Revision: April 19, 2018, 11:17 a.m.
HB 1499 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
22Mar2018... 0606h
2018 SESSION
18-2539
06/01
HOUSE BILL 1499
AN ACT relative to the focus and components of New Hampshire kindergartens.
SPONSORS: Rep. V. Sullivan, Hills. 16; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. L. Ober, Hills. 37; Rep. Hill, Merr. 3; Rep. Morrison, Rock. 9; Rep. Hinch, Hills. 21; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. Freeman, Hills. 12; Rep. Testerman, Merr. 2; Rep. Prout, Hills. 37; Rep. True, Rock. 4; Rep. Rouillard, Hills. 6; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Avard, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides that kindergarten shall be play based and include movement, expression, exploration, socialization, and music.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Mar2018... 0606h 18-2539
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
AN ACT relative to the focus and components of New Hampshire kindergartens.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Purpose. Kindergarten was intended by its founder, Friedrich Froebel, to be a means of socializing children and preparing them for formal education through exploration, movement, expression, and play. The word kindergarten is literally translated as a child's garden. Froebel intended kindergarten to cultivate children's unique talents, needs, and abilities. His concept for kindergarten was based on educating young children through social imitation, learning through expression, and systematized play within the classroom. His core curriculum was based on "gifts". Neither rigorous structure nor heavy curriculum was a part of the kindergarten experience.
2 New Paragraph; Substantive Educational Content of an Adequate Education; Kindergarten. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
II-a. Instruction in support of kindergarten standards shall be engaging and shall foster children's development and learning in all domains including physical, social, cognitive, and language. Educators shall create a learning environment that facilitates high quality, child-directed experiences based upon early childhood best teaching practices and play-based learning that comprise movement, creative expression, exploration, socialization, and music. Educators shall develop literacy through guided reading and shall provide unstructured time for the discovery of each child's individual talents, abilities, and needs.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.