Revision: Dec. 18, 2015, midnight
\t \t\tHB 1604-FN-A-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2016 SESSION
\t16-2152
\t04/09
HOUSE BILL\t1604-FN-A-LOCAL
AN ACT\trelative to exceptional student education programs and providing funding therefor.
SPONSORS:\tRep. Ladd, Graf. 4; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Kurk, Hills. 2; Rep. Balcom, Hills. 21; Rep. Gile, Merr. 27; Rep. Heath, Hills. 14; Rep. Shaw, Hills. 16
COMMITTEE:\tEducation
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ANALYSIS
\tThis bill permits a school district to establish an exceptional student education program and provides state funding for each student in the program.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
\t16-2152
\t04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trelative to exceptional student education programs and providing funding therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 Legislative Findings. The general court recognizes that exceptional students, who comprise 9 percent of New Hampshire’s student population, perform or show potential performance at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to other students of their own age, experience, or environment. An accelerated program for exceptional students is intended to extend beyond services provided by the regular school program in order to challenge and meet the exceptional student’s educational potential and commensurate with the student’s intellect and ability.
\t2 New Chapter; Exceptional Student Education Program. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 193-H the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 193-I
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM
\t193-I:1 Definition. “Exceptional student” shall mean an enrolled public school student in grades 2 through 8 who demonstrates outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence as documented by performance or achievement in the top 10 percent in 2 or more domains on a standardized achievement test.
\t193-I:2 Program Implementation.
\t\tI. Each school district may design and implement an exceptional education program designed to continuously challenge the exceptional student to increase his or her knowledge, understanding, and skills by offering the student the opportunity to explore potential abilities and interests through an exposure to a wide variety of experiences and topics.
\t\tII. A school district may consider program delivery models that allow exceptional students to remain motivated and stimulated in their learning and that are aligned with students’ levels of competence and interests. School districts and schools shall explore all possible options when seeking the best education for exceptional students.
\t\tIII. The local school board may approve school programs that support exceptional student education. The exceptional student education program shall not be considered a part of special education services as funded or governed by federal or state special education laws or regulations.
\t193-I:3 Rules. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to school district accountability for reporting annual exceptional student education program results to the department of education.
\t3 New Paragraph; School Money; Cost of an Opportunity for an Adequate Education. Amend RSA 198:40-a by inserting after paragraph II-a the following new paragraph:
\t\tII-b.(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the commissioner shall determine the number of pupils representing 9 percent of a school district's ADMA for the determination year and shall distribute an additional $697 for each such pupil to a school district.
\t\t\t(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, and each fiscal year thereafter, a school district shall receive an additional $697 for each exceptional student in the public school's ADMA if the school district:
\t\t\t\t(1) Provides documentation to the commissioner demonstrating that the school district has implemented an exceptional student program that complies with RSA 193-I; and
\t\t\t\t(2) Provides documentation of exceptional aptitude and achievement for each student identified by the school district as an exceptional student.
\t4 School Money; Cost of an Opportunity for an Adequate Education. Amend RSA 198:40-a, III to read as follows:
\t\tIII. In addition to the amounts in paragraphs I, II, [and] II-a, and II-b, an additional $1,856 for each pupil reported in the public school's ADMA in the determination year who is receiving special education.
\t5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2152
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12/11/15
HB 1604-FN-A-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to exceptional student education programs and providing funding therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, will increase state education trust fund expenditures and local revenues by an indeterminable amount in FY 2018 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on state and county revenues or county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Education states this bill establishes a new differentiated aid component of the adequate education formula. In FY 2018, this bill requires nine percent of a school district’s average daily membership in attendance (ADMA) be eligible for a $697 payment and in FY 2019 and each year thereafter $697 for each “exceptional student”, as defined by the bill, contingent on certain reporting requirements being met by the school district. The Department does not have sufficient data to estimate this bill’s impact on FY 2018 and beyond. However, for informational purposes, total FY 2016 adequate education grants were based a total statewide ADMA of 172,355. If FY 2018 payments were based on the same ADMA, this bill would increase state education trust fund expenditures and local revenues in that year by $10,811,829 (172,355 X 0.09 X $697).