Revision: Dec. 14, 2011, midnight
HB 1516-FN-LOCAL – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
04/10
HOUSE BILL 1516-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to the instruction of English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3.
SPONSORS: Rep. Balboni, Hills 21
This bill requires a revised program of instruction for English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2184
04/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT relative to the instruction of English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; English and Mathematics Instruction for Kindergarten Through Grade 3. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 64 the following new subdivision:
English and Mathematics Instruction for Kindergarten Through Grade 3
189:65 English and Mathematics Instruction for Kindergarten Through Grade 3.
I. In order to achieve the goal of producing pupils who are entering grade 4 that are proficient in English and mathematics at the grade 3 level, all public school pupils in kindergarten through grade 3 shall receive instruction in English and mathematics in accordance with this subdivision. This instruction shall replace all other instruction in English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3.
II. A school district may use traditional and nontraditional methods of instruction to reach this goal. Methods of instruction used under this subdivision shall not require state approval.
III. The instruction shall include the following:
(a) For pupils in kindergarten, a minimum of 1 hour of instruction per day in English and 1 hour of instruction per day in mathematics.
(b) For pupils in grades 1 through 3, a minimum of 2 1/2 hours of instruction per day in English and 2 1/2 hours of instruction per day in mathematics.
(c) Each pupil shall be tested on a quarterly basis throughout the school year in English and mathematics.
(d) A state-provided, norm-referenced, national test shall be used to track the progress of each pupil’s proficiency in the subject areas tested.
(e) Tests shall be graded and the results provided to each pupil no later than 2 weeks after test completion.
(f) The test results shall be recorded in the state's unique pupil identification system established in RSA 193-E:5. The commissioner of the department of education shall make a summary of the results publicly available on the department’s Internet website.
IV. The school board of a school district shall ensure that any pupil not making sufficient progress toward proficiency in English or mathematics is provided customized instruction designed to enable the pupil to achieve proficiency upon completion of grade 3. The customized program shall be designed with input from the pupil’s parent or guardian.
V. The pupil’s instructor as well as other school personnel shall be prepared to meet the pupil’s parents or guardian at least quarterly, and as soon as possible after the test results have been determined.
VI. Pupils shall be deemed to have attained proficiency at the grade 3 level in English or mathematics upon scoring at the proficient level or above on 3 or more consecutive quarterly test results prior to the completion of grade 3, and may, at the discretion of the pupil’s parents, teachers, and principal, be allocated some or all of the English and mathematics instruction time to pursue other learning/subjects.
VII. In this section, “proficiency” shall mean the equivalent of achieving 90 percent correct responses out of a possible 100 percent at each grade level.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
12-2184
12/05/11
HB 1516-FN-LOCAL - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the instruction of English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill will increase state and local expenditures by indeterminable amounts in FY 2013 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, or local revenue, or county expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill requires a revised program of instruction for English and mathematics for pupils in kindergarten through grade 3. The Department states these program revisions include daily required minimum time periods in both instruction areas, quarterly testing requirements, minimum subject proficiency requirements, and general guidelines for dealing with those pupils who do not meet the minimum proficiency requirements. The Department assumes the state will be responsible to administer and score the test and to report and score the results. The Department estimates there are approximately 45,500 students in kindergarten through grade 3 statewide and, due to the two week reporting requirement for test results, assumes a computerized assessment would be necessary. The Department estimates the purchase of the test supplies would increase state expenditures by $682,500 (45,500 students x $15 cost per test) per year, but it also assumes this per test cost estimate would increase over time. The Department states both state and local costs would increase further to cover other testing materials, related equipment, and training for teachers to administer and score the tests, although it cannot predict the amount of such cost increases. The Department also states the cost increases during the initial years of the program may be higher than the increases in later years due to potential startup costs. The Department states any customized instruction the state or the school districts must engage in to address any students who do not meet proficiency requirements would also be a likely driver of increased expenditures.