Bill Text - HB1263 (2018)

Relative to educational evaluation of home schooled children.


Revision: Nov. 7, 2017, 3:12 p.m.

HB 1263 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-2329

06/04

 

HOUSE BILL 1263

 

AN ACT relative to educational evaluation of home schooled children.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. Y. Thomas, Coos 3; Rep. Laflamme, Coos 3; Rep. Tucker, Coos 5

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill amends the educational evaluation procedures for home educated children and adds notice, hearing, and appeals procedures relative to the termination of a home education program. The bill also clarifies the school district's limited liability for home educated children.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2329

06/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to educational evaluation of home schooled children.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Home Education; Notification.  Amend RSA 193-A:5, IV to read as follows:

IV.  Subject to the provisions of RSA 193-A:7, the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal shall acknowledge receipt of notification within 14 days of such receipt.

2  Home Education; Records; Evaluation.  Amend RSA 193-A:6 to read as follows:

193-A:6  Records; Evaluation.

I.  The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program.  The portfolio shall consist of a log which designates by title the reading materials used, and also samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the child.  Such portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for 2 years from the date of the ending of the instruction.

II.  The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child's age and ability.  The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any one of the following:

(a)  A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent or child.  The teacher shall submit a written evaluation to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

(b)  The child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test.  Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency.  Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

(c)  The child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district.  Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency.  Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal; or

(d)  The child shall be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal.  The results shall be reported by the parent or the testing agency to such appropriate official.

III.  The commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal shall review the results of the annual educational evaluation of the child in a home education program as provided in paragraph II.  If the child does not demonstrate educational progress for age and ability at a level commensurate with his or her ability, the commissioner, superintendent, or principal shall notify the parent, in writing, that such progress has not been achieved.  The parent shall have one year from the date of receipt of the written notification to provide remedial instruction to the child.  At the end of the one-year probationary period, the child shall be reevaluated in a manner as provided in this section.  Continuation in a home education program shall be contingent upon the child demonstrating at the end of the probationary period educational progress commensurate with the child's age and ability.  The parent of a child who fails to demonstrate such progress at the end of the probationary period shall  be notified by the commissioner that the parent is entitled to a hearing as provided in RSA 193-A:7, I and II and that the program will be terminated absent a finding for continuation pursuant to such hearing.  Upon a finding that the program should be terminated, the child shall be reported by the commissioner or nonpublic school principal to the appropriate resident district superintendent, who shall, if necessary, take appropriate action to ensure that compulsory attendance requirements are met.  [The parent shall maintain a copy of the evaluation.  The results of the evaluation:

(a)  May be used to demonstrate the child's academic proficiency in order to participate in public school programs, and co-curricular activities which are defined as school district-sponsored and directed athletics, fine arts, and academic activities.  Home educated students shall be subject to the same participation policy and eligibility conditions as apply to public school students.

(b)  Shall not be used as a basis for termination of a home education program.

(c)  Provides a basis for a constructive relationship between the parent and the evaluator, both working together in the best interest of the child. ]

3  New Section; Home Education; Hearing, Notice, and Procedure.  Amend RSA 193-A by inserting after section 7 the following new section:

193-A:7-a  Hearing, Notice, and Procedure.

I.  A parent shall be entitled to a due process hearing which shall be conducted by an impartial hearing officer appointed by the commissioner of education.  Notice of such hearing shall be provided within 10 days of the request for such hearing, shall include a brief summary of the material facts, and shall be sent to each parent and each instructor of the child known to the commissioner.  The hearing shall occur within 30 days of the date of such notice.  Upon request, the hearing officer shall conduct the hearing at a location near the site of the home education program.

II.  In order to terminate a program, the hearing officer shall find at the hearing at least one of the following:

(a)  The parent has failed to comply with the requirements of this chapter; or

(b)  The parent or the home education program has substantially failed to or cannot provide a child with the minimum course of study as required by RSA 193-A:4, I.

4  New Section; Home Education; Order; Appeals.  Amend RSA 193-A by inserting after section 8 the following new section:

193-A:8-a  Order; Appeals.  

I.  Subsequent to a hearing conducted in accordance with RSA 193-A:7, the hearing officer shall enter an order within 10 working days which shall order either the continuance or termination of the home education program under scrutiny.  Such order shall take effect immediately.  A copy shall be given to the appropriate superintendent of schools, who shall, if necessary, take appropriate action to ensure that compulsory attendance requirements are met.

II.  Following such order, the parent or the commissioner may appeal the decision of the hearing officer to a court of competent jurisdiction.  Said notice of appeal shall be filed within 30 days of such decision by the hearing officer.  Pending appeal, the home education program shall continue.

5  Home Education; Limited Liability.  Amend RSA 193-A:9 to read as follows:

193-A:9  Liability Limited.  The resident school district, the board of such district, and any employees of the resident school district associated with a child who is [or has been] receiving home education in accordance with this chapter, are not liable in damages in a civil action for any injury, death or loss to person or property allegedly sustained by that child, the child's parent, or any other person as a result of the child's receipt of home education, including but not limited to, any liability allegedly based on the failure of the child to receive a free appropriate or adequate public education.

6  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.