CHAPTER 7
SB 157-FN - FINAL VERSION
03/12/2015 0677s
03/12/2015 0840s
6Jan2016... 2498h
2016 SESSION
\t15-0796
\t04/09
SENATE BILL\t\t157-FN
AN ACT\trequiring high school students to pass a competency assessment of the United States and New Hampshire government and civics.
COMMITTEE:\tEducation
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
\tThis bill requires students in high school or equivalent to take and pass a government and civics competency assessment as a component of instruction in the history, government, and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire.
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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\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/12/2015 0677s
03/12/2015 0840s
6Jan2016... 2498h
\t15-0796
\t04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trequiring high school students to pass a competency assessment of the United States and New Hampshire government and civics.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t7:1 School Boards; Instruction in National and State History and Government. Amend RSA 189:11 to read as follows:
\t189:11 Instruction in National and State History and Government.
\t\tI. In all public and private schools in the state there shall be given regular courses of instruction in the history, government and constitutions of the United States and New Hampshire, including the organization and operation of New Hampshire municipal, county and state government and of the federal government. Such instruction shall begin not later than the opening of the eighth grade and shall continue in high school as an identifiable component of a year’s course in the history and government of the United States and New Hampshire.
\t\tII. As a component of instruction under paragraph I, a locally developed competency assessment of United States government and civics that includes, but is not limited to, the nature, purpose, structure, function, and history of the United States government, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and noteworthy government and civic leaders, shall be administered to students as part of the high school course in history and government of the United States and New Hampshire. Students who attain a passing grade on the competency assessment shall be eligible for a certificate issued by the school district. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) test may be used to satisfy the requirement of this paragraph.
\t7:2 Applicability. The provisions of this act shall only apply to students eligible to receive a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate on or after January 1, 2017.
\t7:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: March 16, 2016
Effective Date: March 16, 2016