HB1715 (2020) Detail

Relative to the renomination of teachers.


HB 1715 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-3139

06/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1715

 

AN ACT relative to the renomination of teachers.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Van Houten, Hills. 45

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill changes the requirements for a teacher to be entitled to notification and a hearing where the teacher is not reappointed.

 

This bill also requires the state board of education to issue an experienced educator certificate to certain teachers.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-3139

06/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to the renomination of teachers.

 

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

 

1  Failure to be Renominated or Reelected.  RSA 189:14-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

189:14-a  Failure to be Renominated or Reelected.

I.(a)  Any teacher who has a professional standards certificate from the state board of education and who has taught for one or more years in the same school district shall be notified in writing on or before April 15 or within 15 days of the adoption of the district budget by the legislative body, whichever is later, if that teacher is not to be renominated or reelected, provided that no notification shall occur later than the Friday following the second Tuesday in May.

(b)  School boards shall have a teacher performance evaluation policy.

(c)  Any such teacher who has at one time obtained an experienced educator certificate from the state board of education and who has also taught for 2 consecutive years or more in his or her current school district, may request in writing within 10 days of receipt of said notice a hearing before the school board and may in said request ask for reasons for failure to be renominated or reelected.  For those teachers who obtain for the first time an experienced educator certificate after July 1, 2020, experienced educator certificate shall be as defined in RSA 186:11, XXXVIII.  The notice shall advise the teacher of all of the teacher's rights under this section.  The school board, upon receipt of said request, shall provide for a hearing on the request to be held within 15 days.  The school board shall issue its decision in writing within 15 days of the close of the hearing.  For purposes of this section only, a leave of absence shall not interrupt the consecutive nature of a teacher's service, but neither shall such a leave be included in the computation of a teacher's service.  Computation of a teacher's service for any other purposes shall not be affected by this section.

II.  In cases of nonrenomination or nonreelection because of reduction in force, the reduction in force shall not be based solely on seniority.

III.  In all proceedings before the school board under this section, the burden of proof for nonrenewal of a teacher shall be on the superintendent of the local school district by a preponderance of the evidence.  Except as provided in paragraph II, the grounds for nonrenomination and nonreelection shall be determined at the sole discretion of the school board.

IV.  "Teacher" means any professional employee of any school district whose position requires certification as a professional engaged in teaching.  The term "teacher" shall also include principals, assistant principals, librarians, and guidance counselors.

2  New Paragraph; Duties of State Board of Education.  Amend RSA 186:11 by inserting after paragraph XXXVII the following new paragraph:

XXXVIII.  Experienced Educator Certificate.  The state board of education shall issue an experienced educator certificate to an individual who has at least 3 years of full-time experience as an educator at the elementary through secondary levels of education, has been deemed effective or above according to a local evaluation system for 2 consecutive years, and has completed successfully a 3 year renewal cycle pursuant to rules of the department as of July 1, 2020 and according to the state master plan as of July 1, 2020 or a local professional development master plan as determined by the local superintendent or district administrator or nonpublic school administrator.  An experienced educator credential shall be valid for 3 years.

3  Duty to Provide Education.  Amend RSA 189:1-a, III to read as follows:

III. School boards shall adopt a teacher performance evaluation system, with the involvement of teachers and principals, for use in the school district.  A school board may consider any resources it deems reasonable and appropriate, including any resources that may be provided by the state department of education.  In this paragraph, "teacher" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 189:14-a, [V] IV.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

Links


Date Body Type
Feb. 26, 2020 House Hearing
Feb. 26, 2020 House Exec Session
House Floor Vote
March 11, 2020 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB1715 Revision: 8156 Date: Feb. 19, 2020, 1:02 p.m.

Docket


June 16, 2020: No Pending Motion; 06/16/2020 SJ 8


June 16, 2020: Introduced 06/16/2020, and Laid on Table, MA, VV; 06/16/2020; SJ 8


March 12, 2020: Ought to Pass: MA RC 182-131 03/12/2020 HJ 8 P. 60


: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate


March 11, 2020: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass for 03/11/2020 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 10 P. 51


: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 11-9; RC)


Feb. 26, 2020: Executive Session: 02/26/2020 10:00 am LOB 207


Feb. 26, 2020: Public Hearing: 02/26/2020 09:30 am LOB 207


Feb. 19, 2020: Introduced 02/19/2020 and referred to Education HJ 4 P. 49


Feb. 19, 2020: Late Drafting and Introduction Approved by Rules Committee 02/19/2020 HJ 4 P. 49