of which shall be taught to promote patriotism.
(6) Geography including global geography, United States geography, the locations of the world’s deserts, mountain ranges, and great waterways.
(7) Communications skills including computer literacy and other related media skills in keeping with technological advances.
(8) Arts appreciation including the works of the world’s great artists, composers, and writers, and an overall knowledge of musical instruments, theater, and their historic role in society.
II.(a) In addition to the funding provided under RSA 198, the general court shall annually provide each school district with funds based on the average teachers salary excluding benefits, as identified by the adequacy board established in this chapter, and sufficient to maintain the following teacher-child ratios:
(1) Kindergarten – grade 3: one teacher for every 15 students.
(2) Grades 4-8: one teacher for every 24 students.
(3) A child receiving special education or special education and related services shall count as one and one-half of a child not receiving special education or special education and related services for the purpose of maintaining the ratios in this paragraph.
(b) The average salary amount shall be calculated no later than July 1 of the year preceding the year in which funding is to be distributed, and shall be based on actual salaries from that year.
(c) Funding under this paragraph shall not affect or diminish any existing state education funding programs
4 New Section; Adequacy Board Established. Amend RSA 193-E by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
193-E:2-a Adequacy Board Established.
I. An adequacy board is hereby established for the purpose collecting teacher salary data from all public schools throughout the state and to determine the average teacher salary amount to be used in calculating the amount of state adequate education funding.
II. The adequacy board shall be comprised of the following members:
(a) Two past or sitting members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two past or sitting members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) One representative from the department of education, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.
(d) One past or sitting member of the state board of education, appointed by the chairperson of the state board of education.
(e) One member of the public who is not and has not been a professional teacher, appointed by the governor.
(f) Two members who are teachers, appointed by the governor.
III. The board shall elect a chairperson from its membership and any other offices it deems necessary. The term of service for the elected members shall be coterminous with their terms of office. The terms of all other appointed members shall be 5 years. In the event of a vacancy, a new member shall be appointed for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
IV. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. Legislative members shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
V. In addition to the provision of paragraph I, the board shall:
(a) Review state testing to determine if any test may be used or modified to serve as a predictor for determining if a child has achieved an adequate education. Such test shall be developed with assistance of the department of education.
(b) Provide an annual report to the governor and general court no later than October 1 of each year.
(c) Study the current educational structure within a school district and the curriculum to verify that a majority of students are able to achieve an adequate education after completion of grade 8.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
07-1058
01/26/07
HB 578-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT providing a definition of an adequate education and establishing an adequacy board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill may increase state general fund expenditures and local revenue by $318,132,840 in FY 2008, $319,511,517 in FY 2009, $321,155,412 in FY 2010, and $322,838,230 in FY 2011. There will be no fiscal impact on state and county revenue or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education assumes additional aid will be distributed beginning in FY 2008, with the calculation based on an estimate of school district’s average daily membership in attendance (ADM-A) for the specified grades and actual average elementary teacher salaries from FY 2005. The ADM-A used in calculations for the following fiscal years was estimated by reducing the prior year ADM-A by 2.5%. ADM-A for students with individualized education plans were used for calculating the additional special education weights. The Department assumes the calculation of the number of teachers needed is the number of students (as represented by ADM-A) divided by the specified class size for the grade levels. Average teacher salaries for FY 2005 and FY 2006 used in FY 2008 and FY 2009 calculations are actual; the Department estimated FY 2007 and FY 2008 average teacher salaries for FY 2010 and FY 2011 calculations by increasing the prior year average by 3.1%.
The Department estimated increased state general fund expenditures and local revenue as follows:
FY 2008 K Grade 1-3 Grade 4-8
ADM-A 5,199 48,045 88,569
Class Size 15 15 24
Teachers Needed 347 3,203 3,690
7,240 total teachers x $43,941 average salary = $318,132,840
LBAO
07-1058
01/26/07
FY 2009 K Grade 1-3 Grade 4-8
ADM-A 5,069 46,844 86,355
Class Size 15 15 24
Teachers Needed 338 3,123 3,598
7,059 total teachers x $45,263 average salary = $319,511,517
FY 2010 K Grade 1-3 Grade 4-8
ADM-A 4,942 45,673 84,196
Class Size 15 15 24
Teachers Needed 329 3,045 3,508
6,882 total teachers x $46,666 average salary = $321,155,412
FY 2011 K Grade 1-3 Grade 4-8
ADM-A 4,818 44,531 82,091
Class Size 15 15 24
Teachers Needed 321 2,969 3,420
6,710 total teachers x $48,113 average salary = $322,838,230